The Korean National Opera is set to present Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” this December. Sopranos Rim Se-kyung and Kim Eun-hee share the lead role of Minnie. They are joined by Antonio Yang and Insu Hwang as Jack Rance and tenors Sungkyu Park and Yoon Suk Han as Dick Johnson / Rammerez. other cast members include Doho Kang, Jared Werlein, {…}
(Photo: Padraig Grant) To mark the hundredth anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, the Wexford Festival Opera commissioned William Niall Morris to create a short work celebrating the composer’s life and music. The result was a short piece, lasting about an hour, entitled “Puccini: Man of the Theatre,” which essentially amounted to a selection of his greatest hits linked {…}
(Credit: Rosie Hardy) Lise Lindstrom recently took time to converse with Benjamin Torbert for OperaWire. Lindstrom sings all three Brünnhildes in “Die Walküre,” “Siegfried,” and “Götterdämmerung” in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s very lightly staged concert presentation of Wagner’s “Der Ring Des Nibelungen,” on 13-20 October 2024. She already appeared with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for two performances of “Walküre” in {…}
Opera Baltimore and OperaDelaware will join forces to present Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The Puccini classic will take the stage at Stephens Hall Theatre, Towson University in Baltimore on Oct. 18 and 20, 2024 followed by two showcases on Oct. 25 and 27 at The Grand in Wilmington, Delaware. Taking on the role of Rodolfo will be Edward Graves. Daniel Rich {…}
(photo courtesy of Utah Opera) Tulsa Opera has announced a cast change for its upcoming Act two showcase of “Tosca” as part of the President’s Council Dinner Concert. The company revealed that Leah Crocetto has withdrawn from the performance. In her stead, audiences will experience the talents of Kara Shay Thomson on Oct. 8, 2024 at 6 p.m. Thomson has {…}
Chelsea Opera Group has announced its 2024-25 season. First up is a Puccini Centenary Concert featuring “Le villi,” “Capriccio Sinfonico,” and “Messa di Gloria.” The concert features Seljan Fermor-Hesketh, Charne Rochford, and Stephen Gass. Peter Robinson conducts. Performance Date: Nov. 2, 2024 Paul Wingfield conducts a concert performance of Lalo’s “Le Roy d’Ys.” Performance Date: March 30, 2025 Then comes a concert {…}
Toledo Opera and Toledo Spirits are teaming up for “Get into the Spirit of Opera” on Oct. 3, 2024. The showcase will feature members of the upcoming “Tosca” cast as they serenade audience members at The Toledo Spirits Company on North Summit Street. There will also be a drawing for two tickets to the upcoming “Tosca” performance on Oct. 18, {…}
(Credits: Hermann und Clärchen Baus) Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca,” adapted from a play by Victorien Sardou, was famously criticized by American musicologist Joseph Kerman, who dismissed it as a “shabby little shocker” and predicted its swift decline from the operatic canon. Despite this, “Tosca” endures as a favorite among audiences, thanks to Puccini’s brilliant music and masterful orchestration that elevate it {…}
(Image Courtesy of SAS Performing Arts Company) SAS Performing Arts Company and Studios, Inc. will present a unique double bill on Sept. 29, 2024 at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church in New York City. The showcase in question features Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” with “A Century of Puccini: In Homage of the Centennial of the Death of Giacomo Puccini.” The {…}
(Photo credit: © Marc Brenner/Royal Opera) N.B. In this performance of “Tosca” Russell Thomas replaced the previously scheduled Yusif Eyvazov, who was indisposed. Entitlement enlightens spectators on the contrasting and yet comparable personas of soprano Floria Tosca and barbaric chief of police Scarpia: spoiled brats forsaking all who block their way. Sways of a dress’s train portray the former’s annexing {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has announced his new album entitled “Puccini: Love Affairs.” The new record will be released on Sept. 13 by Sony Classical and will feature several duets from the composer. In a statement, Kaufmann said, “For my latest album, I had the pleasure of collaborating with some of today’s leading sopranos to celebrate Puccini’s centenary year. What really appealed {…}