Photo: © Marco Borrelli Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” is one of those operas that is larger than life. Arguably, two operas in one night. Everything sounds like the realization of romanticism’s epic promise and showcases the musicians’ talents overflowing in the hall. It is hard to not expect a lot from a performance of Berlioz’s opera with a revolutionary and Romantique {…}
Bass William Thomas will no longer perform the final two performances of the “Les Troyens” tour. The bass who was performing the role of Narbal will no longer perform at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall on Sept. 1 nor at the BBC Proms on Sept. 3. As a result, he will be replaced by Alex Rosen, who was already performing the {…}
Credit: Chris Singer Celebrated American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato will start 2021 with a trio of concerts in Spain. First in the line will be a concert at the Auditorio Príncipe Felipe de Oviedo on Jan. 8, followed by a concert at the Palau de la Música de Barcelona on Jan. 10. The final performance will be held at the Teatro {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer) Only seven days before the COVID-19 pandemic fell on our heads, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato was in New York portraying the role of Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera House. Taking on the role of the cunning queen, DiDonato already had been in the eye of the storm. At that moment very few people really understood well what {…}
Baritone Stéphane Degout has been named the Best Lyrical Artist of 2019 by Les Victoires de la Musique Classique, which took place on Feb. 13, 2019. Degout is coming off a tremendous 2018 that saw him star in the Opéra de Lyon’s production of “Don Carlo” in March. He then headed to the Royal Opera for “Lessons in Love and {…}
Mezzo soprano Elīna Garanča will not be participating in the Opéra de Paris’ upcoming production of “Les Troyens.” The company made the announcement via Twitter noting that the Latvian artist had withdrawn due to health reasons. In her stead, the role of Didon will be performed by Russian mezzo Ekaterina Semenchuk, who was previously scheduled to appear in “Rusalka.” Per {…}
Hector Berlioz is one of the most influential French composers of all time. Born on Dec. 11, 1803, Berlioz was supposed to become a doctor like his father. But he opted for a career in music and soon found himself at odds with the musical establishment in Paris. However, he would win the Prix de Rome in 1830. His first {…}
Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” is not only his greatest opera but arguably one of the greatest not only in the French repertoire but the entire canon at large. The work had its world premiere in three acts on Nov. 4, 1863, before surprisingly disappearing from the repertoire for decades. In fact, the first staged performance of the work didn’t even take {…}
The Gramophone Awards have been announced and the top Opera recording for 2018 goes to Erato’s release of Berlioz’s “Les Troyens.” The recording is led by John Nelson, one of the great Berlioz conductors of the 20th and 21st century. His cast includes Michael Spyres, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Joyce DiDonato. Contralto Delphine Galou’s album “Agitata” took home the best recital {…}
It’s Valentine’s Day, the day to cherish a significant other. Last year we took a cynical look at the holiday, but not this year. Opera is rife with love, almost every single plot in every single work has some communion of two persons in that blissful word. In fact, love in opera has incited just as many battles and tension {…}
Hector Berlioz has always stood as a controversial figure in the world of classical music. Born on Dec. 11, 1803, his legacy has been one of confusion for many artists. On one hand, he is seen as an incredible genius, whose music is among the richest ever written, his orchestration revolutionary. Others find his music ambiguous in quality, with only {…}