For years, tenor Russell Thomas has developed into one of the rising stars of the opera world, his incredible lyricism and potent dramatic voice making him a fixture for some of the greatest operas. He has dominated in Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini alike at the greatest opera houses around the world including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Deutsche Oper {…}
Puccini’s ever-popular “La Bohème” will return to the great house this season with a plethora of differing casts over the course of its 15 performances. From its Oct. 2, 2017, season premiere to its March 10, 2018, season finale, the opera will feature a stunning three Mimis, two Musettas, four Rodolfos, four Schaunards, two Marcellos, two Collines and Paul Plishka. {…}
Ettore Bastianini, Pablo Elvira, and Cornell MacNeil share a birthday – September 24. Two of these men, MacNeil and Bastianini were born on the same exact day. All three were baritones, overlapping a ton of repertoire. Of the three, Elvira’s career is perhaps not quite up to the legendary status of the other two men, with Bastianini often crowned as {…}
Andrea Bocelli, born on Sept. 22, 1958, is one of the most famous tenors in the world, his fan base rivaling and quite possibly surpassing that of some of opera’s greatest artists. To put it succinctly, he has known how to balance the fine line between classical and popular music. Because of Bocelli’s blindness, a challenge that he has had {…}
What is the greatest opera of all time? Everyone has his or her own opinions but a recent poll of 172 of the world’s greatest singers has yielded a consensus – Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The poll included such stars as tenor/baritone Plácido Domingo, sopranos Kiri Te Kanawa and Renée Fleming and bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, among others, and was {…}
As is the case with a number of major opera houses around the world, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden is presenting Puccini’s “La Bohème.” And is often the case with all of these major companies, there are so many performances of this beloved opera, 25 in total spread across the fall and summer, that it can be tough to {…}
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu possesses a warm, plush timbre that is distinctively unique ― one note and it’s apparent it’s Gheorghiu. Also possessing dramatic abilities that rival Hollywood’s most respected actresses and the Romanian soprano has secured a place as one of the most established singers in history. Born on Sept. 7, 1965, Gheorghiu is perhaps most celebrated for her interpretations {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Joe Wright’s incredible {…}
On August 31, 2017, opera fans will get a first glimpse of Richard Jones’ new Royal Opera production of Puccini’s “La bohème” during a livestreamed Insight event. The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Opera House’ Youtube channel and the company’s website. During the insight event members of the cast and creative team, will give a taste of the anticipated new production {…}
Opera Australia has announced its 2018 Melbourne Season. The Autumn 2018 season will kick off with Brian Howard’s “Metamorphosis,” starting on Oct. 25 and running through the 27th. That will be followed by “La Bohème,” which will feature soprano Maija Kovalevska in the title role with Yosep Kang as her beloved Rodolfo. Performances start on Nov. 7 and run through {…}
The 63rd Festival Puccini kicks off later this week and will showcase five great operas from the legendary composer. The opening of the festival is currently slated for July 14 with a production of Puccini’s final work, “Turandot,” which will star Martina Serafin and Irina Rindzuner in the lead role, Stefano La Colla and Amadi Lagha sharing the character of {…}