The San Francisco Opera announced its 2017-18 season and this season the company will be presenting five operas and the complete Ring Cycle. As with every season, there are always exciting new productions and great classics to see. But what artists should audiences be on the lookout for? The following is a list of the five stars that cannot be {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
The Houston Grand Opera announced its 2017-18 season Thursday with opening night featuring Verdi’s “La Traviata.” In sum, there will be seven operas overall between October 20, 2017 and May 11, including one World Premiere. The 2017 Operas “La Traviata” opens the season for seven performances with Albina Shagimuratova. This will be the soprano’s fourth run of the work in {…}
Violetta, the heroine of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” is one of the iconic roles of the operatic repertoire, the measuring stick by which almost all sopranos are judged. Singing the role for many is an indication for them that they have “arrived” in the opera world. It is so imbued with depth and intensity that years and years of performance reveal {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has cancelled all performances for the month of January. The Bulgarian soprano was slated to perform the role of Massenet’s “Manon” at the Monte Carlo Opera, but has pulled out citing severe back pain. The company is now tasked with finding a quick replacement as the production kicks off on Jan. 20 and runs through the 27th. The {…}
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 {…}
The Cuban Hebrew Congregation-Temple Beth Shmuel of Miami Beach is slated to showcase a gala tribute concert honoring the late legend Robert Merrill for his 100th birthday on Jan. 8, 2017. The performance will feature Rabbi / Cantor Stephen Texon and Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi. The former is of the Cuban Hebrew Congregation while the latter is from the Anshe Emet {…}
The 2017-18 season for the Paris National Opera was leaked online before the company ensured that the information taken offline. Despite the quick action from the Paris Opera, the information was online long enough to learn about the new engagements and that information currently resides on the blog Opera Critiques by David Le Marrec. Opening night at the Bastille will {…}
Few will ever overlook Verdi’s “Nabucco.” While the venerable composer undoubtedly surpassed his third opera, “Nabucco,” based on the biblical story, put the composer on the map in a way in a number of ways. It was his first breakthrough, coming at a time when the then 28-year-old was still reeling from the death of his entire nuclear family and {…}
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the legendary Teatro all Scala opens its 2016-17 season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The opera stars rising star Maria Jose Siri, Bryan Hymel and Carlos Alvarez and is led by music director Riccardo Chailly. The opening continues La Scala’s tradition of inaugurating the season on Dec. 7 and continues Chailly’s Puccini cycle, which he began back {…}