(Photo credit: © Ruth Walz) Puccini in Aix-en-Provence is not an obvious combination, and it was not until 2019 with Christophe Honoré’s “Tosca” production that Lucca’s maestro made his debut in the festival. It was an ultra-revisionist “Tosca”: two primissime donne on the stage, several videoclips, and many other bold choices. It was glorious and thought-provoking. Therefore, expectations for a “Madama {…}
Jonas Kaufmann is set to celebrate Puccini with a tour dedicated to the composer. The tenor took to social media and said, “‘Viva Puccini!’ is a personal tribute to the 100th anniversary of the great composer’s death. From October 10th to November 9th, I will be dedicating a series of concerts to Puccini’s genius, together with the sopranos Maria Agresta {…}
(Photo credit: Eric Woolsey) No matter the repertory selected, Opera Theatre Saint Louis’s (OTSL) 2024 season would have faced a significant challenge: following their memorable 2023 season and its refreshing inclusion of many singers of color. Surrounding a forgettable “Cosí Fan Tutte,” three productions made maximal artistic impact, including a fine “Tosca” starring Katie Van Kooten and Hunter Enoch as {…}
The Teatro del Giglio is set to present a concert dedicated to Puccini entitled “Puccini Secondo Muti.” The concert, which will be held on June 28, 2024, will be broadcast on Rai 3 and will showcase Riccardo Muti at the helm of the Orchestra Cherubini. The concert will feature such artists as Elenora Buratto, Luciano Ganci, Dmitry Korchak, Francesco Meli, {…}
(Credit: Victor Santiago) Erika Grimaldi is quickly rising to the top as one of the most acclaimed Verdi and Puccini sopranos in the world. Her voice has been praised for its rich and round voice and has been heard at such theaters as the Teatro alla Scala, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Teatro {…}
Malmö Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” will be conducted by Daniela Musca and directed by Philipp M. Krenn. The cast will include Ania Jeruc, Magnus Tödenes, Fredrik Zetterström, Gustavo Johansson, and Tor Lind. Performance Dates: Oct. 12 – Nov. 24, 2024 There will be a run of performances of the children’s opera “Snösystern.” Performance Dates: Nov. 16, 2024 {…}
(Photo: Khalid Al-Busaidi) On October 14th, 2011, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) opened its doors for its inaugural season with a production of Puccini’s “Turandot,” with the aim of establishing itself as a “centre of excellence in global cultural engagement.” It is a noble and ambitious aim, for sure, but for a country without a tradition of opera, it {…}
(Photo: Khalid Al-Busaidi) Although Maria Callas died almost 50 years ago, her name is still able to draw in the crowds. One of the headline offerings of the Royal Opera House Muscat’s (ROHM) current opera season was a concert entitled “Homage to Maria Callas,” which drew an enthusiastic audience. Of course, the presence of the fabulous soprano Sonya Yoncheva and {…}
Marble City Opera has announced a date and venue change for its performance of “Il Tabarro.” The first performance is now slated for June 21, 2024 at Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore, TN. The showcase kicks off at 7 p.m. The performancce was originally shceduled for June 22, 2024. “We were informed by our original venue in Vonore that the {…}
Marble City Opera is set to present a site-specific production of “Il Tabarro” this June. The Puccini work will star Kathryn Frady as Giorgetta; Eddie Brennan as Luigi; Jacob Lassetter as Michele; Chris Plaas as Tinca; Maurice Hendricks as Talpa; Ema Mitrović as La Frugola; Breyon Ewing as the Song Vendor; and Elena Klein as a Lover. Andy Anderson conducts {…}
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini in La Spezia have announced a new collaboration with the aim of expanding cultural and academic exchange between the United States and Italy. The agreement is set for a period of five years with options for renewal and during this period, the two institutions will join forces to create collaborative projects {…}