Vienna State Opera 2017-18 Live Stream: Donizetti’s ‘L’Elisir d’Amore’ To Compete with Met Opera’s Live in HD Transmission

On Feb. 10, 2018, audiences around the world will have their pick of watching two different “L’Elisir d’Amore” performances. The Met’s Live in HD program will showcase its own version, but the Vienna State Opera will live stream another performance around the same exact time. The performance will feature Benjamin Bernheim, Andrea Carroll, Mario Cassi, and Paolo Rumetz in the {…}

Feb 5, 2018

Enjoying Life His Way – Bass Rene Pape on ‘Parsifal,’ Future Projects, & The Papeduck

René Pape, opera’s most iconic bass had an eventful 2017 and is kicking off the New Year in tremendous style. For those who want a recap – the bass sang in 14 productions throughout the year, mostly in Wagner operas and then ended 2017 by releasing a rubber duck in his image, the famed “Papeduck.” And now he’s back for {…}

Feb 3, 2018

Editorial: Updated With Retraction – Peter Gelb Must Apologize to John Copley Lest He Damage Credibility in #MeToo Movement

Editorial Note: Per a recent report from the New York Times, Copley’s remarks were aimed at the chorister and were largely inappropriate. Of course, the dispute rages and there seems to be much debate about who or what was said. Some of our own investigation has yielded similar contradiction. As such, we do note that until the clarity of the {…}

Jan 31, 2018

Obituary: Met Opera Assistant General Manager Robert Rattray Passes At 67

Met Assistant General Manager Robert Rattray has passed away at the age of 67. Per sources, he suffered a stroke on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. He was appointed to the position in 2014, replacing Sarah Billinghurst. Prior to that appointment, he had already accumulated over 40 years of experience in the world of classical music management. He had been Joint {…}

Jan 27, 2018

Editorial: Is It Time To Change How Opera Reviews Are Done? And Is It Possible?

Back on Jan. 4, I published this piece of criticism on this website. Entitled “Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Review – Tosca: Yoncheva, Grigolo, Villaume Not Ready for Primetime,” it was clearly no ringing endorsement for the major performers of this hotly anticipated Met Opera production. In fact, it was scathing takedown in some ways of everyone involved, done in the greatest {…}

Jan 25, 2018

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Live in HD Preview: Yoncheva, Grigolo Appear on Silver Screen in ‘Tosca’

This weekend, the Metropolitan Opera’s famed Live in HD series returns with Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production by David McVicar stars Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo, and Zeljko Lucic, with Emmanuel Villaume conducting. The production premiered on New Year’s Eve 2017 and has divided critics left and right. Of this cast, OperaWire’s David Salazar wrote, “Yoncheva, Grigolo, Villaume Not Ready for Primetime,” {…}

Jan 16, 2018

Ranking All of Sir David McVicar’s Met Opera Productions

Sir David McVicar has been directing opera for quite some time, working with such prominent companies as the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Monnaie, and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He has also sustained a healthy relationship with the Metropolitan Opera, particularly in recent years where he has been given carte blanche to put together {…}

Jan 12, 2018

The Metropolitan Opera Guild Announces New Programs, Including Maria Callas Tribute, For 2018

The Metropolitan Opera Guild has announced new programs for the 2018 season. Among the new programs added to the Schedule are “In the Mouth of the Wolf,” “Maria Callas at Ninety-Five – A Birthday Salute,” and “Celebrating Historic Met Moments.” “We are pleased to announce some new and additional programming for Spring 2018,” said Stuart Holt, Director of School Programs and {…}

Dec 12, 2017

Bryn Terfel Exits Met Opera ‘Tosca’ Completing Cast Overhaul

Oct 27, 2017

Weekend Preview – USA (10/27-29): Dallas Opens ‘La Traviata’ While Pacific Opera Project Showcases ‘The Medium’

The weekend will be jam-packed with a slew of unique operas, some of them appearing for the first time this season. Giancarlo Menotti’s “The Medium” opens on Friday, with subsequent performances on Saturday over at Pacific Opera Project. Canadian Opera Company continues its run of “L’Elisir d’Amore” on Friday and Sunday and finishes off its run of “Arabella” on Saturday. {…}

Oct 17, 2017

Mezzo-Soprano Jamie Barton’s Quartet of Historic Accolades

Jamie Barton is one of the fast-rising stars of the opera world. Born on Oct. 17, 1981, you might already call her an operatic superstar, her performances drawing the most enthusiastic raves from critics the world over. Her showcase at the Met in 2016-17 in Dvorak’s “Rusalka” was continually lauded as “scene-stealing” and she just seems unstoppable. In looking at {…}

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