(Credit: Opera de Monte-Carlo/Michael Pohn/Wiener Staatsoper/ Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala/Foto Ennevi/Arena di Verona) Anna Netrebko has arguably been one of the most influential operatic figures of the 21st century. Whether it be her acting or her piano phrases, the soprano has been hailed by critics and has been at the center of many of the opera world’s leading {…}
Ópera de Oviedo commemorated their 75th season by presenting Massenet’s “Manon,” a new coproduction between opera de Oviedo, Teatro Municipal Santiago de Chile and Auditorio de Tenerife. All performances were dedicated to the great Spanish soprano Victoria de los Angeles who performed 75 years ago at the Oviedo coliseum. Emilio Sagi’s Beautiful Labyrinth The veteran and admired stage director Emilio Sagi {…}
North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has canceled its opening night performance of “Manon Lescaut.” The company was forced to cancel the production due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the chorus. As a result, ticket holders will be refunded automatically. “Manon Lescaut” was set to open with a cast that includes Asmik Grigorian in the title role, Boris Pinkhasovich as Lescaut, {…}
(Credit: Tatyana Vlasova) The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its final performance of “Manon Lescaut.” The company noted that Kristine Opolais will take over the title role for Sonya Yoncheva. The Latvian soprano will join a cast that includes Brian Jagde, Kartal Karagedik, Tigran Martirossian, Daniel Kluge, Chao Deng, Gabriele Rossmanith, and Seungwoo Simon Yang. Francesco Ivan {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera) “Page to Opera Stage” looks at stories–real-life or fiction, old and new–that have inspired operas, and the ways these narratives have been edited and dramatized to fit a new medium. In this instalment, we look at one novel–Abbé Prevost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’–and the two (very different) audience favourite operas it inspired: Jules Massenet’s “Manon” and {…}
The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris has announced two cast changes for its upcoming performance of Massenet’s “Manon” on Sept. 15, 2021. The company announced that Vannina Santoni will sing the title role of Manon Lescaut replacing Patricia Petibon while Jean-Sébastien Bou will sing the role of Lescaut taking over for Arthur Ruciński. Santoni has performed the Massenet opera in Monte-Carlo {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) On Sept. 9 Staatsoper Hamburg is set to open concert performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” the work that the put composer on the map. The company has lined up an all-star cast that includes Sonya Yoncheva, who will make her overdue role debut. The Bulgarian soprano was originally set to make her role debut in the {…}
(Credits: Maria José Siri official website / Chris Gloag / Zoe Cura / Georg List) Italian television channel Rai5 has announced broadcasts for the week of Feb. 14 – Feb. 20, 2021. The opera broadcasts will be dedicated to composer Giacomo Puccini. The stream on Feb. 14 will be dedicated to late soprano Mirella Freni. OPERAS The broadcast of Niccolò {…}
(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 {…}
(Credit: Opera Australia official website) The Baluarte auditorium in Pamplona has announced a second cast change for its upcoming semi-staged performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The Spanish opera house announced that tenor Walter Fraccaro will take over the role of Des Grieux, replacing Roberto Aronica. This marks the second high-profile replacement after soprano Ainhoa Arteta was forced to cancel due {…}