Klaus Florian Vogt is regarded as one of the most sought-after Wagnerian tenors his generations. He has marveled audiences with his intense lyricism and his commitment to each role he portrays. This week he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time since 2006 when he made his debut in the title role of Wagner’s “Lohengrin.” This time Met {…}
Matthew Polenzani loves Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” During a recent interview with OperaWire, the tenor went so far as to call it the composer’s “greatest opera.” That’s right, with output that includes gems such as “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” “Così Fan Tutte” and “Die Zauberflote,” Polenzani, who is among the greatest exponents of these very operas, puts his marker on {…}
New Yorkers will have a chance to meet Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva at the Metropolitan Opera Shop next Wednesday, March 15 at 3 P.M. EST. The soprano’s new album “Handel” recently hit stores and includes music from the composer’s opera’s, “Giulio Cesare in Egitto,” “Alcina,” “Rodelinda,” “Agrippina,” “Theodora” and “Rinaldo.” This is Yoncheva’s third album with Sony Classical. In 2015 {…}
On New Year’s Eve, the Metropolitan Opera opened a new production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.” The result was a mixed bag with two bright stars heading the cast. The production was a dreary classically fitted take that lacked clarity of vision and ultimately dragged the show. After a few months, the Met has revived the production with better results. {…}
Many opera companies get back in on the action this weekend from all around the country in one of the busier weekends of the season. The Dallas Opera makes its great return on Friday, March 10 with a production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” Hui He stars in the leading role with Gianluca Terranova, Lucas Meachem and Manuela Custer rounding out the {…}
For decades Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” was rarely ever performed. We would hear the famed “Friendship Duet” or get the occasional recording here and there, but seeing a staged performance was a thing of dreams. But now opera lovers can enjoy a live performance of Bizet’s often-ignored work from the comfort of their living rooms. Mind you, the Metropolitan {…}
I preface this by stating that this review is for the performance on March 5, 2017. I would also like to recognize that this is just one performance of a seven-performance run. In an ideal situation, I would attend every performance and write a detailed review of the overall work. As it stands, I can only go on my perspective {…}
It has now been over three years since Jonas Kaufmann has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera. Fans were excited to see the tenor return next season for a hotly anticipated “Tosca,” but alas, the wait for his return to New York will continue after news broke out that he has canceled his appearances next season. The New York Times broke the {…}
This review is for the performance on Feb. 20, 2017. Taking in the experience of Massenet’s “Werther” is a rather fascinating one. Not because the music is without a doubt the composer’s finest creation or because the Metropolitan Opera’s production is a dramatic home run (more on that later). It has to do with audience interaction and engagement. Who would {…}
Fans will get a chance to meet mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton at the Metropolitan Opera Store on Feb 23 at 3 p.m. Barton will sign copies of her new album “All Who Wander,” which includes music from Sibelius, Dvorak and Mahler. Upon release OperaWire said, “Barton’s voice is delicate throughout, a sound that the audiences are not accustomed to hearing in the opera house where {…}
It isn’t a particularly busy week in terms of releases, but there are some gems that people will undeniably want to check out. Here is a look at the French and German offerings you can find available for home release. Damrau in Bizet One of the major highlights of the Met Opera’s 2015-16 season was Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles.” {…}