Weekend Preview – North America (11/10-11/12): New Met Opera ‘Thaïs,’ & LA Opera/Beth Morrison Project’s ‘Persona’ Highlight Weekend With Over 70 Performances

Talk about a busy weekend. There will be over 70 opera performances around the country this weekend with a wide range of repertoire. North of the border, Pacific Opera Victoria showcases “Rattenbury” on Friday and Sunday and Opéra de Montreal showcases “La Cenerentola.” Teatro Municipal De Santiago presents “Aida” on Friday and Saturday while Atlanta Opera does a showcase of {…}

Nov 7, 2017

Jonas Kaufmann Slated For ‘La Fanciulla del West’ At Metropolitan Opera

Jonas Kaufmann and Plácido Domingo are slated for big 2018-19 seasons. According to Opera Magazine and Parterre, Kaufmann is slated to return to the Metropolitan Opera for a new production in “La Fanciulla del West.” It would mark the second time the tenor takes on the role after his turn at the Vienna State Opera. Meanwhile, Domingo is expected to make {…}

Nov 5, 2017

Q & A: 59 Productions Director Mark Grimmer on Working At Metropolitan Opera & Nico Muhly’s ‘Marnie’

One of the more interesting developments in the opera world is the convergence of the theatrical experience with the audiovisual arts. At the Metropolitan Opera, this has been particularly noticeable in such works as “Satyagraha” and “The Enchanted Island,” where video projections are an essential part of the operatic experience, not only creating the environment, but also commenting on it. {…}

Nov 4, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Review – The Exterminating Angel: Thomas Adès Opera May Prove Polarizing Emotionally

Luis Buñuel’s “The Exterminating Angel” is one of the iconic surrealist masterpieces of all cinema. Set at an upper-class dinner, the film analyzes how people revert to their basest of instincts when they get stuck in a room that they inexplicably cannot escape. The film succeeds in its ability to blend the normal with the unreal in rather claustrophobic fashion, {…}

Nov 3, 2017

Weekend Preview – USA (11/3-5): Saratoga Opera, Opera Omaha, Anchorage Opera, Opera Naples Among Companies Opening New Productions

This weekend will feature a ton of opera across North America, with companies opening a number of productions and others closing them up. First, let’s take a look at the new runs opening this week. Saratoga Opera’s “La Traviata” gets its first performances on Friday and Sunday while Opera Omaha presents its only two “Tosca” showcases of the year those {…}

Oct 31, 2017

Arnold Rawls Replaces Aleksandrs Antonenko At Metropolitan Opera

Arnold Rawls will sing the role of Calàf in tonight’s performance of Puccini’s “Turandot” at the Metropolitan Opera. Rawls will replace the originally scheduled Aleksandrs Antonenko, who is ill. Rawls recently sang Radames in “Aida” at Opera Australia as Don Jose in “Carmen” at the Bergenz Festival. He has also sung “Il Trovatore,” “La Wally” and Verdi’s Requiem. Rawls has {…}

Oct 30, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: From Farrar To Racette, the Met’s Famous ‘Madama Butterfly’ Interpreters

“Madama Butterfly” is one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire, which makes it no surprise that the Metropolitan Opera will bring back the work for its 2017-18 season. This year’s run kicks off on Nov. 2, 2017 and will be showcased six times in the fall before returning on Feb. 22 for another six performances. In the {…}

Oct 23, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Frédéric Antoun Makes His Metropolitan Opera Debut As Raul In ‘The Exterminating Angel’

Over the past few years, Frédéric Antoun has made a mark on many of the leading theaters in the world, singing a variety of repertoire with vocal purity and nuance. This week, Metropolitan Opera audiences will finally get a chance to hear this French-Canadian singer as he makes his debut in the role of Raul in Thomas Adès’ “The Exterminating {…}

Oct 23, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: Thomas Adès’ ‘The Exterminating Angel’ Makes US Premiere

On Oct. 26, 2017, the Metropolitan Opera will present the American Premiere of Thomas Adès’ “The Exterminating Angel.” The opera is an adaptation of Luis Buñuel’s famed film that showcases a group of people unable to get out of a room. As the days pass, the tension builds but the people find no answers to their odd situation. The opera {…}

Oct 22, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Review – Norma: Marina Rebeka Makes Powerful Impression Alongside Joyce DiDonato, Joseph Calleja in New Met Production

This is a review for the Oct. 20 performance. I would like to begin this review at the end, since the final impressions, sensations and overall reaction of the audience is the barometer which measures the overall impact of the performance. In the case of this “Norma,” the final curtain was greeted with a massive explosion of applause in the {…}

Oct 20, 2017

Weekend Preview – USA (10/20-22): Dallas Opera Offers Olga Borodina in ‘Samson et Dalila’ While Other Companies Open Productions

Another operatic weekend. Another set of opening performances around North America. The big one on the radar is “Samson et Dalila” at the Dallas Opera, which is set to star Olga Borodina. The opera opens on Friday with another performance set for Sunday. Houston Grand Opera opens its production of “La Traviata” on Saturday. Additionally, the Florentine Opera opens its {…}