A few facts you need to know before reading this review: Russian opera is something extremely different. Such operas are just perfect for diversifying a repertoire of any European or American opera house. The main reason you might not like Russian opera is an incorrect performance. You need to be a Russian native to understand if it sounds correct. You {…}
Argentine director Marcelo Lombardero has accused Polish auteur Krzysztof Warlikowski of plagiarism with regards to his new production of “Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk.” The story first broke in El País, where the Argentine director, who produced the opera nearly a decade ago in South America, noted that he was “honored” to see Warlikowski honor him with his take on the {…}
Audiences who are unable to get to the Opéra National de Paris will still have a chance to check out some of the company’s many productions via cinema. In sum, the company will be showcasing four operas in movie theaters in 2019-20. They will also showcase three other productions from other venues. First up will be Verdi’s “La Traviata” on {…}
“Don Pasquale” is often considered Donizetti’s comic masterpiece, and if it is not perform as regularly as Donizetti’s “ L’Elisir d’Amore” one need not look further than the demanding part written for the tenor; but when you have Javier Camarena in the cast, you have no reason to worry about anything. But this production was not only about the great {…}
Roberto Alagna has canceled all performances of “Carmen’ at the Opera de Paris. The tenor wrote via social media, “Dear friends, despite 10 days of treatment, time is too short to correctly recover from a severe bronchitis. With all my regrets for those who were awaiting me in this role at the Opéra National de Paris, I have to withdraw. I wish {…}
The Paris Opera revived the Calixto Bieto’s production of “Carmen” at La Bastille with a cast to die for: Anita Rachvelishvili and Roberto Alagna as the tormented couple of Carmen and Don Jose, and Nicole Carr and Roberto Tagliavini as Micaëla and Escamillo. Lorenzo Viotti also made his debut with the company conducting the Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris. {…}
Bryan Hymel has canceled his remaining performances of “Les Troyens” at the Opéra National de Paris. The company announced that due to family reasons Hymel would not be able to perform. As a result, Brandon Jovanovich will take over. Hymel was slated to perform three performances of the seven with Jovanovich performing four shows. It is the second high-profile cancellation {…}
Stéphane Lissner, director of the Opéra National de Paris, will not retain his position for long. Per Le Monde, his contract runs out in 2021 and he is not set to have it renewed. The report also notes that Françoise Nyssen, the current minister of culture has made the decision and informed Lissner of it. One of the reasons behind {…}
The strike continues at the Opéra National de Paris and as a result, will affect tonight’s performance of “Il Trovatore.” The company announced that the concert version of the famed Verdi opera will feature the chorus and soloists in a single costume with no sets. This is the fourth performance that has affected the company as numerous showcases have been canceled and {…}
The Opéra National de Paris’s strike will affect tonight’s performance of “Boris Godunov.” The company announced that due to the strike, tonight’s performance of “Boris Godunov” will be replaced by a concert version (chorus and soloist singers in a single costume, no sets). The news comes after the ongoing strike that has affected numerous performances. As a result of the change, the {…}
This spring, the French Institute Alliance Française, New York’s premiere French cultural center, and the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet will present HD screenings of opera and ballet performances from the Paris Opera & Ballet for the first time in New York City. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to see “Millepied/Robbins/Balanchine” on Sunday, May 20, and “Samson et Dalila” {…}