This review is for the performance on March 24, 2019. The crux of its concept a curse, Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” relies on motifs as portentous as ravens. With its harrowing theme of inescapable fate rearing its head in the overture, the early murder of the Marquis of Calatrava heralds the “maledizione:” a hounding lethal curse that will hunt {…}
The Royal Opera House has revealed the dates that audiences in the U.S. can catch some of their recent filmed performances. The company’s recent “The Queen of Spades” is set to hit major markets on March 12, 2019, while “La Traviata” will start appearing on March 19, 2019. “La Traviata” was a major success, featuring soprano Ermonela Jaho in a {…}
“La Forza del Destino” is one of Verdi’s most unusual works. It had its world premiere on Nov. 10, 1862 in St. Petersburg, but the revised version (which is the one largely performed these days) had its premiere on Feb. 27, 1869 in Milan. The opera’s first version is radically different from a narrative standpoint, the ending less hopeful and {…}
Dresden’s Semperoper’s production of “La Forza del Destino” showed how Verdi once again cut a big swathe in subject matter: the idea of fate, “schicksal,” “destino”, destiny, and its power over human emotions and actions. Prize-winning British conductor Mark Wigglesworth led the orchestra through the highs and lows of the tension in such a dialectic, never sacrificing the glories of {…}
Leonard Warren, born on April 21, 1911, was one of the greatest American baritones in opera history. He is also widely remembered for one of the most tragic deaths in the artform. Warren grew up in the Bronx and worked in his father’s fur business early in his life. At 24, he joined the chorus of the Radio City Music {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2018-19 season, which will continue its Live in Cinemas series. This season, there will be 11 productions, including six ballets and five operas. We will cover the operatic performances only. The first of these is Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” which will hit the big screen on Oct. 28, 2018. Let by conductor Antonio Pappano, {…}
The Verdi Chorus is set to showcase its annual Spring Concert in just a few weeks. The organization will perform a wide range of repertoire from opera’s most beloved composer on April 28 and 29. Per a press release, it will feature such soloists as soprano Shana Blake Hill, soprano Karin Mushegain, tenor Alex Boyer, and baritone Ben Lowe. “The {…}
This Saturday, March 3, 2018, the Washington National Opera will be staging a four-act version of “Don Carlo” with a superstar cast. While many might turn to the likes of Leah Crocetto, Jamie Barton, or Eric Owens, for the star power, tenor Russell Thomas is poised to have a big night in his Washington National Opera debut. Thomas recently spoke {…}
Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” is a messy work. Premiering first on Nov. 10, 1862 in Russia and then reappearing in its revised and finalized form on Feb. 27, 1869, the opera is clearly one that experienced tremendous transformation over the course of those seven years. But it’s messiness doesn’t necessarily derive from these compositional edits, but from the work’s {…}
HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of Welsh National Opera, attended a performance of WNO’s new production of “La Forza del Destino” during the opening night performance on Feb. 2, 2018. His Royal Highness, who has been a patron of the Welsh National Opera since 1997, was met by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Morfudd Meredith, and hosts including WNO Honorary President {…}
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 {…}