The Pacific Opera Project will continue its 2017 season with five performances of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” in September. The company will present the opera on Sept. 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 outdoors at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, overlooking the city of Los Angeles. Sopranos Jamie Chamberlin (September 9,15, and 17) and Bevin Hill (September 10 and 16) will share the title role while {…}
Opera requires a singer to perform in numerous languages. This can be daunting for anyone who does not speak any given tongue or does not have a connection to the corresponding culture. While some singers overcome this challenge by learning as much as is needed for a given piece, others feel that total immersion is the key to success. Case {…}
Virginia Opera has announced its 2017-18 season, which will feature four masterworks from the repertoire. The season opens in late September with a production of Saint-Saëns’ “Samson and Delilah.” The work will get three performances in Norfolk on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 and 3, 2017. It heads to Fairfax the following weekend, on Oct. 7 and 8, before shifting over {…}
While the bel canto repertoire is among the most popular in the operatic canon, most people are quick to dismiss the genre’s overall quality, noting that the works themselves are simply a vehicle to show off a singer’s virtuosity. But Irina Lungu could not disagree more. The Russian soprano, who has dedicated the first five months of 2017 to immersing {…}
When attending a performance of “Lucia di Lammermoor” at one of the world’s top opera houses one would be very surprised to find a Lucia who is not up to the job. We are, in fact, blessed with an array of professional singers who are well equipped to perform the role to the requisite standard but finding one who can {…}
The Teatro Real has finally announced its 2017-18 season, later than most other organizations. But the company has packed quite a punch for its upcoming showcase, with 13 operas on the docket. It all starts on Sept. 13 with Mozart’s rarely performed “Lucio Silla” directed by Claus Guth. The cast will be led by Patricia Petibon, who will sing five {…}
On first glance, you would never find the commonalities between Monserrat Caballé and Lily Pons. The two sopranos, one Spanish and the other French-American, are known for distinctly different repertoire. The former had a wide range that saw her dominate both bel canto and dramatic repertoire while the latter was best known for more delicate roles, particularly in her native {…}
Happy Siblings day for all of you who have the fortune of having loving brothers and sisters. Opera is filled with brother-sister pairings that either work together toward common goals or fight with one another to disastrous effect. Let’s take a look at some of opera’s most famous and unique sibling pairings. The Mozart Sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi are as {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2017-18 season and as promised, it contains a lot of hotly anticipated productions and performances. Here is a quick rundown with OperaWire set to include additional content throughout the day. The New Productions The Metropolitan Opera season will feature five new productions. David McVicar’s new production of Bellini’s “Norma” will open the season on {…}
Piotr Beczala takes on the role of Massenet’s “Werther” on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, kick starting the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s run of the famed opera. Beczala took on the challenging role in Salzburg in August 2015 before reprising it at the Opéra National de Paris exactly one year ago. His return to the role on Sunday will be the {…}
It is always a challenge to make a role debut in a season, particularly when it features some of the most challenging repertoire in the operatic repertoire. It is an even greater risk and challenge to make three in one season. But don’t tell Davinia Rodriguez as the soprano has spent this season doing just that and succeeding all the {…}