Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Review – Madama Butterfly: Hui He Leads Classic Anthony Minghella Production In Memorable Night

The beauty of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” could render any critique almost unseemly. After all, to hear that seamless music, the moments that turn transcendent — and then to cavil? I’d suggest that even a modest performance, say, even in the dense rainforest (echoing, of course, Werner Herzog’s “Ftizcarraldo”) would still, inevitably, move one. The score simply flows, with audience and performers {…}

Nov 20, 2017

Vienna State Opera 2017-18 Live Stream: Maria José Siri’s Showcases Her Famed ‘Madama Butterfly’

Maria José Siri’s world-renowned interpretation of “Madama Butterfly” will be live-streamed by the Vienna State Opera on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, as part of its season-long series. Siri will be paired with the likes of mezzo Zoryana Kushpler as Suzuki, tenor Murat Karahan as Pinkerton, and baritone Gabriel Bermudez as Sharpless. The stream kicks off at 7 p.m. local time {…}

Nov 13, 2017

Q&A: Karine Babajanyan Talks About Puccini Heroines, Vocal Techinque & Her Verdi Wish-List

Karine Babajanyan is well known for her wide-ranging repertoire in the lirico-spinto fach, performing the works of Verdi and Puccini and many of the Verismo composers. She has particularly become well-known for her interpretations of “Madama Butterfly,” “Tosca,” “Aida,” Amelia in “Un Ballo in Maschera” and has travelled to many of the leading theaters including the Berlin Staatsoper, the Hamburg Staatsoper, {…}

Nov 12, 2017

The Major Puccini Roles of Kristine Opolais’ Career

Kristine Opolais, born on Nov. 12, 1979, has built up quite a prominent career all around the entire world. Born in Latvia, she would go on to join the chorus of the Latvian National Opera, then slowly but surely make her way through some of the famed houses in Europe. Along the way, she has developed a wide range of {…}

Oct 30, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: From Farrar To Racette, the Met’s Famous ‘Madama Butterfly’ Interpreters

“Madama Butterfly” is one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire, which makes it no surprise that the Metropolitan Opera will bring back the work for its 2017-18 season. This year’s run kicks off on Nov. 2, 2017 and will be showcased six times in the fall before returning on Feb. 22 for another six performances. In the {…}

Oct 14, 2017

Q&A: María José Siri On ‘Madama Butterfly,’ Verismo & Verdi

Over the past year, María José Siri’s career has skyrocketed from opening the Teatro alla Scala in a new production of “Madama Butterfly” to premiering a new production of “Manon Lescaut” at the Teatro Regio di Torino. This past month she was also called to make another high-profile opening at the Vienna State Opera in “Il Trovatore.” Since then she {…}

Sep 22, 2017

The Staged Opera Performances of Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli, born on Sept. 22, 1958, is one of the most famous tenors in the world, his fan base rivaling and quite possibly surpassing that of some of opera’s greatest artists. To put it succinctly, he has known how to balance the fine line between classical and popular music. Because of Bocelli’s blindness, a challenge that he has had {…}

Sep 7, 2017

Angela Gheorghiu’s Iconic Puccini Roles

Soprano Angela Gheorghiu possesses a warm, plush timbre that is distinctively unique ― one note and it’s apparent it’s Gheorghiu. Also possessing dramatic abilities that rival Hollywood’s most respected actresses and the Romanian soprano has secured a place as one of the most established singers in history. Born on Sept. 7, 1965, Gheorghiu is perhaps most celebrated for her interpretations {…}

Aug 31, 2017

Glyndebourne Festivals Announces 2018 Casting

The Glyndebourne Festival has been announced its casting for the upcoming 2018 festival. The season will include 17 singers making Glyndebourne debuts including German baritone Markus Brück, Austrian soprano Christina Gansch, American baritone John Chest and French mezzo-soprano Virginie Verrez. The event opens with the Festival debut of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” which is set to star Olga Busuioc as Cio-Cio-San, Joshua Guerrero {…}

Aug 28, 2017

La Fenice 2017 Review – Madama Butterfly: Unique Production & Fascinating Soprano Lift Puccini’s Masterwork to New Heights

“Madama Butterfly”, a perennial favorite with the opera-going public, seems to be, for good or ill, immune to large-scale meddling from directors attempting to impose their own reading on, what is by opera standards, a well-known story. Rarely do productions step outside late 19th/early 20th century Japan, replete with kanzashi hairstyles, colorful kimonos and obi, houses with paper walls adorned {…}

Aug 1, 2017

Opera Australia Bids Adieu To Classic ‘Madama Butterfly’ Production

Opera Australia is retiring Moffatt Oxenbould’s beloved “Madama Butterfly” production. The production, which premiered in 1997, opens for the last time on Oct. 24, 2017, with Karah Son, Hyeseoung Kwon, Diego Torre, and Andeka Gorrotxategi. “Madama Butterfly’s” production has been performed more than any other in Opera Australia’s repertoire and has been universally praised for its sheer beauty, the gorgeous costumes, evocative {…}