Clément Guérard–aka Clym–stated in his audiophile guide to Wagner that “there is no war of the Rings.” What he meant was that each recording stands as a supreme achievement of its own—irrespective of personal taste, conviction, philosophical leaning, or otherwise. It is a generous form of agnosticism that spares its practitioner the ire of the ever-furious Wagnerian. So be it; {…}
Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. Audiences will get to hear a new Ring Cycle by a major American orchestra, a new recording from the National Symphony Orchestra and some world premieres. Der Ring des Nibelungen The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Fabio Luisi release a live recording of {…}
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are vocal performances that will be seen. The orchestra will present an opera-in-concert version of Wagner’s epic “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in its entirety, becoming the first American orchestra in recent history to do so. Luisi and the DSO will perform “Siegfried” on Oct. 5, 2024, and “Götterdämmerung” on Oct. {…}
Maryland Lyric Opera is set to present Verdi’s “Falstaff” on Jan. 20 and 22, 2023. The production of Verdi’s final opera will star Mark Delavan as Sir John Falstaff, Brian Major as Ford, Rachel Blaustein as Nannetta, Mary Feminear as Alice Ford, Allegra De Vita as Meg Page, Catherine Martin as Mistress Quickly, Yi Li as Fenton, Mauricio Miranda as {…}
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is set to present the New York City Opera’s fourth and final summer 2022 performance at Bryant Park. The company will showcase a special one-night-only abridged version of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” The production will star soprano Sarah Coburn, tenor WooYoung Yoon, and the bass-baritone Mark Delavan. It will be directed {…}
The New York City Opera is set to present Milestones of American Opera on August 15, 2022, at the Wollman Rink in Central Park. The performance will feature excerpts from American operatic works by Carlisle Floyd, Ricky Ian Gordon, Douglas Moore, Tobias Picker, Robert Ward, and Iain Bell from such operas as “The Ballad of Baby Doe,” “Susannah,” “Emmeline,” “Stonewall,” {…}
(Credit: Rosie Hardie) The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center’s Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, Music Director Fabio Luisi, and Ross Perot President & CEO Kim Noltemy have announced plans for a complete Ring cycle presented by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will perform the monumental work in May 2024 under the direction of Luisi and will become the first US {…}
Opera Maine is set to present Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” starting on July 27, 2022. The opera, which will be the centerpiece of the company’s new season, will be presented at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Main and will be conducted by Israel Gursky. Dona D. Vaughn will direct the opera which will be headlined by Mark Delavan, Felicia Moore, {…}
The Maryland Lyric Opera has announced its return to live performance following the pandemic, with two full-scale productions of classic Italian operas. Both operas will be presented at the North Bethesda’s The Music Center at Strathmore. The company has also announced a free digital streaming series featuring intimate recitals starring MDLO favorites, recorded live at the company’s new state-of-the-art headquarters. The {…}
The North Carolina Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring four works. Alexandra LoBianco stars as Leonore in Beethoven’s “Fidelio“ alongside Mark Delavan, Kenneth Kellogg, Takaoki Onishi, and Jason Karn. Arthur Fagen conducts. Performance Dates: Nov. 14, 2021 Lucia Cesaroni and Scott Quinn take the lead roles in Puccini’s “La Bohème“ with Shannon Kessler Dooley, Steven LaBrie, and Adam Lau. {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver/The Dallas Opera) The Dallas Opera has announced its 2020-21 season celebrating its 64th season. This season will showcase five main stage productions and a number of concerts. Here is a look. Main Stage The season opens with Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Emmanuel Villaume conducts a new production by Kyle Lang. The production is set to {…}