(Photo © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) “La Cenerentola” premiered in 1817, shortly after Rossini’s success with “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” History tells us that it was composed in just three weeks, with only minimal self-plagiarism: the overture was borrowed from “La Gazetta,” and the protagonist’s final rondo from the tenor’s final aria in “Il Barbiere.” The story is a {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” for the first time in 30 years. The opera will be presented between April 26 and May 18, 2024 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, with an additional one-night-only performance starring current and graduate artists of the COC’s Ensemble Studio on May 14, 2024. The opera {…}
This week audiences cannot miss debut albums, a world premiere recording, and two acclaim DVD releases A Phoenix Rising Navona Records releases tenor Brian Smith Walters’ first album. The CD is a cross-section of chansons and Lieder spanning five centuries, and Walters navigates them with stunning bravado. Audiences will hear selections from Purcell, Copland, Schubert, Saint Saens, Tchaikovsky, Barber, Wagner, {…}
Photo: Ruth Walz Whatever one thinks about the efficacy of the measures introduced to combat the COVID crisis, the political processes by which they were introduced should be a serious cause for concern. Governments throughout the West rushed through measures, often by-passing parliamentary discussion and oversight and ruled by decree. Criticism and dissent were stifled. The media, which should have {…}
Dutch National Opera is set to present the world premiere of “Animal Farm” as part of its Opera Forward Festival 2023. The work, which is based on George Orwell’s iconic book, features a libretto by Ian Burton and music by Alexander Raskatov. It will star Gennady Bezzenbenkov, Misha Kiria, Michael Gniffke, James Kryshak, Germán Olvera, Karl Laquit, Artyom Krutko, Helena {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season with productions, four world premieres, two European premieres, six new productions, and four family operas. The season opens with a revival of Bizet’s “Carmen” with Jordan de Souza conducting a cast that includes J’Nai Bridges, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Lukasz Golinski, and Adriana González. Performance Dates: Sept. 3 – 22, 2022 Engelbert {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Opéra National de Paris official website / Fay Fox) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that it will reopen its doors to the audiences in June 2021, after seven month-long hiatus. Per the official press release, the reopening is epidemiologically possible as the seven-day COVID-19 incidence in Berlin has gone below the critical value of 100. {…}
On April 18 the Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain will open a production of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola.” The production, which will be performed at Teatro Pérez Galdós, will star Victoria Yarovaya as Angelina and Xabier Anduaga as Don Ramiro. They will be joined by Misha Kiria as Don Magnifico, Fernando Campero as Dandini, Cristina del Barrio {…}
(Credits: Bayerische Staatsoper official website / Lourdes Balduque / Elena Cherkashyna / Victor Santi) The Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain has announced its schedule for the first half of 2021. The program will feature a total of five operas. Here is a look at the schedule. Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” will feature Murat Karahan, Saioa Hernández, Massimo {…}
Opera Rara has announced the release of Donizetti’s “Il Paria.” The new recording is set to be released on Jan. 15 by Warner Classics and marks the 26th complete opera by Donizetti for Opera Rara. Sir Mark Elder conducts the work with a cast that includes Albina Shagimuratova, René Barbera, and Misha Kiria. “Il Paria” was recorded in the studio {…}
The entire run of the Malmö Opera production of Verdi’s “Falstaff” will be streamed online. The production by Lotte de Beer is set to star Misha Kiria, Jacquelyn Wagner, Orhan Yildiz, Alexandra Flood, Sehoon Moon, Maria Streijffert, and Matilda Paulsson. Steven Sloane will conduct. Dde Beer, newly appointed artistic director at Volksoper Wien, is one of Europe’s most sought-after young {…}