Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Review – La Traviata: Carmen Giannattasio, Plácido Domingo & Atalla Ayan Give Legendary Performance As Willy Decker’s Sublime Production Says Goodbye

Friday night at the Metropolitan Opera was the last time that audiences would get a chance to see Willy Decker’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The powerful vision that first came to see the light of the world in Salzburg over 10 years ago is in and of itself a long goodbye, an intricate look at how a woman says {…}

Apr 14, 2017

Weekend Preview (4/14-16) – USA: Carmen Giannattasio Or Olga Peretyatko For Final Met Opera “Traviata?”

The Easter and Passover holidays seem to have frozen up the opera world this weekend with only a handful of performances featured around the country. It’s a major turnaround from last weekend when a dozen companies were putting on a show. The Metropolitan Opera continues its unstoppable season with three performances. Friday is the final hurrah for Willy Decker’s production {…}

Apr 12, 2017

Lily Pons & Monserrat Caballé Share More In Common Than You Might Expect

On first glance, you would never find the commonalities between Monserrat Caballé and Lily Pons. The two sopranos, one Spanish and the other French-American, are known for distinctly different repertoire. The former had a wide range that saw her dominate both bel canto and dramatic repertoire while the latter was best known for more delicate roles, particularly in her native {…}

Apr 11, 2017

Olga Peretyatko To Make Met Role Debut In ‘La Traviata’ On Tuesday

Olga Peretyatko will sing the role of Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata” tonight at the Metropolitan Opera. The Met announced the news via Twitter. According to the Met press office, Peretyatko would fill in for Carmen Giannattasio who is ill. It will mark Peretyatko’s Met role debut in “La Traviata.” She has performed the role of Violetta at Baden-Baden, St. {…}

Mar 15, 2017

3 Great Verdi Recordings From Antonietta Stella

Antonietta Stella is one of the great Italian sopranos of all time. Known for her potent and elegant vocal artistry, she was a heralded interpreter of the dramatic repertoire. During a time when such greats as Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi were dominating the opera world, Stella held her own, making several high-profile recordings that remain among favorites, especially in {…}

Mar 13, 2017

‘La Traviata’ HD Performance matches Oscar-Winning Film’s Box Office Performance

The Met Opera scored a solid weekend box office for Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Saturday, March 10, 2017. The HD performance came in at a whopping number nine on the weekend, raking in $1.8 million in just one day, the same amount that Best Picture runner-up “La La Land” managed in three days. The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series {…}

Mar 13, 2017

Sonya Yoncheva to Sign CDs At Met Opera Shop

New Yorkers will have a chance to meet Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva at the Metropolitan Opera Shop next Wednesday, March 15 at 3 P.M. EST. The soprano’s new album “Handel” recently hit stores and includes music from the composer’s opera’s, “Giulio Cesare in Egitto,” “Alcina,” “Rodelinda,” “Agrippina,” “Theodora” and “Rinaldo.” This is Yoncheva’s third album with Sony Classical. In 2015 {…}

Mar 10, 2017

Weekend Preview (3/10-12) – USA: Dallas, Minnesota, San Diego & Naples Audiences Get New Operas to See

Many opera companies get back in on the action this weekend from all around the country in one of the busier weekends of the season. The Dallas Opera makes its great return on Friday, March 10 with a production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” Hui He stars in the leading role with Gianluca Terranova, Lucas Meachem and Manuela Custer rounding out the {…}

Mar 5, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Review – La Traviata: Sonya Yoncheva Strong Vocally But Dramatically Amiss in Surprisingly Unfulfilling Rendition of Willy Decker’s Masterpiece Production

I preface this by stating that this review is for the performance on March 5, 2017. I would also like to recognize that this is just one performance of a seven-performance run. In an ideal situation, I would attend every performance and write a detailed review of the overall work. As it stands, I can only go on my perspective {…}

Feb 24, 2017

Weekend Preview (2/24-26) – USA: A Western, A Heggie & A Floyd Make Major Premieres This Weekend

A new opera starts its life on Saturday while a rarity gets its premiere in a major city and a modern masterwork arrives in our nation’s capital. Yes, opera is finally starting to bloom around the States, with many smaller companies getting in on the act. Arizona Opera is showcasing the world premiere of Bohmler’s “Riders of the Purple Sage.” {…}

Feb 23, 2017

Teatro alla Scala Preview 2016-17 Season: Ailyn Pérez and Anna Netrebko Tackle Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’

This week the Teatro alla Scala will revive the 1990 Liliana Cavani production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The production returns after DmItri Tcherniakov’s 2013 staGing failed to please Scala audiences. This time the Cavani production will be sung by two leading sopranos. First Ailyn Pérez will bring her acclaimed Violetta to the theater. Perez has performed the role around the {…}