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 {…}
Pretty Yende is very popular these days as she made an appearance on the Wendy Williams show. The soprano performed the cavatina to Una voce poco fa” from Rossini’s “Il Barbiere Di Siviglia,” a role she is currently performing and scoring rave reviews for at the Metropolitan Opera. After the show Yende and Williams did a behind the scenes video where they spoke {…}
Role debuts are usually among the most fascinating events in international opera. For years, adoring fans ponder at what their favored interpreter might sound and look like as a character that they have only dreamed about. Once the singer finally sets foot on the stage to embody the character, all bets are off. The Opera National de Paris’s new 2017-18 {…}