San Francisco Opera 2018-19 Season To Feature Plácido Domingo, Matthew Polenzani, Sondra Radvanovsky, José Cura & Many More

The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which features eight operas and one important concert performance. All of the productions will be brand new for the 2018-19 season. The season opens on Sept. 7, 2017, with the famed “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” as directed by Jose Cura. The production will star Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, and Dimitri Platanias {…}

Jan 15, 2018

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: Breaking Down the Cast for ‘L’Elisir d’Amore’

On Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, the Metropolitan Opera revives Bartlett Sher’s production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” which opened the 2012-13 season. This season the opera will feature one returning star among a number of first-timers for this particular version of the opera. The work will run for 10 performances, ending on Feb. 17, 2018. Here is a look at the {…}

Dec 30, 2017

The 5 Performances From 2017 I Will Remember the Most

It’s popular to make year-end lists, and I saw between 30-35 performances during the calendar year. Much of what I saw was terrific and, of course, there were many more outstanding performances that I didn’t see. These are the five that I will remember the most from what I saw; they are not necessarily the best but will remain in {…}

Nov 28, 2017

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017-18 Review – The Pearl Fishers: Polenzani, Kwiecien, & Rebeka Shine in Bizet’s Messy Love Triangle

There have been a good number of performances of “The Pearl Fishers,” or “Les Pêcheurs de Perles,” around the country in recent years. Peggy Woolcock’s English National Opera production was seen at the Metropolitan Opera and LA Opera while the late Lee Blakely’s version was in Santa Fe’s 2012 season. The production viewed in probably the most locales is one {…}

Nov 1, 2017

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017-18 Review – Rigoletto: Matthew Polenzani, Quinn Kelsey and Rosa Feola Dazzle in Verdi’s Tragedy

The Lyric Opera of Chicago opened its season with a fabulous collaboration with the Joffrey Ballet with the French version of “Orphée et Eurydice.” It was a sensational production, although the fact that Gluck’s work doesn’t really feature a great amount of singing perhaps left a void for some hearty Lyric operagoers. Anybody who felt that way certainly had their {…}

Sep 8, 2017

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Preview: Breaking Down The Numerous ‘Bohème’ Casts For the New Season

As is the case with a number of major opera houses around the world, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden is presenting Puccini’s “La Bohème.” And is often the case with all of these major companies, there are so many performances of this beloved opera, 25 in total spread across the fall and summer, that it can be tough to {…}

Aug 24, 2017

La Favorite DVD Review: Elina Garanca And Matthew Polenzani Are Outstanding In This Deutsche Grammophon Release

Last year the Bayerische Staatsoper opened a new production of Donizetti’s beloved French work “La Favorite.” It was specifically created for Elīna Garanča, who was making her staged role debut after having impressed in the work in a concert performance at the Salzburg Festival alongside Juan Diego Flórez. This time around the company brought along two of her frequent collaborators, Mariusz Kwiecien {…}

Jul 28, 2017

Weekend Preview – International (7/28-30): Jonas Kaufmann, Elina Garanca, Tamara Wilson & Diana Damrau Headline Festivals

Festival season continues with some of the greatest stars headlining major productions around the world. Find out what you can see this weekend. Austria At the Salzburg Festival, “Il Ritorno d’Ulisse,” “L’Incoronazion di Poppea” and “La Clemenza di Tito,” starring Russell Thomas and Golda Schultz, headline the weekend. Meanwhile at the Bregenz Festival, Bizet’s “Carmen” will showcased on Friday, Saturday, {…}

Jun 14, 2017

Elina Garanca’s ‘La Favorite’ Arrives on DVD

Donizetti’s “La Favorite” has been announced for release on Deutsche Grammophon. The recording comes from the Bayerische Staatsoper and stars Elina Garanca, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Matthew Polenzani. Staged by Amelie Niermeyer, the production debuted earlier this fall and received rave reviews. Critics said, “Elīna Garanča as the nominal protagonist of the opera carried out her role driving the whole ensemble and {…}

May 23, 2017

Mahler To Dominate Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s Carnegie Hall Concerts

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra launches its Carnegie Hall series on May 31, 2017 and will showcase three diverse programs showcasing some of Mahler’s greatest vocal writing. The series kicks off on May 31 with Susan Graham and Matthew Polenzani in selections from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” and Symphony No. 1. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the program. On June 3, Salonen conducts mezzo-soprano Karen {…}

May 16, 2017

Best of Metropolitan Opera 2016-17: Plácido Domingo & The 10 Best Male Performances

This article is a joint collaboration between David & Francisco Salazar. Yesterday we gave you the finest female performers of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season. Now we turn toward the men that truly brought down the house. Remember that these picks are mere favorites based purely on personal preference. Since there were so many incredible performers this season, here is {…}