The opera “Il Trovatore,” along with “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto,” makes up what is often called the “Verdi trilogy,” the trio of operas that mark the breakout for the composer and a shift toward operas where he looked for a communion between the drama and the music through new musical language and deep characterization of the roles. “Il Trovatore” has {…}
(Credit: Javier del Real/Teatro Real, Bayerische Staatsoper, Prudence Upton/Opera Australia) This weekend will showcase numerous leading divas and a number of new productions that will entice opera lovers. Here is a look. Anna Bolena – Opera Australia, Australia Ermonela Jaho takes on the title role in Donizetti’s demanding opera. She is joined by Leonardo Cortellazzi, Carmen Topciu, and Teddy Tahu Rhodes and conductor Renato {…}
On July 6, the Teatro Real is set to present Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” on Facebook Live. The cast will star Francesco Meli in the title role, Maria Agresta, Ekaterina Semenchuk in her signature role of Azucena, and star baritone Ludovic Tézier. Roberto Tagliavini rounds out the cast as Ferrando in Francisco Negrin’s new production. Maurizio Benini conducts the Verdi work. The {…}
The Teatro La Fenice has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a number of productions and concerts. Opera Alex Esposito, Piero Pretti, Julian Kim, and Maria Agresta star in Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” Myung-Whun Chung conducts a production by Robert Carsen. Performance Dates: Nov. 24-Dec. 7, 2019 Enrico Calesso conducts a new production of Carlo Collodi’s “Pinocchio.” Gianmaria Aliverta directs the production in a new version with Silvia Frigato {…}
Anett Fritsch has canceled another performance of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The Opéra de Paris announced that due to health reasons, the soprano was forced to cancel the performance on May 11. As a result, the role of Micaëla will be performed by Maria Agresta. This is the second performance Fritsch cancels. She previously withdrew from the May 8th performance and was {…}
The Teatro Real has announced its 2019-20 season featuring seven Teatro Real premieres and three Spanish premieres. Here is a look at what to expect. The season opens with Verdi’s “Don Carlo“ with Nicola Luisotti conducting a production by David McVicar. The opera returns after a 14 year absence with Francesco Meli, Andrea Carè, and Alfred Kim sharing the title {…}
The Zurich Opera has announced its 2019-20 season which will feature a whopping 11 opera premieres and 17 opera revivals. Premieres “The Makropulos Case” will be the first offering of the season with Evelyn Herlitzius starring as Emilia Marty. Other cast members will include Sam Furness, Kevin Conners, Deniz Uzun, Scott Hendricks, and Spencer Lang, among others. Dmitri Tcherniakov will direct while {…}
The Théâtre Champs-Élysée has announced its 2019-20 season featuring five opera productions, numerous concert performances, operas in concerts, a Beethoven celebration and a number of recitals. For this season announcement we have narrowed it down to only vocal or operatic performances. Here is a look at the massive season. Deborah Cohen directs a new production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with {…}
This week there are a number of new productions as well as classic works being performed. There is also one opera that is being showcased in two different theaters with two all-star casts; it is for this reason that we simply could not overlook it. Check out our recommendations in alphabetical order by company. Karl V – Bayerische Staatsoper, Germany {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2019-20 season with five new productions, a New Year’s Eve gala, and a recital. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions The season opens with Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” in a new production by James Robinson. The production stars Eric Owens and Kevin Short sharing the title role of Porgy and {…}
(Image from MariaAgresta.com) The role of Anna Bolena is known as one of the most demanding roles in the soprano repertoire and also the beginning of Donizetti’s Tudor Queen trilogy. It’s a role that has become legendary and one that the greatest divas in the history of opera have taken on. Now Maria Agresta is ready for that challenge as she makes her role {…}