The Metropolitan Opera has announced Week 7 of its weekly streams. This week’s slate will feature Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy in addition to showcasing a rare modern opera and a Russian classic. But the big surprise this week will be the showcase of a legendary performance starring Leontyne Price, suggesting that the company will start to showcase some of its historic {…}
Many companies will celebrate Verdi’s birthday this weekend. There will also be a number of baroque selections and two intriguing new productions of rarely performed works. Here are our recommendations for this weekend. Giovanna d’Arco – La Monnaie, Belgium In celebration of Verdi’s birthday, the Belgium theater presents a concert performance of Verdi’s popular early work. Salome Jicia takes on {…}
The Bilbao Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring five productions, two company premieres, and a number of debuts by some of the biggest stars. Here is a look at what you can expect next season. Jessica Pratt opens the season with her acclaimed interpretation of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” The soprano is joined by Ismael Jordi, Juan Jesús Rodriguez, and {…}
Nina Stemme has canceled her performances of “Turandot” at the Teatro Real. The Teatro Real announced that due to health reasons, Stemme would not perform the opera, which opens on Nov. 30. As a result, Oksana Dyka and Irene Theorin, who were already scheduled for performances will take over Stemme’s. The company’s production by Robert Wilson will also star Gregory Kunde {…}
The Teatro la Fence has announced its 2018-19 season and will present a number of repertoire staples and rare gems. The season will also include a divide itself between the Teatro Malibran and Teatro La Fenice. Here is a look at the productions and concerts that will be held during the season. Productions Verdi’s “Macbeth” opens the season in a {…}
The Teatro Real has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of repertory staples and rarities. The season will also include a number of superstars and modern classics. Here is a look at all the vocal highlights in the season. Productions The season opens with Gounod’s “Faust” with two different casts. Piotr Beczala and Ismael Jordi star in the title {…}
This review is for the performance on April 1, 2018. Many of Verdi’s early operas are strange concoctions. As you sit there listening to these works, you find yourself often carried away by the hints of the genius to come. The knowledge of what he will become creates the anticipation that he will show up in his full greatness in {…}
This weekend will be filled with a number of stars singing some of their most acclaimed roles. But what will make this weekend even more special is that it will feature a world premiere, a rarely performed Verdi gem, and a rarely performed baroque piece. Here is a look. Rusalka – Prague National Opera, Czech Republic Kerri-Lynn Wilson makes a {…}
The Hamburg State Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of international singers and six new productions. Here is a look at what’s in store for operalovers. New Productions The Hamburg State Opera’s first new production of the season will be “Così fan tutte” with Maria Bengtsson, Stephanie Lauricella, Kartal Karagedik, Dovlet Nurgeldiyev, Oleksiy Palchykov, Sylvia Schwartz, and {…}
Occasionally music history has strange coincidences where a famous composer is unable to finish his final work. This is particularly strange when the final work has something to do with death. Consider Mozart who died writing a requiem. Likewise, Giacomo Puccini succumbed to lung cancer before completing “Turandot.” The last piece he wrote was the funeral march for the slave {…}
The festival season is coming to an end with many performances and productions on their last weekends. That said, the schedule around the world is still slated to feature a ton of major opera stars. Austria The Salzburg Festival is in full swing with Rolando Villazón and Cecilia Bartoli performing on Friday in “Ariodante” and Anna Netrebko and Francesco Meli {…}