“Manon Lescaut,” the third opera composed by Giacomo Puccini, marked his first true success, particularly with audiences, though critics raised some mild objections. It is widely regarded as the Maestro’s first mature work, showcasing a distinctive personal style that would continue to evolve in his later compositions. A Troublesome Libretto Based on the 1731 French novel by Abbé Prévost, the {…}
“Andrea Chénier” is the greatest masterpiece of Umberto Giordano, one of the most prominent exponents of Verismo. The plot is based on historical events: poet and scholar André Chénier, who had sympathized with revolutionary ideas, was guillotined in 1794 during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution of 1789. The libretto features a love story between Chénier and Maddalena {…}
Marco Armiliato has been honored by the Metropolitan Opera Club. The Met Orchestra took to social media and said, “The Metropolitan Opera Club was thrilled to add another star to the honorary Metropolitan Opera Club member firmament! Maestro Marco Armiliato joined us for a fascinating conversation with Honorary Member F. Paul Driscoll. In addition to receiving recognition of his honorary {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a conductor change for its new production of “Turandot.” The company said that Marco Armiliato will take over the run of performances for Franz Welser-Möst who recently announced he was canceling engagements due to illness. The Italian conductor is one of the most sought-after opera conductors in the world. In recent years he has conducted {…}
(Photo: ©SF Marco Borrelli) It is believed that there are no bad orchestras, just bad conductors. Following this rationale, Marco Armiliato conducting my high school orchestra in David Gefffen Hall would be greeted with rave reviews. It is not that he wrung water out of stones—this miracle belongs exclusively to Moses’s staff. But, he did lead Salzburg’s Mozarteum Orchestra to {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Marty Sohl) I could commence this review by going into the political implications and problematic circumstances surrounding this production, but another writer has already done an excellent job spotlighting all that. Instead, I am going to jump into the performance itself, the second in this run of the famed Puccini work and Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic and, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 10 finalists selected from the April 24, 2022, semi-final round of the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The finalists will compete on the Met stage in the Grand Finals Concert hosted by Nadine Sierra and accompanied by the Met Orchestra under the baton of maestro Marco Armiliato. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, May {…}
(Photo: © Clive Barda/Royal Opera House) “Tosca” is back at Covent Garden, for the second time this season, revived by Lucy Bradley and conducted by Marco Armiliato. It is especially notable as it marks thirty years since the house debut of Angela Gheorghiu, who returns in what is something of a signature role in a production over which she has {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced a cast change for its upcoming “Norma” production. The Spanish theater announced that Maurizio Benini has had to cancel his participation in the production due to personal reasons. As a result, Marco Armiliato will conduct the opera. Armiliato is well known around the world and has conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, Arena di {…}
(Credit: Opéra National de Paris official website) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that Italian baritone Nicola Alaimo will take over the title role in Donizetti and Ruffini’s opera “Don Pasquale,” replacing Erwin Schrott. Alaimo will perform for the presentations on Oct. 13, 17, 21, and 24, 2020. The Italian baritone will join a cast that includes Dmitry Korchak in the {…}
Francesco Meli is set to perform at the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in a live streamed concert on June 7, 2020. The showcase, which will be streamed in collaboration with Idagio, will feature the tenor with the Maggio Musicale’s chorus and orchestra conducted by Marco Armiliato. There will be no audience in the auditorium. To watch the concert audiences will {…}