(Credits: Opera Online) The Festival de Teatro Lírico Español de Oviedo has announced two cast changes for its upcoming production of Manuel de Falla’s “La Vida Breve.” First, soprano Virginia Tola will replace Ainhoa Arteta, who tested positive for COVID-19 and is still recovering. Additionally, mezzo-soprano Cristina Faus will replace María Luisa Corbacho, who has also tested positive for the {…}
The Royal College of Music (RCM) announced additional details about its upcoming two-part series, Opera Scenes. RCM selected works from across the repertoire that touch on themes of isolation, separation, and resolution. The premiere of Opera Scenes will stream on the College’s YouTube channel and Facebook page on Nov. 27 and 28 at 7:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time. The Nov. {…}
(Credit: Oberon’s Grove) French coloratura soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre has died at the age of 88. Eda-Pierre was born in Fort-de-France, capital of Martinique. She came to France to finish her studies at Conservatoire de Paris and in 1957, she made her professional debut in the role of Leïla in Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles.” She went on to perform at {…}
“Opera Meets Film is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will hone in on a selection or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perceptions of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Akira Kurosawa’s {…}
(Credit: Guergana Damianova / Opera de Paris) Attending a French opera in Paris is always a remarkable experience; in this case, as the conductor and most of the cast were French you get a special taste of French style and diction that is difficult to find anywhere else. On this occasion, the Paris Opera mounted Robert Carsen’s famed production of {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Opéra National de Paris has opened its doors for the first time in months and will present Offenbach and Barbier’s opera “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” today, January 25, 2020, at the Opéra Bastille, per an official statement on the company’s website. This is the first performance of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” of the season after an earlier one was {…}
(Credit: Jiyang Chen) The Opéra National de Paris has canceled the opening night performance of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” scheduled for January 21 at the Opéra Bastille, according to the official statement on the company’s website. The cancellation came as a result of the strike notice against the French government pension reform and is the latest in a series of {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features “The Whistlers.” Music {…}
The Vienna State Opera will showcase “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” as part of its live streaming service on Sept. 15, 2019. The performance will feature Dmitry Korchak, Luca Pisaroni, Olga Peretyatko, and Gaëlle Arquez. Frédéric Chaslin conducts a production by Andrei Serban. Of the opening performance, OperaWire’s review noted, “Overall this “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” was an enjoyable evening with a standout {…}
(Credits: Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” is one of the touchstone French operas, especially for tenors. It features a role most tenors look to sing because of the acting possibilities and the rich music that Offenbach wrote. But it is also a challenging evening that requires stamina from its leading man, as well as a solid cast {…}
This new recital of florid Offenbach rarities sung by Jodie Devos, a young Belgian soprano, is lightning in a bottle. I can’t recall the last time I felt such an ecstatic sense discovery while a CD unspooled around me: nearly a dozen obscure gems from one of the most prolific and ingenious composers of all time are made to sparkle {…}