On December 19, 2018, The Metropolitan Opera premiered this season’s run of Mozart’s musical drama “The Magic Flute.” This production by Julie Taymor is notable for its English translation, abridged running time, and opulent presentation; these features concentrated the drama and allegorical meaning which would unfold in the hands of the company’s cast of artists. Squaring the Circle Taymor’s production {…}
Baritone Sesto Bruscantini, born on Dec. 10, 1919, would go on to become a major Italian baritone throughout the 20th century. He actually obtained a law degree but turned to vocal studies and by 1947 had won a voice contest organized by RAI. His first professional appearance was in 1946 as Colline in “La Bohème;” his rendition of “Vecchia zimarra” {…}
Olga Peretyatko has announced her latest CD for Sony Classical. The soprano announced via social media that her latest album entitled “Mozart +” will be released in February 2019. The new album will mark her fifth for Sony Classical. She released her first album with the company entitled “La Bellezza Del Canto” in 2011 followed by “Arabesque” in 2014. In {…}
Earlier this year, mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta took home the award for Young Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards. To that point, she has been growing her career steadily as an ensemble member at the Oper Leipzig, among others endeavors. But the victory propelled her into the spotlight and since then, Giunta has made her BBC Proms debut {…}
The Skylark Opera Theatre has announced its 2019 season featuring two very different works. Here is a glance at what to expect. Productions The first production of the season will be Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte” directed by directed by Bob Neu and will be set in the present day. The work will be presented throughout the Historic Mound Theater. “‘Così {…}
Since its premiere at the Komische Oper Berlin in 2012, the production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” by Barrie Kosky, Suzanne Andrade and Paul Barritt has enjoyed nothing short of a sensational journey throughout the world. And while still not near a decade into its existence, it continues to be a vehicle for the potential of breathing life into opera {…}
Act two of “Le Nozze di Figaro” opens in a modern living room with sleekly designed furniture, surrounding a polar bear skin rug. On the back wall is a very large picture of an elephant crashing into the room. By Act three the same elephant is now standing inside the room. It has grown substantially. It is now a giant {…}
Soprano Lucia Popp was born on Nov. 12, 1939, and destined for a rather potent career at an early age. Born in the Slovak State, she originally set out on a course to study drama at the Bratislava Academy. She originally started taking voice lessons as a mezzo-soprano but eventually graduated as a soprano. At age 23, she made her {…}
Born in Pant Glas on Nov. 9, 1965, Bryn Terfel has turned into the most prominent Welsh singer of all time. His interest in music started from his early years, with the bass-baritone learning traditional Welsh songs. He moved to London in 1984 to study at the Guildhall School of Music and graduated five years later as the winner of {…}
The New Generation Festival has announced its 2019 program, which will take place at the Gardens of the Palazzo Corsini. Per a press release, the 2018 festival was a massive success with audience members from over 25 countries and 800 applications from musicians under the age of 35 from over 78 different countries. The opening night of the festival will {…}
When many people think of opera, Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” is undeniably one of the first ones to come to mind. The work, which premiered aptly on Oct. 29, 1787, is perfect for the Halloween spirit with its shapeshifting nature and its blend of numerous genres. It’s opening notes frighten, but before long the work moves from a drama about sexual {…}