Germán Enrique Alcántara, Julieth Lozano, Soraya Mafi, & Robert Lewis Star in Opera Rara’s 55 Season

Opera Rara announces its 55th season. Concerts The Salon Series recital co-presented with Temple Music Foundation features baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara and pianist Anna Tilbrook. Performance Date: October 10, 2025 The final, 1921 version of Puccini’s “La rondine” features Ermonela Jaho, Iván Ayón-Rivas, Nicola Alaimo, Ellie Neate, Juan Francisco Gatell, Jessica Robinson, Julieth Lozano, Joanna Harries, Robert Lewis, and William {…}

Apr 4, 2025

CD Review: Opera Rara’s ‘Simon Boccanegra’

“Simon Boccanegra” – in its standard 1881 revision – is an undisputed, though infrequently performed, masterpiece. But what of its very first iteration from 1857? Its premiere, at Venice’s La Fenice, famously turned into a fiasco. Julian Budden, for example, admitted to the hostility with which the libretto was received, while Verdi himself, in a letter to Giraldoni, wryly picked {…}

Mar 13, 2025

Opera Rara to Stream Michael Spyres & Marie-Nicole Lemieux’s Donizetti / Berlioz Recital

Opera Rara is set to stream its March 16 concert featuring Michael Spyres and Marie-Nicole Lemieux. The showcase, which took place at Cadogan Hall on March 10, will be available to stream on Opera Rara’s YouTube for 30 days starting on March 16, 2025. The performance featured several songs by Donizetti, interspersed with works by Berlioz. The two singers were {…}

Dec 12, 2024

Opera Rara Announces 2025 Schedule

Opera Rara has announced the 2025 schedule The first series of “Lives in Song” is hosted by Flora Willson and Roger Parker. Donizetti—Episode 2 will examine the music of Gaetano Donizetti and tell the story of his life through some of the songs he composed. Stream Date: Jan. 16, 2025 Opera Rara’s second Salon Series recital for emerging artists will {…}

Oct 30, 2024

Rosa Feola’s ‘Donizetti Song Project’ Concert to Get Live Stream

(Credit: (c) Simon Weir) Opera Rara is set to stream its upcoming performance of Rosa Feola at Wigmore Hall on Nov. 2, 2024. The famed soprano will perform as part of the “Donizetti Song Project” alongside Carlo Rizzi at the piano and Sally Pryce on harp. The performance features songs by Donizetti as well as a modern-day premiere. Also on {…}

May 8, 2024

Ermonela Jaho Headlines Opera Rara’s Second ‘Donizetti and Friends’ Recital

Opera Rara is set to present its second “Donizetti and Friends” recital on May 23, 2024. The showcase, which will take place at Wigmore Hall, will feature Artist Ambassador Ermonela Jaho. She is joined by Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi. They will perform numerous songs by Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, Gounod, and Viardot. Also performing at the concert is violinist Marco Rizzi {…}

Apr 2, 2024

CD Review: Opera Rara’s ‘L’Esule di Roma’

In 2023, Carlo Rizzi and the British label of Opera Rara resurrected Mercadante’s unjustly neglected “Il Proscritto” – the story of the exile Giorgio Argyll’s return to Scotland and the ensuing, tragic love triangle at the heart of Salvadore Cammarano’s rather unlikely libretto. In 2024, conductor Rizzi turns his attention to another exile: the former tribune Settimio who is the {…}

Mar 29, 2024

Opera Rara Announces Cast Change for ‘Simon Boccanegra’

Opera Rara has announced a cast change for its concert performance of “Simon Boccanegra.” The company said, “We’re sorry to not be able to work with Nicola Alaimo again this year as he’s had to withdraw from ‘Simon Boccanegra’ due to illness. We wish Nicola a very speedy recovery! We’re happy to announce that our Simon will now be Germán {…}

Mar 13, 2024

Michael Spyres, Ermonela Jaho & Rosa Feola Lead Opera Rara’s 2024-25 Season

Opera Rara has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the concert performances and album releases. Concerts The company will open its season with the 1857 version of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” in Manchester. Sir Mark Elder conducts The Hallé and Chorus of Opera North. The cast includes Nicola Alaimo (Simon Boccanegra), Eri Nakamura (Amelia), Iván-Ayón Rivas (Gabriele Adorno), {…}

Dec 14, 2023

Ermonela Jaho, William Thomas, Eleonora Buratto, Iván Ayón-Rivas Headlines Opera Rara’s 2024 Slate

Opera Rara has announced its Spring 2024 performance slate. First up will be the third recital in its Salon Series featuring bass William Thomas as he presented music by Verdi and Donizetti alongside pianist Florent Mourier. Performance Dates: Feb. 22, 2024 Then comes a presentation of the 1857 version of Verdi’s “Simon Bocanegra.” The edition, edited by Roger Parker at Casa {…}

Dec 2, 2023

CD Review: Opera Rara’s ‘La Princesse de Trébizonde’

The production history of Jacques Offenbach’s “La Princesse de Trébizonde” is convoluted to say the least. It premiered twice, once in Baden-Baden and once at the Bouffes-Parisiens in 1869. In between both versions, it was reworked extensively; pastiches from the unpublished “La Baguette” were removed and Offenbach wrote a whole new act in a bid to align the narrative of {…}

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