The Metropolitan Opera has announced that it will be releasing “Leontyne Price at the Met.” The two-CD collection features 34 live recordings of the famed soprano. It will be available for purchase starting on Sept. 18, 2020. The CD includes tracks from Price’s April 7, 1962 performance of “Tosca” alongside tenor Franco Corelli as conducted by Kurt Adler. Leonora’s Act {…}
Back in 2018, baritone Jonathan Estabrooks received a call from Lynne Block, the daughter of pre-eminent bass-baritone Simon Estes. She wanted to see if Estabrooks would work with her on a short documentary about her father’s life. Estabrooks, an internationally renowned performer, was also actively involved in the recording industry, creating music-related documentaries, hybrid music videos, and directing a TV {…}
(Credit: Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced that it will celebrate Juneteenth with a broadcast of “La Forza del Destino” starring Leontyne Price. The Verdi opera, featuring the famed soprano, was already scheduled to stream on June 18 as part of the company’s nightly streaming service. But now audiences will be able to check it out through June 19th. {…}
In keeping with last week’s themes of dialogue regarding racial equality in the opera world, we highly recommend checking out the several online shows such as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and The Sitdown with LB,” hosted by Lawrence Brownlee. There is also a new conversation from Long Beach Opera regarding “Equity & Diversity in the Arts” that is {…}
June 8th marks the start of African-American Music Appreciation Month. While the talent and musical accomplishments of the black community cannot possibly be summarized in one article, we have compiled a list of notable recordings of not only great singers, but also composers whose works have been overlooked for decades, even centuries. In recent years more attention has finally been {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced Weeks 13 and 14 of its nightly streams. The streams will include music by Mozart, Bartok, Rossini, Handel, Verdi, and Glass. Also, audiences will get a chance to check out the At Home Gala once again. Monday, June 8 – Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito Conducted by Harry Bicket; starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elīna Garanča, {…}
AIDA. The Metropolitan Opera production of 1985 starring Leontyne Price in her glory days, in its online stream, seemed like yesterday. In a flash it seemed like yesterday too when I trailed the great diva down a full-flight of stairs on the San Francisco Opera stage in her role debut as Manon in Puccini’s opera. In a long, maroon cloak, {…}
Another week in quarantine, but yet another week of exciting opera options. For those who have followed this series, you know that the 10 we usually recommend are a mixed bunch, with the intention of filling all diverse opera appetites with a wide-ranging menu. This week is no different and perhaps, because of the unique options on offer, it might {…}
As Black History Month 2020 draws to a close, we take a look at some of the great black artists of the past and present for our latest word search. Instructions: You are free to solve the word search directly on your mobile or desktop device; just click the first and last letter of each word for it to appear {…}
Leontyne Price, born on Feb. 10, 1927, is undeniably one of the greatest sopranos to ever grace any opera stage. There is also no doubt that despite her international feats, her exploits at the Metropolitan Opera are easily her most renowned. And that is the subject of our latest opera quiz. As always, have fun!
The International Opera Awards have announced its annual awards. Charles Castronovo and Asmik Grigorian took the Male Singer and Female Singer of the year awards. This was Grigorian’s second Opera award. She previously won the young singer award in 2016. Meanwhile, Sonya Yoncheva won the Readers Award and Marina Viotti was the winner of the Young Singer Award. Marc Albrecht {…}
