“Il Trovatore” never fails. From one note to the next, we have glory, love, pain, revenge, daring. Verdi didn’t miss. Say what you want about the twisting melodrama of a gypsy, a curse, stolen babies, a woman caught between two lovers. When you come down to it, you have opera to shout over. Last night at the Opéra National de {…}
Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” is legendary. The work is widely regarded as Russia’s greatest opera, even despite its labyrinthine history of revisions. This week, the work opens at the Opéra de Paris in a production by Ivo van Hove with Ildar Abdrazakov and Alexander Tsymbalyuk sharing the title role. Alongside them will be conductors Vladimir Jurowski and Damian Iorio. While Jurowski {…}
Elena Stikhina has withdrawn from Opéra de Paris’ upcoming revival of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” The Opéra de Paris announced the news via social media and as a result, Jennifer Rowley will take over the role of Leonora singing alongside Yusif Eyvazov and Roberto Alagna as well Ekaterina Semenchuk and Gabriele Viviani. Maurizio Benini will conduct the production by Àlex Ollé. Rowley {…}
Anna Netrebko has canceled her final performances as Violetta in “La Traviata.” The performances, which were slated for the Opéra de Paris on Feb. 21, 25, and 28, will instead be performed by Marina Rebeka. The soprano had not sung the role for a number of years but had returned to it in 2017-18 at La Scala and was slated {…}
On Dec. 12, 2017, Medici.tv will present Puccini’s “La Bohème” from the Paris Opera. The new production by Claus Guth, which takes place in space, stars Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. Rising star Aida Garifullina stars as Musetta while Atalla Ayan is Rodolfo and Artur Ruciński is Marcello. When the production opened audiences booed it but critics were {…}
The Opéra de Paris is showcasing two events to celebrate the death of celebrated director Patrice Chéreau. The Tribute to the famed director will be highlighted by a new production of Janacek’s “From the House of the Death” and “Patrice Chéreau, Staging the Opera.” The new production of the Janacek opera will be the one directed by the famed director {…}
This weekend, a number of productions continue runs all over the world with many of the biggest stars singing. Check out what companies have to offer. Austria At the Vienna State Opera, Carlos Álvarez and Dorothea Röschmann continue their run of “Le Nozze di Figaro” on Friday while on Sunday audiences get another chance at “Chowanschtschina” with Ferruccio Furlanetto. On Saturday, {…}
Pierre Vernes, the founder of the Paris Opera Competition has passed away. Verne created the competition back in 2010, which has turned into a biannual showcase with over hundreds of submissions and a final gala event that decides the winner. At the start of the competition’s history, concerts were used every other year in place of a formal competition. Vernes, {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has cancelled her upcoming performances of “Eugene Onegin” at the Paris National Opera. In a statement the soprano said that Tatiana no longer suited her “both in terms of the character and of her musical writing.” She also noted that she would not sing the role in any future production. Yoncheva was to sing “Eugene Onegin” in the June {…}
Aleksandra Kurzak has leaked the Opera National de Paris 2017-18 Season. The soprano posted two roles that she will be singing next season on Facebook. Kurzak will make her role debut as Alice Ford in Verdi’s “Falstaff” and will sing alongside Bry Terfel, Francesco Demuro and Franco Vassallo. Fabio Luisi will conduct the run, which opens on Oct. 26. The soprano {…}