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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
“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 {…}
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 {…}
The 63rd Festival Puccini kicks off later this week and will showcase five great operas from the legendary composer. The opening of the festival is currently slated for July 14 with a production of Puccini’s final work, “Turandot,” which will star Martina Serafin and Irina Rindzuner in the lead role, Stefano La Colla and Amadi Lagha sharing the character of {…}
The Opera Platform is set to live stream the Teatro Real’s current production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The live stream will take place on June 30 and will feature director Mario Gas’s production, which is set in a 1930’s film studio where they are working on a film adaptation of Puccini’s opera. Gas opens the opera’s plot up by adding {…}
Happy Father’s Day! Fathers are those we turn to in moments of need, who set great examples by which we can live by and, the best, seek out ways to enrich our lives every day. Opera has quite the list of famous fathers, and unlike the mothers, who are often portrayed negatively, fathers come in all shapes and sizes. So {…}
In Collaboration with Francisco Salazar Inside the plainly named Broadway Theater, one of Broadway’s largest houses with 1,765 seats, a wall of wood scaffolding and wood poles obscures the stage in place of the would-be curtain. The screens of wooden slats bleed seamlessly into stairways patched with corrugated metal, extending beyond the proscenium. This apparent slum, which is lit with {…}
The title role in “Madama Butterfly” is one that many sopranos, both past and present, have made their own. Lianna Haroutounian is among the artists on that list and this week she reminds audiences why as she brings her acclaimed portrayal of Cio-Cio-San to the Hamburg State Opera in her house debut. The Armenian soprano recently performed the work in San {…}
Happy Mother’s Day to all the great mothers that are reading this article. The greatest of mothers are people that we can always count on when things get tough. When we need a shoulder to cry on, mom is the one who will always offer hers. When we have a small achievement, mom is the one ready to cry with {…}
