The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2017-18 season and as promised, it contains a lot of hotly anticipated productions and performances. Here is a quick rundown with OperaWire set to include additional content throughout the day. The New Productions The Metropolitan Opera season will feature five new productions. David McVicar’s new production of Bellini’s “Norma” will open the season on {…}
What do Renata Tebaldi, Puccini’s “La Bohème” and his “Manon Lescaut” have in common? They were all “born” on the same day – Feb. 1. The great soprano came into the world on Feb. 1, 1922 in Pesaro, Italy, the land of Rossini, but ironically not one of the featured composers in her repertoire. She did sing two of his {…}
On Jan. 16 two of opera’s legendary sopranos will celebrate their birthdays. Pilar Lorenagr, who died in 1996 and Kata Ricciarelli. Both sopranos were recognized for their versatility and immense repertoire. While Ricciarelli focused on the Bel Canto and lyric repertoire, Lorengar delved into Mozart’s demanding works and sang multiple Wagner repertoire. She was also an expert in Zarzuela. As {…}
The voice is any singer’s most precious treasure. Without it their career is over no matter how good you look or how wonderful of an actor you are. In modern opera, it is also something that is overlooked as careers increasingly get shorter with fewer rest periods and singers consistently being asked to walk on stage without rehearsals. This is {…}
On Jan. 13 the Minnesota Opera previewed the upcoming world premiere of William Bolcom’s recent opera “Dinner at Eight.” At the Feinstein 54 Below in Manhattan, the company held a dinner for members of the New Works Forum, sponsors and donors of the company. Bolcom was present at the dinner alongside librettist Mark Campbell. During a Q & A, Bolcom {…}
Its the end of the week so lets take a look at what some of your favorite stars were up to on Social Media . Jonas Kaufmann While Kaufmann does not have a social media page of his own, the Opera de Paris shared a number of pictures from rehearsals of “Lohengrin.” After a number of doubters thought Kaufmann would {…}
Another weekend in 2017, even more operatic activity around the United States. Of course the Metropolitan Opera continues its busy schedule with “Il Barbiere di Sivilgia,” “La Bohème” and “Roméo et Juliette” the three major offerings with such stars as Javier Camarena, Pretty Yende, Ailyn Pérez, Michael Fabiano, Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau leading the casts for their respective operas {…}
Joseph Calleja will appear in the Official Opening Concert of the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. The tenor made the announcement via social media on Thursday. He will perform selections from “Die Zauberflöte,” Flotow’s “Martha,” “Roméo et Juliette,” “Werther,” “Tosca,” “Le Cid” and a number of Verdi operas including “Rigoletto” {…}
This review is for the performance on Wednesday January 11 and is written jointly by David & Francisco Salazar. Applause rang from every corner of the Metropolitan Opera, the audience awaiting the final performer to step onstage so that she too could get her accolades. The moment Ailyn Pérez walked out of the iconic golden curtain, she was not only {…}
Piotr Beczala takes on the role of Massenet’s “Werther” on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, kick starting the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s run of the famed opera. Beczala took on the challenging role in Salzburg in August 2015 before reprising it at the Opéra National de Paris exactly one year ago. His return to the role on Sunday will be the {…}
This weekend a number of companies will remain on holiday breaks while many major theaters will feature great opera and great singers such as Juan Diego Florez, Brian Jagde, Renee Fleming and Marco Berti. Austria Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” will be performed at the Vienna State Opera on Friday evening followed by Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” starring OperaWire Artist of the Week Daniela Fally {…}