The Cuban Hebrew Congregation-Temple Beth Shmuel of Miami Beach is slated to showcase a gala tribute concert honoring the late legend Robert Merrill for his 100th birthday on Jan. 8, 2017. The performance will feature Rabbi / Cantor Stephen Texon and Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi. The former is of the Cuban Hebrew Congregation while the latter is from the Anshe Emet {…}
Christmas weekend presents a quandary for major opera companies as attendance hits a snag for a few days as people stay home and spend time with families. Despite that, there is one company that is braving the circumstances and keeping those opera lovers satisfied with performances through the holiday. The Metropolitan Opera will showcase its production of The Magic Flute {…}
Isabel Leonard is recognized as one of the brightest stars in the opera world for her vocal beauty and vocal fireworks. After years of exploring Mozart and the baroque repertoire, Leonard is moving into new territory this season. She recently made her role debut as Adalgisa in Bellini’s “Norma” and last week she made her role debut as Charlotte in {…}
This review is for the performance on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. Verdi’s famed overture for his first masterwork “Nabucco” starts off with a few brass calls followed by a massive explosion of sound a few bars later. From there Verdi’s music traverses the contrast between a glorious melody clamoring for peace and one of military drive. It is this contrast between {…}
The holiday season means that few opera companies are in full swing in the United States. Thankfully, as the case last weekend, there are still operas pulling out the stops to ensure that opera-hungry audiences are not left famished. Here are the opera companies in the US. On Friday, the Metropolitan Opera showcases its second performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco” starring {…}
This article relates to the performance of “L’Amour de Loin” at the Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 14, 2016. There was a light show on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House on Wednesday evening in the company’s performance of Kaija Saariaho’s “L’Amour De Loin,” though a sudden moment of darkness threatened to be the most impactful moment of the entire {…}
Isabel Leonard and Juan Diego Florez will make their role debuts in Massenet’s “Werther” on Thursday at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. The performance will be broadcast via radio through Radio RAI at 8 PM Local Time (2 PM EST). The cast also includes Jean-François Lapointe as Albert and Ruth Iniesta as Sophie. Michelle Mariotti will be in the pit for {…}
Renee Fleming has confirmed that the new production of Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” is her final production at the Metropolitan Opera. After much speculation the American diva confirmed it was her last contract with the company. She said in an interview with the Financial Times, “Yes, after Rosenkavalier at the Met, that is it, unless a new role comes along that is fit {…}
Over the course of two uninterrupted hours, Strauss’ “Salome” must develop from a clueless ingénue to a passionate seductress that eventually ends up a murderous, lustful lunatic. It is the dream role for any actress, but also one that demands a grade-A star to dispatch all of its nuance and intense passions. Patricia Racette was not supposed to be the {…}
Maurisz Kwiecien and Peter Mattei will replace Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Metropolitan Opera’s revival production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” On Thursday the Russian baritone announced his withdrawal from all opera performances for the foreseeable future. He stated, “It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from opera performances for the foreseeable future. I have been experiencing balance issues associated {…}
Audiences worldwide will get a chance to witness Kaija Saariaho’s “L’Amour de Loin” on Saturday as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s hugely popular Live in HD series. The performance is the third in this season’s series. The famed company kicked off its series with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” and followed it up with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” “L’Amour de Loin” is {…}