The opera world has a plethora of great black artists dominating more than ever before. Taking the baton from past generations, the new singers have simply made their presence felt even more prominently than ever before. Whether it be redefining the ranges of both tenors or sopranos, or the awesome lows of basses and mezzos, this new generation is undeniably filled {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2018-19 season. Here is a rundown. New Productions The Metropolitan Opera opens with Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” in a new production by Darko Tresnjak. Roberto Alagna and Elina Garanca reunite for the production which is also set to star Laurent Naouri, Elchin Azizov, and Dmitry Belosselskiy. Anita Rachevlishvili and Aleksandrs Antonenko will sing a {…}
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Opera will continue its 2017-18 Live in HD series with a performance of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.” The opera is set to star Matthew Polenzani, Pretty Yende, Davide Luciano, and Ildebrando d’Arcangelo in Bartlett Sher’s production. The production was largely hailed with OperaWire noting that the singers “made this night another success for the Met as the {…}
The Paris Opera is set to celebrate two anniversaries and will bring together some of the greatest stars in the world. However, this season will also be special because it will feature stars making house debuts as well as role debuts. In one case, there will also be a world premiere. Here are five performers OperaWire believes audiences need to {…}
The 2018-19 Paris Opera will celebrate a double anniversary including the signing, in 1669, of the letters patent authorizing Perrin to establish an Academy of Opera – rapidly named the Royal Academy of Music and that of the inauguration of the Opéra Bastille in 1989. The season will feature a number of new productions, classic revivals, and world premieres. It {…}
The International Opera Award nominations have bee announced. The organization, which seeks to recognize the best of the industry recognizes 18 categories. This year the nominees for Female Singer are Malin Byström, Carmen Giannattasio, Barbara Hannigan, who recently won the Grammy, Hui He, Ermonela Jaho and Eva-Maria Westbroek. In the Male Singer category, Piotr Beczała is nominated alongside Günther Groissböck, Peter Mattei, Eric Owens, {…}
This review is for the performance on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Audiences at the Metropolitan Opera were in for a treat this evening as they gathered for Donizetti’s heartfelt comedy “L’Elisir D’Amore.” Bartlett Sher’s production faithfully held to tradition while creating an authentic experience of a small, connected village where events big or small ripple outwards and leave nothing untouched. {…}
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, the Metropolitan Opera revives Bartlett Sher’s production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” which opened the 2012-13 season. This season the opera will feature one returning star among a number of first-timers for this particular version of the opera. The work will run for 10 performances, ending on Feb. 17, 2018. Here is a look at the {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2018 season featuring some of opera’s biggest stars. The 2018 season will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the composer and will open with “Ricciasro e Zoraide.” The new production, directed by Marshall Pynkoski, is set to star Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende in the leads. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a new critical edition {…}
It’s that time of year. That time where we look just before we look forward. We look back to remember all the good times of the year so that we can take stock of what we hope for in the new one. Every year in the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera {…}
It’s the holiday season and that means gift buying and making difficult choices. As a result, OperaWire has lightened the task as we chose albums from some of our favorite artists and our key recommendations from the hundreds of releases from 2017. Maria Callas If you are going to spend money this year, Maria Callas: The Live Recordings is OperaWire’s {…}