Even before you stepped into the Metropolitan Opera on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, you knew who the star of the night was destined to be. The entire marketing campaign run by the Metropolitan Opera in anticipation of “Il Trittico” had seemingly focused on one person and one person only. The company had announced a special ceremony would take place at {…}
The Metropolitan Opera will hold a special ceremony honoring Plácido Domingo during the Friday, Nov. 23 performance of “Il Trittico.” Domingo is celebrating his 50th Anniversary season with the company and he will be presented with a special honor at some juncture during the performance. The legendary artist is set to perform in the title role of the final opera {…}
In a weekend of classics, there will be new productions opening, some revivals, and others closing. And then there will be a gala with one of a legendary sopranos who has surpassed all expectations. Here is a look! Gala Konzert – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Edita Gruberova offers a gala concert featuring music from “La Traviata,” “Don Giovanni,” “Die Entführung aus dem {…}
“Il Trovatore” never fails. From one note to the next, we have glory, love, pain, revenge, daring. Verdi didn’t miss. Say what you want about the twisting melodrama of a gypsy, a curse, stolen babies, a woman caught between two lovers. When you come down to it, you have opera to shout over. Last night at the Opéra National de {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced its 2018-19 season. The season will include some of the biggest stars in opera as well as some rare gems. Here is a look at what San Carlo will offer operagoers next season. Productions Riccardo Muti conducts the opening night with a new production by Chiara Muti of Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte.” Alessio Arduini, {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2018-19 season featuring a number of new productions and operatic classics. The season will once again include a number of Italian operas continuing the theater’s initiative to bring back Italian opera. Here is a look! Productions The season opens with a new production of Verdi’s “Attila” starring Ildar Abdrazakov. David Livermore directs the {…}
The Vienna State Opera has announced the 2018-19 season, which is incidentally the company’s 150-anniversary year. The season will include six new productions, including a world premiere production. Here is a breakdown of what’s to come. New Productions (In Order of Opening) Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” will be the first new production, starting on Oct. 14, 2018. David McVicar directs while {…}
This week,two unmissable DVDs land in stores. The first stars one of today’s acclaimed Puccini divas while the other stars one of the greatest tenors of his generation. Check it out! Tosca Kristine Opolais highlights Euroarts’ new “Tosca” from Baden-Baden. The production, which opened during the Easter Festival to mixed reviews, showcases the soprano at the top of her powers and also {…}
It is Hispanic Heritage month! The Latin American community has, particularly in recent years, been a major boon to the opera world, providing it with great singers and composers, and a number of great operas. As the third part of this weekly series, we will look at some of the most popular male Hispanic singers currently dominating the operatic world. Rolando {…}
Aleksandrs Antonenko has replaced Marcelo Álvarez in the Metropolitan Opera’s October and November performances of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The new was announced via the Metropolitan Opera’s official Twitter account. That is the third major cancellation for the tenor this year, after stepping out of “Andrea Chénier” in Buenos Aires. He also canceled opening night at the Vienna State Opera. He is still {…}
Kristine Opolais’ “Tosca” will be released on DVD. The production, which premiered last April at the Baden Baden Easter Festival, is scheduled for release on Oct. 20. The opera also stars Marcelo Alvarez and Marco Vratogna. Simon Rattle conducted the performance which was met with mixed reviews. When the production opened the Financial Times noted that it was “a bitterly disappointing {…}