Over the past year, María José Siri’s career has skyrocketed from opening the Teatro alla Scala in a new production of “Madama Butterfly” to premiering a new production of “Manon Lescaut” at the Teatro Regio di Torino. This past month she was also called to make another high-profile opening at the Vienna State Opera in “Il Trovatore.” Since then she {…}
After a week full of high-profile releases, the offerings are rather sparse. The main offering highlights the work of a famed conductor and his operatic legacy. Another highlights a production of one of the greatest operas of all time. Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition Also available throughout Europe is a 60-disc set entitled “Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition.” Among the operas {…}
This week we continue to celebrate 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 first part of this weekly series, we look at some of the most popular Hispanic divas. We are NOT {…}
María José Siri will return to Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” On Sept. 13 at the Vienna State Opera. Siri announced on Twitter that she will take over the role of Leonora for one more performance once again in Daniele Abbado’s production. Siri will replace Carmen Giannattasio, who was originally scheduled for the final performance. Earlier last week, Siri stepped in for {…}
Anna Netrebko has canceled opening night at the Vienna State Opera. The soprano was set to perform Leonora in “Il Trovatore” on Sept. 4. She is still scheduled for two more performances. Netrebko is the second cancellation in the highly anticipated revival. Last week Marcelo Alvarez withdrew from the production with Yusif Eyvazov filling in. In Netrebko’s place, Maria José Siri {…}
The festival season is coming to an end with many performances and productions on their last weekends. That said, the schedule around the world is still slated to feature a ton of major opera stars. Austria The Salzburg Festival is in full swing with Rolando Villazón and Cecilia Bartoli performing on Friday in “Ariodante” and Anna Netrebko and Francesco Meli {…}
The Festival season continues with one of the most anticipated premieres slated to open. Austria That premiere, of course, is Anna Netrebko’s role debut as Aida at the Salzburg Festival. She will be accompanied by Riccardo Muti and Francesco Meli, who is also making his role debut as Radamès, with Ekaterina Semenchuk as Amneris. The festival will also continue runs {…}
Many of the great opera houses around the world are now closed but festival season is beginning with many of the most renowned singers headlining new productions. Argentina Robert Carsen’s “Der Rosenkavalier” continues its run at the Teatro Colón. Austria The Salzburg Festival kicks off with the final performance of Opera Camp, Jedermann. At the Bregenzer Festival Rossini’s “Moses in Eygpt” {…}
María José Siri is about to make history in the title role of “Madama Butterfly” when she sings the 1906 version of the opera at the Macerata Opera Festival on July 22, 2017. The soprano will become the first soprano since Rosina Storchio, who created the role, to sing the “standard 1906 version” after performing the original 1904 version. Siri made {…}
The weekend will bring a wide variety of repertoire from rare Wagner and Rodgers and Hammerstein to Mozart and Rimsky-Korsakov. And as always the biggest stars including Sonya Yoncheva, Ailyn Pérez, Kate Lindsey, Aida Garifullina and Nadine Sierra will be on stage performing signature roles. Argentina Wagner’s “Das Liebesverbot” takes center stage at the Teatro Colón. The opera will see Lise {…}
Another weekend, more opera performances around the world. Here are the big highlights. Austria The weekend kicks off at the Vienna state Opera with Janacek’s “Katya Kabanova” starring Dan Paul Dumitrescu, Misha Didyk, Jane Henschel, Leonardo Navarro and Angela Denoke. It will be followed by Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk” with Wolfgang Bankl, Eva-Maria Westbroek and Brandon Jovanovich. The weekend concludes {…}