(Photo: Thomas Ziegler) Among the lesser-known gems presented at this year’s Halle Handel Festival, Alessandro Scarlatti’s “La Santissima Annunziata” stood out for its spiritual focus and musical refinement. Composed around 1700/1703 and revived in 1708 under the patronage of Prince Ruspoli, this early Roman oratorio—with a libretto attributed to Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni—offers a deeply meditative take on the Annunciation. Unlike {…}
This week audiences will get to celebrate the holiday with a new Christmas album by one of the leading baritones in the world and two rarely performed works by two of the greatest Italian composers. All I Want Baritone Lucas Meachem releases “All I Want,” an EP of five classic Christmas ballads on with Crossover Records. The carols include “All {…}
(Photo: Michele Monasta) The Greek gods are a colorful crowd, who enjoy nothing better than involving themselves in the world of Man. Woe betide anyone who is unfortunate enough to attract their attention, whether it be for good or ill; the gods act in their own interests, seeking pleasure and entertainment in all its forms wherever they can find them. {…}
The Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona has announced a star-studded 2021-22 season with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, soloists, and choruses. Here is a look at the vocal and choral performances. The Cor Lieder Càmera and Josep Vila i Casañasperformworksby Bach, Brahms, Duruflé, Gasull, Morera, Ollé, Vila i Casañas, and Vaughan-Williams. Performance Date: Sept. 19, 2021 Joyce {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2021-22 season, which will include operas ranging from the baroque era through 2006. First up will be Cavalieri’s “Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo,” which will be conducted by Giovanni Antonini and directed by Robert Carson. The work will star Anett Fritsch, Florian Boesch, Cyril Auvity, and Saniel Schmutzhard, among others. Performance {…}
Serse’s short aria, “Ombra mai fu,” in which he passionately addresses a plane tree, may be the most famous aria from Handel’s opera “Serse,” but is it the most significant moment in the work? Certainly, an argument could be made for it being the case, as it establishes from the outset Seres’s strong, but superficial emotional response to the world {…}