(Photo: Padraig Grant) Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” premiered at Rome’s Teatro Apollo in 1853 and proved to be an immediate box office success that led to further productions across Italy, Europe, and the Americas. Following its Parisian premiere at the Théâtre Italien in 1854, Verdi was commissioned to adapt it for a production at the city’s Opéra, which required changes to {…}
(Photo credit: Morgan Horell) Soprano Lydia Grindatto has won first place in the 2025 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition. Grindatto took home the top prize of $15,000. Coming in second place was tenor Ben Reisinger, along with mezzo-soprano Madeleine Lyon in third, baritone Paul Jang fourth, and soprano Sunwoo Park in fifth. Bass Michael Mensha took home the Encouragement {…}
(Photo credit: Suzanne Vinnik) Palm Beach Opera has announced its 2025 season. The season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” under the baton of Palm Beach Opera’s Ari Rifkin Music Director, David Stern. The title roles will be shared across performances. Friday/Sunday Long Long performs Romé alongside Amina Edris as Juliette. Eric Taylor and Lydia Grindatto will each make their {…}
The Wexford Festival Opera has announced its autumn 2025 festival. The festival will run for 16 days between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1 and will explore the theme of Myths & Legends. In a statement, Rosetta Cucchi said, “Journey through the timeless and boundless realm of myth and legend, woven into the fabric of lyric opera. This art, grand and {…}
The Utah Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The season will open with Sondheim and Wheeler’s “Sweeney Todd.” Robert Tweten leads a cast that includes Michael Mayes as the demon barber himself, Audrey Babcock, Amy Owens, Megan Marino, and Christian Sanders. Doug Scholz-Carlson directs. Performance Dates: Oct. 12-20, 2024 Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” will be conducted by Stephanie Rhodes Russell {…}
The Arizona Opera is set to conclude the 2023-24 Season with a production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” The story of legendary libertine Don Juan is set to star Richard Ollarsaba, Joseph Lattanzi, Vanessa Vasquez, Lydia Grindatto, Toni Marie Palmertree, Mary-Hollis Hundley, Brad Bickhardt, Zachary Nelson, Vanessa Becerra, Véronique Filloux, Peter Barber, and Adam Lau. Daniela Candillari conducts the production by Tara Faircloth. {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) On Sunday, March 17, the Met Opera hosted the grand finale of the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. Out of an initial group of 1,500 hopefuls, ten standout singers got their chance to shine before their first Met audience. Denyce Graves hosted the event, featuring a special bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green performance. The afternoon {…}
The 2024 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition has announced the finalists. The finals will be held on March 17 at 3 p.m. and will be hosted by Denyce Graves and there will be a special performance from bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green. Finalists were chosen by a panel of judges comprising artistic leaders from the Met and other companies. {…}
(Photo credit: Curtis Brown Photography) For the first time in Columbus, Ohio, Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra put on Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” Soprano Lydia Grindatto leads the cast as Tatyana, with baritone Morgan Smith in the title role. Tenor Dane Suarez sings Vladimir Lensky and mezzo-soprano Hilary Ginther takes on the role of Olga Larina. They are joined {…}
Photo credit: Jiyang Chen & Opera Romana Craiova Italian conductor Alvise Casellati leads the Opera Italiana is in the Air tour in a free concert starring tenor Michael Fabiano, baritone George Andguladze, and soprano Lydia Grindatto at the Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 21 at 5:30 pm. The outdoor concert titled “Peace on Earth: The Art of Nature” features Fabiano’s rendition {…}
The Academy of Vocal Arts has announced its new resident artists for the 2021-22 season. The new resident artists include soprano Lydia Grindatto, tenor Angel Gomez, and tenor Luke Norvell. Grindatto is a New Mexico native who made her professional debut at Opera Southwest. In the 2021-22 season, she was cast in the roles of Papagena in “Die Zauberflöte” and {…}