(Image source: YouTube) Dutch mezzo-soprano Cora Canne Meijer passed away on August 25, 2020, at the age of 91. Cora Canne Meijer graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The mezzo-soprano debuted in 1950 with the Nederlandse Opera (now De Nationale Opera) in the role of Annina in Verdi’s “La Traviata.” During her first year at the Nederlandse Opera, Meijer sang {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has released a new track, “Da unten im Tale,” by Johannes Brahms. Brahms’ song is a part of Kaufmann’s new Album “Selige Stunde,” which is due for release on September 4, 2020. Another track, “Mondnacht,” Op. 39/5 by Robert Schumann is now also available. The album also contains lieder such as Silcher’s “Ännchen von Tharau,” Mozart’s “Sehnsucht nach {…}
Spooky Goose Opera is set to present a Zoom performance of “The Magic Flute.” The opera production will star tenor Michael Celentano as Tamino with Alex Adams-Leytes as Papageno. Ariel Andrew and Ryan Colbert will rotate the role of Pamina with Angela Scorese and Katie Beckvold alternating as the Queen of the Night. Shelley Bruton, Bridget Ann Johnston, and Alessandra {…}
(Credits: Shirley Suarez / English National Ballet official website) The Scottish Opera has announced a September program of seated outdoor performances, following the Scottish Government’s decision from August 20. The Scottish Opera will bring live performances back to the stage with physical distancing observed at all times by the performers, backstage staff, and the audience. “We are delighted we can {…}
(Credits: Sonya Yoncheva official website / Charles Castronovo official website / Jason Homa / Sim Canetty-Clarke / Andrey Uspensky / © DR/Opéra National de Paris) The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has announced that it will reopen its doors for the first time Since March 16, 2020. The Royal Opera House will present the Live in Concert event on September {…}
This week the 2020-21 season begins in many European theaters. And with the reopening of seasons, many opera companies are adapting to restrictions imposed by health departments and experimenting with the repertoire. The Finnish National Opera is one of the companies that restructured its season and will present the world premiere of “COVID fan tutte” to open the season. The {…}
(Credit: Danny Courtis) The Leeds Town Hall has announced that it will hold the first live concert on August 28 since the lockdown began in March this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tenor Nicholas Watts will perform a program that includes works by Mendelssohn, Schubert and Mozart. David Cowan will be at the piano. David Greed will lead the {…}
History was made on May 3, 2019. The first transgender baritone, Lucia Lucas, sang the title role in Mozart/Da Ponte’s, “Don Giovanni.” Such an important milestone in both opera and transgender history didn’t take place in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago; it was in Tulsa, Oklahoma that Lucas made her debut as Don Giovanni, a crucial and extremely {…}
(Credits: Art Song Foundation of Canada official website / Brent Calis / Denis Rouvre / Julien Faugère) The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal has announced its 2020 fall season. Per an official statement on the company’s website, the number of spectators who can be admitted into the concert hall will strictly obey the health rules of the Public Health of Quebec. {…}
Earlier this season, rising star soprano Elsa Dreisig was set to make her role debut as Fiordiligi in “Cosi Fan Tutte” in Berlin. However, as was the case with most plans in 2020, COVID-19 canceled out that possibility. For the time being, it seemed that that auspicious debut would have to wait. But as fate would have it, Dreisig, a {…}
(Credits: © Sim Canetty-Clarke / Dario Acosta / Patrick Allen) BBC Proms has announced the schedule for the two weeks of live performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Compared to the initial plans that were conveyed to the public in May, there will be no live audience. For the purpose of this article, we will focus only on vocal performances. {…}