Weekend Preview – International (1/6- 1/8): Marco Berti Debuts ‘Otello’ at Hamburg As Brian Jagde Makes Munich Debut

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 {…}

Jan 6, 2017

Obituary: Renowned French Soprano Géori Boué Passes Away At 98

French soprano Géori Boué passed away on Thursday at the age of 98. The singer was born on October 16, 1918 in Toulouse and managed an exemplary career in her native country. She studied at the Music Conservatory in Touluse, taking on voice with Claude Jean, piano and harp. She made her debut in Toulouse in 1938 and rose to fame {…}

Jan 6, 2017

Weekend Preview – USA (1/6-1/8): Opera World Slowly Starts Up in 2017

The weekend of Jan. 6-8 will see the return of many prominent opera companies around the country after a lengthy holiday hiatus. The Metropolitan Opera, which continues throughout the year, will feature three popular works including “La Boheme,” an HD performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco” and evening showcase of Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” starring Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo. Nabucco stars {…}

Dec 29, 2016

Rising Star Maria Katzarava Returns to London in 2017

London audiences will get reacquainted with soprano Maria Katzarava this January when the Mexican Georgian singer makes appearances at the Wigmore Hall. The soprano will appear on January 10 for the Rosenblatt Recitals at Wigmore Hall, a concert series that showcases some of the greatest opera stars of the moment. She will be joined by tenor Stefano la Colla and {…}

Dec 28, 2016

On This Day: 50 Facts About Piotr Beczala As He Turns 50

Polish tenor Piotr Beczala was born on this day, December 28, exactly 50 years ago. In celebration of the tenor’s big day, Operawire shares 50 facts about the operatic superstar. Piotr Beczala was born on Dec. 28, 1966. He is from Czechowice-Dziedzice in southern Poland. He studied under Sena Jurinac in Switzerland. He is married to Katarzyna Beczała. Beczala is known for choosing his roles wisely {…}

Dec 22, 2016

5 Family-Friendly Operas to Watch Over the Holiday Break

The holidays are upon us and most will be together to celebrate them. There will a lot of downtime and this will give families a chance to catch up on movies or simply relax and listen to some great music. For families interested in enjoying an opera together, the following is a list of works that family and holiday friendly {…}

Dec 22, 2016

One Essential Recording of Every Puccini Opera

Thursday December 22 is the 158th birthday of one of the greatest opera composers of all time – Giacomo Puccini. The Italian composer is best known for his brilliant melodic invention and his operatic output, while relatively small when compared with the likes of Italian predecessors such as Verdi, Rossini or Donizetti, is among the most popular in the entire {…}

Dec 21, 2016

The Holy Night: Surveying Trends in Christmas Operas Throughout History

We all know the story. The manger. The three wise men. Herod’s murder of innocent children. And of course, the birth. Jesus Christ’s origins are a well-documented story for many and the source of great inspiration for artists for centuries. Opera is no different with a plethora of works related to great story. A look back over the history of {…}

Dec 5, 2016

Piotr Beczala To Host Facebook Live for Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’ at Metropolitan Opera

On Dec. 5 the Metropolitan Opera will continue its Facebook Live series with Piotr Beczala at 2:30pm. The Polish tenor will answer questions about his current role, Rodolfo, in Puccini’s “La Boheme.” Questions will come from audiences and fans through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This segment will have a unique twist with Beczala taking audiences on a tour through the {…}