The Boston Lyric Opera has postponed plans for its new production of “Madama Butterfly.” The company announced that “after internal reflection, and discussions with company leadership and the original creative team, BLO has changed previously announced plans to mount a new production of Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly.’” Acting General & Artistic Director Bradley Vernatter said that the change is an affirmation {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has announced she will sing two new roles next season. The soprano took to social media to announce that she will sing the role of Cio-Cio San at the Royal Opera House and she will make her role debut as Anna Bolena at the Theatre des Champs-Elysee. She also noted that she will make her Gran Teatre del {…}
(Credit: AE Ebener / Staatsoper Berlin official website) The Staatsoper unter der Linden and Komische Oper Berlin have announced closures until at least June 2021. Additionally, the Staatsoper unter der Linden has canceled productions of Carl Maria von Weber’s “Der Freischütz” and Jörg Widmann’s “Babylon” in June, as well as Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in July 2021. The opera house stated {…}
(Credit: © D.R) Opera director Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera has died at the age of 72. Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera was born in the capital of Italy. He studied law and music in Rome, and at the same time pursued directing with the University Theatre in Rome. He directed his first operas in 1983 and was subsequently invited by the {…}
(Credits: Ilia Korotkov / Bayerische Staatsoper official website) The Mariinsky Theatre will live stream a performance of Prokofiev’s opera “The Fiery Angel” on MEZZO TV on Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. CET. The opera will star Elena Stikhina, Evgeny Nikitin, Anna Kiknadze, Evgeny Akimov, and Mikhail Petrenko. Valery Gergiev will conduct the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in the production by David {…}
(Credits: Matilde Fasso / © DR / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / Opus 3 Artists official website) Italian television channel Rai5 has announced broadcasts for the week of Jan. 11 – Jan. 15, 2021. First up will be a production of Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” with Mariangela Sicilia, John Osborn, Iurii Samoilov, Alex Esposito and Francesca Benitez. Francesco Lanzillotta {…}
Credit: https://www.classicalmusicnews.ru/ Famed Russian soprano Tamara Sorokina has died at the age of 89. Sorokina graduated from the Conservatoire in Leningrad in 1952. Between 1952 and 1954 she was a soloist at the Leningrad Opera. Starting 1954 and until 1982 Sorokina was the soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre. She performed a number of major roles throughout her career with the {…}
Famed Italian tenor Angelo Mori has died at the age of 86. Mori studied at the Scuola di Teatro La Fenice. He made his operatic debut in 1962 in the role of Duca di Mantua in Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” His vast repertory included roles of Don José in Bizet’s “Carmen,” Don Alvaro in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” Radames in “Aida,” {…}
(Credit: Fadil Berisha) The Ópera de Oviedo has announced a cast change for its final performance of “Madama Butterfly” on Dec. 21. The Spanish company revealed that Ermonela Jaho will sing her acclaimed interpretation, replacing Ainhoa Arteta, who is beginning rehearsals for “Falstaff” at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia. Jaho is one of the world’s leading Butterflies having {…}
Credit: Bayerische Staatsoper official website The Royal Danish Opera has announced that Italian conductor Paolo Carignani has been appointed the new Chief Guest Conductor, starting in the 2021-22 season. The contract will last for three years. Carignani will replace the late conductor Alexander Vedernikov in his new position. “Paolo has gained great recognition as a conductor at the Royal Theater {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features the {…}