Legendary Romanian soprano Virginia Zeani passed away on March 20, 2023. She was 97. The soprano was born in Solovastru and started singing at 13 with Lucia Anghel and Lydia Lipkowska. Following World War II, Zeani emigrated to Italy where she continued her vocal studies in Milan under conductor Antonio Narducci and tenor Aureliano Pertile. She made her professional debut {…}
Photo: Ken Howard/Met Opera March 7, 2023, saw the second performance of the third cast in the Metropolitan Opera’s run of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” starring Angel Blue. Michael Mayer’s lavish production sets the stage for the unfolding tragedy in ways that both amplify and obscure certain aspects. From the overture, we’re presented with a tableau of the moment following Violetta’s {…}
Photo: Joan Tomàs The Spanish tenor Celso Albelo debuted in the role of Duke of Mantua alongside Leo Nucci in 2006. He has performed since then in major opera houses around the world. For 17 years, he has been singing leading tenor roles. Being the Duke is one of his signature roles. His extensive tessitura–he can sing a stratospheric high {…}
For its final production of the 2022-23 season, Opera Carolina will present Verdi’s “La traviata.” The famed opera will feature Melinda Whittington as Violetta, Hysung Yu as Germont, and Dominic Armstrong singing the role of Alfredo. Also among the cast members are Ashley West-Davis, Michael Owens, Dan Boye, Ramelle Brooks, John Fortson, and Hannah Hoyt. The company’s artistic director James {…}
On March 24, 2023, Opera Baltimore will present Verdi’s “La Traviata” at Towson University’s Stephens Hall. The work comes as a co-production between Opera Baltimore and OperaDelaware and part of an ongoing collaboration between the two companies. Soprano Lindsay Ohse stars as Violetta, with tenor Matthew Vickers as Alfredo, baritone Benjamin Taylor as Germont; the cast also includes Melanie Ashkar {…}
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced a cast change for its Feb. 22 performance of “La Traviata.” The company said that due to illness, George Petean will not sing the role of Giorgio Germont. As a result, Massimo Cavalletti will sing the role. Cavalletti has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the {…}
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced a cast change for its performance of “La Traviata” on Feb. 15, 2023. The company said that due to Plàcido Domingo’s continued illness, he will not sing the performance. As result, Amartuvshin Enkhbat will replace Domingo in the role of Germont. This is the second performance that Domingo cancels due to illness. He also {…}
(Credit: Mart Sohl/ Metropolitan Opera ) Fathom Events is set to present encore screenings of Verdi’s “La Traviata” from the Metropolitan Opera on Feb. 15, 2023. The opera stars Nadine Sierra, Stephen Costello, and Luca Salsi with Daniele Callegari conducting Michael Mayer’s production. Renée Fleming hosts the performance. The encore screening will take place at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. {…}
The Makeup and Hairstylists Guild has announced its 2023 nominations and the LA Opera and San Francisco Opera are both nominated in the Live Stage categories. LA Opera’s productions of “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “Tosca” were nominated in the Best Make-Up, Theatrical Productions category alongside “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Kinky Boots,” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Meanwhile LA Opera’s “Omar {…}
There are few performers as magnetic as Ermonela Jaho. From the moment the Albanian soprano takes the stage, she is so entranced in the world she’s living in and the character she is bringing to life, that you can’t keep your eyes away. This was the case last season when she proved the standout amidst Zeffirelli’s gargantuan “Turandot” production and {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Superstar soprano Pretty Yende is set to perform alongside the Princeton Symphony Orchestra this January at the Richardson Auditorium. Yende will take on Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” as well as arias from Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The orchestra will also play Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and music by Verdi and Rossini. {…}