La Monnaie has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring nine operatic productions and concert performances, as well as numerous recitals. As always the season will feature some of today’s greatest stars and rising stars. Here is a look at what the season will offer in vocal events. Operas “Die Zauberflöte” opens the season in a new production by director Romeo Castellucci {…}
The 2018-19 Paris Opera will celebrate a double anniversary including the signing, in 1669, of the letters patent authorizing Perrin to establish an Academy of Opera – rapidly named the Royal Academy of Music and that of the inauguration of the Opéra Bastille in 1989. The season will feature a number of new productions, classic revivals, and world premieres. It {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2018 season featuring some of opera’s biggest stars. The 2018 season will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the composer and will open with “Ricciasro e Zoraide.” The new production, directed by Marshall Pynkoski, is set to star Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende in the leads. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a new critical edition {…}
This review is for the performance on Dec. 22, 2017. We’re going to change things up a bit for this review. I don’t enjoy writing in the first person for this kind of article, but “Hansel and Gretel” is an extremely personal experience for me. It was the first opera I ever saw in my life at the age of {…}
It has been three years since Lisette Oropesa last stepped on the Metropolitan Opera stage where she fostered the majority of her young career. For years since 2005 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Oropesa was the go-to for numerous comprimario roles and supporting roles. She sang such roles as Nanetta in “Falstaff,” Lay Sister in “Suor Angelica,” {…}
On Dec. 18, the Metropolitan Opera will open its production of “Hansel and Gretel.” The current production, directed by Richard Jones, made its debut in 2007, and will now get its 32nd performance. Here are some fun facts about the upcoming production and what fans can expect from these seven showcases of “Hansel and Gretel.” New Production When the work {…}
Tenor Rolando Villazón and bass Ildar Abdrazakov made a fun video to promote their new album. Preparing for the next adventure… On tour with @ildarabdrazakov and #duets! Go to rolandovillazon.com/schedule for dates and tickets! A post shared by Rolando Villazón (@rolandovillazon) on Oct 28, 2017 at 12:08pm PDT Soprano Lisette Oropesa prepared for her ROH debut… Today is the final {…}
Soprano Lisette Oropesa is one of the most exciting artists in the world. At just 34, the New Orleans native has already had a storied career, winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions at the age of 22, rising through the ranks of the Met Lindemann Young Artist Program, and then going on to sing at all the major houses {…}
Another week, more fun for opera’s greatest stars. Here’s what some of them were up to. Superstar tenor-turned-baritone Plácido Domingo took some time to meet up with superstar soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the FIFA award for “The Best Player in the World.” With “The Best”👍👏🏻🏆⚽️ #cr7 A post shared by Plácido Domingo (@placido_domingo) on Oct 25, 2017 at {…}
“Lucia di Lammermoor” is one of opera’s undisputed staples. The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will be bringing back the work on Oct. 30, 2017, for an eight-performance run starring the great American soprano Lisette Oropesa in Katie Mitchell’s sexy and bloody production. When one thinks of “Lucia” at the Royal Opera House, it is impossible to disassociate the opera {…}
This week we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! The Latin American community has, particularly in recent years, been a major boon to the opera world, providing it with great singers and composers, and a number of great operas. As the first part of this weekly series, we look at some of the most popular Hispanic divas. We are NOT {…}