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 {…}
Let’s keep things Metropolitan Opera-centric this week. With one exception. It’s the end of the year and that means the big Met gala on New Year’s Eve as well as another hotly anticipated revival set to take the stage with a new cast. Isabel Leonard got everyone jumping with excitement for the upcoming “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the Met. {…}
As 2017 comes to a close, the US opera scene fades out almost completely. Last week we saw only a handful of operas from the Metropolitan Opera featured on the weekend. This weekend is slightly different with two other companies joining the fray. Here are the operas to see this weekend. The Barber of Seville – Eugene Opera, Amore Opera {…}
Over the past years, Vittorio Grigolo has become one of the biggest stars in the opera world for his magnetic and charismatic stage presence. His performances have been heralded by critics in numerous lyric roles including Nemorino in “L’Elisir d’Amore,” Edgardo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Rodolfo in “La “Boheme,” and Hoffmann in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” And now the tenor is {…}
This review is for the performance on Dec. 22, 2017. We’re going to change things up a bit for this review. I don’t enjoy writing in the first person for this kind of article, but “Hansel and Gretel” is an extremely personal experience for me. It was the first opera I ever saw in my life at the age of {…}
Let’s be clear. This weekend is not one generally associated with opera in the US or North America at large. With Christmas just a few days away, most companies are not keen on risking small audiences simply because most of their greatest supporters are away with family or other activities. So for the first time in weeks, there will be {…}
Fernando Corena, born on Dec. 22, 1916, had a long-standing association with the Metropolitan Opera. In fact, he sang over 700 times with the company between 1954 and 1978. His first ever performance with the company was as Leporello in “Don Giovanni,” that debut coming on Feb. 6, 1954. On Dec. 30, 1978, he finished off his Met career in {…}
Conductor Fritz Reiner was one of the prominent maestros of the 20th century. Born on Dec. 19, 1988, he most famously led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for a great number of years. He worked with some of the world’s finest musicians, famously recording concertos with Jascha Heifetz, but was also noted for his work in the opera house. At the {…}
This review is for the performance on Dec. 14, 2017. It’s an interesting time at the Metropolitan Opera right now. Undeniably taking into account the jolly spirit of the holidays the company is only showcasing comedies between now and Dec. 31, when it presents a new production of one of the most violent of all operas – “Tosca.” But for {…}
It has been three years since Lisette Oropesa last stepped on the Metropolitan Opera stage where she fostered the majority of her young career. For years since 2005 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Oropesa was the go-to for numerous comprimario roles and supporting roles. She sang such roles as Nanetta in “Falstaff,” Lay Sister in “Suor Angelica,” {…}
On Dec. 18, the Metropolitan Opera will open its production of “Hansel and Gretel.” The current production, directed by Richard Jones, made its debut in 2007, and will now get its 32nd performance. Here are some fun facts about the upcoming production and what fans can expect from these seven showcases of “Hansel and Gretel.” New Production When the work {…}