Lisette Oropesa was announced as the big winner of the Richard Tucker Award on Monday, but there were also a number of other major artists who scored big victories through the other accolades given by the Richard Tucker Foundation. The organization announced that the 2019 Richard Tucker Career Grants would go to sopranos Gabriella Reyes and Laura Wilde, as well {…}
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 finalists for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions have been revealed. The nine finalists are set to compete in the Grand Finals on the Met stage on March 31, 2019. The finalists include three tenors (Piotr Buszewski, Dashaui Chen, and Miles Mykkanen), three sopranos (Alaysha Fox, Meghan Kasanders, and Elena Villalón), one mezzo-soprano (Michaela Wolz), one baritone (Thomas Glass), {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2018-19 season featuring five productions including one world premiere and two modern masterpieces. The season opens with Puccini’s rarely performed “La Rondine,” which tells the tale of Magda a lively courtesan in Paris. Celine Byrne makes her debut in the title role with Leonardo Capalbo as Ruggero. Octavio Cardenas directs the new production which is {…}
“Halka” is considered one of the first great Polish operas in the canon. While it is rarely performed outside of Poland, Stanisław Moniuszko’s work has had a couple of outings in the United States. This season, the Bard Music Festival presented it in collaboration with the Polish National Opera in a semi-staged version that while not completely satisfying in its {…}