On April 14, The Metropolitan opera opened the third opera in Wagner’s tetralogy, “Siegfried.” Perhaps the least performed of the four operas due to its nearly impossible tenor role, the Metropolitan Opera landed one of the best performances of the season and with it saw a heroic and historical debut. A Heroic Performance In his Met debut, Stefan Vinke got {…}
You won’t find a major repertory staple in this weekend’s previews, but all of these works are essential viewing for the opera lover. There are a few world premieres coupled with gems from famed composers that rarely take the stage. Then there’s a masterpiece embedded in this week’s top recommendations (in alphabetical order by company). Le Comte Ory – Edmonton {…}
The HD phenomenon has taken hold of the opera world over the past few decades, even though video recordings of performances have been around for quite some time. But today it has become embedded as a major part of the operatic experience and some might argue that a number of productions in major theaters are directed with the high-definition video {…}
Ismael Jordi is set to make his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2021. According to the Diario de Jérez, the Spanish tenor will make his debut at the Met in January of 2021 in the role of Romeo in Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. According to the online publication, the offer came after Jordi received rave reviews at the {…}
(Credit: Richard Termine / Met Opera) Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” is undeniably one of his greatest operas. The work certainly has its dramatic challenges, but it is hard to look at the score and find one piece that misses the mark. Every single musical number is vibrant, full of life, and unique in its own way. Not even the {…}
On March 31, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions were brought to a thrilling conclusion with their grand finals concert. Hosted by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, nine young finalists took to the Metropolitan’s stage for the first time to share their artistic gifts with the audience. Opening the afternoon’s concert was soprano Meghan Kasanders, singing “Dich, teure Halle’ from {…}
The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions has announced its 2019 winners. Out of nine finalists Thomas Glass, Miles Mykkanen, William Guanbo Su, Elena Villalón, and Michaela Wolz won the competition, each receiving $15,000 cash prize. The winners took home the prize after a months-long series of auditions involving more than 1,000 singers at the district, regional, and national levels. The 65th annual auditions was hosted {…}
Verdi’s “La Traviata” will be showcased on PBS as part of the Great Performances at the Met. The broadcast is set for April 5, 2019 at 9 p.m. The opera showcases Diana Damrau as the tragic heroine in Michael Mayer’s new production. Juan Diego Flórez is Alfredo while Quinn Kelsey is his father Germont. The performance was hosted by Anita {…}
This weekend’s selections run the gamut from a world premiere, the return of a famed but rarely performed opera (at least in the States), a superstar cast in a Mozart opera, and two other works by prominent composers. Here is a rundown of our top five selections of the weekend (in alphabetical order by company). L’Incoronazione di Poppea – Florentine {…}
Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” has only had 45 performances to date at the Metropolitan Opera. Compared to other major works by the iconic composer, that number is rather low. The opera actually had its Met premiere on Oct. 18, 1984. It’s history with the company has been marked by a wide range of major stars in the three main {…}
Wagner’s “Die Walküre” took center-stage at the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, March 25, 2019 to what is likely to have been the most enthusiastic audience of the season. After every act, the artists were showered with tremendous ovations, each more effusive than the last. It was emblematic of an evening that just seemed to grow in stature as the night {…}