Pretty Yende has been awarded the South Africa Music Award for International Achiever. According to a press release, the soprano is being recognized for her major strides on a global scale. The soprano, still very much at the start of her career, has already been showcased at some of the greatest opera houses in the world. This season was a {…}
The Metropolitan Opera 50th anniversary Gala promised to be a night filled with glamour and star power that reunited some of opera’s greatest singers on the same stage. It was a night that included some of the most popular pieces in the repertoire as well as some lesser known music that highlighted the Met’s growing and diverse repertoire. On many {…}
The International Opera Awards were presented on May 7, 2017, at the London Coliseum, celebrating the best in Opera. The year’s big winner went to Opéra de Lyon as it won Company of the Year beating out Houston Grand Opera, Oper Stuttgart, Opera Vlaanderen, Royal Opera House, and the Teatro alla Scala. Anna Netrebko, who was headlining the Metropolitan Opera’s 50th Anniversary gala, {…}
It’s the weekend and many of the top stars in opera are getting ready for the Metropolitan Opera’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Let’s find out what they were up to! Pretty Yende shared a selfie in her dressing room with Susan Graham. She shared no clues but she looked very excited to be in her presence. With the extraordinary Susan Graham❣❣❣ {…}
For 50 years, the Metropolitan Opera has made its home in Lincoln Center, creating numerous cathartic and revelatory memories for both audiences and artists alike. In speaking with some of the world’s greatest artists that have performed at the Met, OperaWire has been granted the opportunity to hear some unique, enriching and entertaining stories and experiences that have taken place {…}
Pretty Yende will perform with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in Carnegie Hall during the 2017-18 season. The acclaimed South African coloratura will perform Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4” and Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate,” replacing the originally planned Brahms Symphony No. 4. The program will also feature a world premiere by Carles Wuorinen entitled “Eros and Nemesis” and will be conducted by Music Director Emeritus {…}
On New Year’s Eve, the Metropolitan Opera opened a new production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.” The result was a mixed bag with two bright stars heading the cast. The production was a dreary classically fitted take that lacked clarity of vision and ultimately dragged the show. After a few months, the Met has revived the production with better results. {…}
A butterfly can never be caged or it dies. The same can be said of an opera singer, who needs the freedom to explore and develop as an artist. When an artist is caged and not allowed to carve out an organic path, he or she may burn out very quickly. During a recent interview with OperaWire, soprano Pretty Yende {…}
It was a huge week for a number of major opera singers this week, some receiving huge honors and others getting special Valentine’s Day treats. For Corinne Winters it was probably one of the biggest weeks of her life, the Soprano announcing her engagement to tenor Adam Smith and rocking her ring on Instagram. #heasked #isaidyes💍 happiest woman on Earth {…}
Two major cancellations were announced on Monday at the Metropolitan Opera. First it was announced that Diana Damrau would not partake in the second performance of “I Puritani” on Tuesday, Feb. 14 and then it was revealed tenor Marcelo Alvarez would also withhold from performing the performance of “Carmen” on Feb. 15. Pretty Yende, coming off a thrilling running of {…}
It is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of the black community and how they have affected change around the world in all areas. The opera world is no exception with many great black artists dominating around the globe in the biggest theaters there are. As a month-long celebration, OperaWire will provide weekly features that embrace the {…}