“Rigoletto” can’t be topped for its humanity. A father and a daughter, a jester, a virginal naif, longing for and trying to sustain a good a life in selfish and lecherous world, power-hungry and greedy, 16th century Mantua. Such is the subject of Verdi’s middle period masterpiece. The libretto by Francisco Maria Piave is based on the play “Le Roi {…}
The Gran Theatre de Genève has announced its 2017-18 season. The Three Figaro Operas Geneve will present three operas from the life of Figaro, over three days. The series will begin with Gioachino Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” followed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Le Nozze di Figaro and concluding with Elena Langer’s “Figaro Gets a Divorce.” The operas will run {…}
This week was a busy week for singers. Not only were many performing at festivals but a few were preparing new roles that are set to premiere in the next few weeks! Check it out. Nino Machaidze shared pictures of her current Gilda at the San Francisco Opera with Quinn Kelsey. Operawire will be at one of the performances later {…}
Another light weekend in North America’s Opera World with only a few companies putting on shows. Opera Theater of Saint Louis continues its run of Gordon’s “The Grapes of Wrath” on Friday. The next day the company puts on Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito.” The company closes out the weekend with “Madama Butterfly.” Portland Opera puts on its lone performance {…}
Vacations and weddings seemed to be in the spirit this week as a number of great stars were married and others enjoyed sightseeing while performing. The week kicked off with David Portillo getting married to his longtime fiancé, David Lawrence. On Instagram, the tenor shared a picture, stating, “I’m still flying.” Congrats to the Davids! I’m still flying. A post {…}
Verdi and Wagner fans are in for a treat this weekend as many of the leading companies will present some of the composers’ greatest works. Additionally audiences are in for an amazing journey with Jonas Kaufmann and Anja Harteros. Argentina At the Teatro Colon the production of Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” continues with Sabrina Cirera in the title role and Guadalupe Barrientos {…}
It was a fun week for a lot of major superstars in the opera world. Let’s start off with Carmen Giannattasio’s amazing week where she was not only given the honor of Knight of the order of the Star of the Italian Republic, but she also got to hang out with none other than legendary actress Dame Judi Dench. {…}
The San Francisco Opera’s summer season will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Summer of Love,” a social movement that emerged in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood during the summer of 1967 with three operatic gems that explore the theme of love in its many guises. The company will also returns to the home of the San Francisco Giants for the eleventh “Opera at {…}
The LA Opera may not offer as many operas as some companies in terms of quantity. However when it comes to quality, the company still knows how to bring together some of the most exciting performers in the industry. Here is a look at five stars who need to be seen in the 2017-18 season. Placido Domingo: Nabucco in Verdi’s {…}
Nino Machaidze will add the role of Nedda in Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” next season. The soprano confirmed the news on Instagram after her last performance of Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Grand Theatre de Geneve. Machaidze wrote, “What a Wonderful end of 2016 and beginning of 2017 i had with our Fantastic ‘La Bohème’ at Grand Théâtre de Genève. An Unforgettable experience and {…}
Gounod’s beloved “Romeo Juliette” returns to the Met on New Years Eve with a star cast that includes two singers that had electric chemistry in another great French work a few years ago. The Performers Diana Damrau and Vittorio were a dynamic duo when they took the stage for Massenet’s “Manon” back in March 2015. Their chemistry was revered by {…}