Teatro Real decided to open the 2018-19 season with Gounod’s “Faust,” an opera which have been staged only once in 2003 since the theatre reopened in 1997. The expectations were high, with a strong cast lead by the international star tenor Piotr Beczala and accompanied by Marina Rebeka and Luca Pisaroni; the young conductor Ed Ettinger was in charge of {…}
OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll has announced the recipients of the 14th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. This year, the magazine will honor mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, stage director and designer Laurent Pelly, soprano Ailyn Pérez, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, and tenor Ramón Vargas. In a press statement Driscoll said, “Since the Awards’ inception in 2005, OPERA NEWS looks forward to {…}
It’s a starry weekend with many of the leading companies already back in season. This week there are a number of classics that will be shown and one major soprano will make an important role debut. Find out what we think you should see this weekend! Die Zauberflöte – La Monnaie, Belgium Romeo Castellucci’s production continues its run with a {…}
Some reading this review — perhaps many — have never been to the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts. Much more than the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood is a magical place; so many thrilling, historical performances and moments have taken place here. And I’ve been lucky to attend many of those performances, such as Seiji Ozawa’s {…}
Tenor Jonathan Tetelman will replace Piotr Beczala in “La Bohème” at Tanglewood. Beczala was supposed to take on his signature role alongside soprano Kristine Opolais but opted for performing in “Lohengrin” at the Bayreuth Festival when Roberto Alagna stepped down from the production. Tetelman sang his first performances of Rodolfo in the Puccini masterpiece at the Fujian Grand Theatre in {…}
The Teatro Real has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of repertory staples and rarities. The season will also include a number of superstars and modern classics. Here is a look at all the vocal highlights in the season. Productions The season opens with Gounod’s “Faust” with two different casts. Piotr Beczala and Ismael Jordi star in the title {…}
Concert performances of operas can be a rather mixed bag. The works themselves were concocted with the vision of being complete art forms and taking them out of this context can be difficult. Many operas can get away with it simply by the symphonic qualities of the music (see Wagner or Strauss). But this can take an even more complex {…}
Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni is now the brand ambassador for the aptly named Via Luca. The website, which launched in Fall 2017, has become a platform for luxurious menswear manufacturers to sell directly to customers. With this arrangement, Pisaroni will become the face of the company. “Luca and I met recently and were inspired by each other’s work and passion for Italian {…}
Barcelona’s Grand Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2018-19 season, presenting a number of exciting, fully-staged or concert-style productions, as well as a number of recital performances. A full list of all works in the 2018-19 season can be found on Gran Teatre del Liseu’s website. The Ring Without Words Josep Pons will be conducting Lorin Maazel’s 90-minute arrangement of {…}
This weekend’s choices are a unique mix. Yes, New York City dominates in four of our five choices, but once you take a look, you’ll see why. Rinaldo – Carnegie Hall Let’s just look at this cast under Sir Harry Bicket: Iestyn Davies, Jane Archibald, Joélle Harvey, Luca Pisaroni, Sasha Cooke, James Hall, and Jakub Joszef Orlinski. This is going {…}
The Théâtre Champes-Élysées has announced its 2018-19 season. Let’s break it down Staged Productions Jérémie Rhorer conducts a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Deborah Warner directing. Vannina Santoni stars in the title role alongside Saimir Pirgu and Laurent Naouri. Performance Dates: Nov. 28-Dec. 9, 2018 Katie Mitchell directs Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos” with Camila Nylund and Roberto Sacca. Kate Lindsey and Olga Pudova round out {…}