(Credit: Svetlana Loboff / Opera National de Paris) On Sept. 14, 2019, the Paris Opera presented “Madama Butterfly” at the Bastille. One of the most beloved and famous operas of all time, it seemed like a very good choice to open a season. But what should have been a wondrous event was derailed by two factors: Robert Wilson’s production and {…}
The LA Opera is set to present a live broadcast of a performance of Puccini’s “La Bohème” on Sept. 28, 2019. The live stream is set to take place the Santa Monica Pier as well as the Columbia Park in Torrance. The broadcast will start at 7:30 p.m. and end three hours later. Per a press release, those that choose {…}
Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features “The Sum of {…}
(Photo: Cory Weaver) In an incredibly interesting interview with Simon Berger in the program booklet for Los Angeles Opera’s latest production “La Bohème” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, director Barrie Kosky asserts that Puccini’s “La Bohème” is actually about death. Many might counter that it’s about young love or, more fully, young love cut short by death, but Kosky’s tighter {…}
The Los Angeles-based Mission Opera has announced its 2019-20 season, which will feature four classic works. The season kicks off with a double bill of “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi.” The performances will take place at the Los Angeles Mission College and Santa Clarita United Methodist Church with Dylan F. Thomas directing the two works. Soprano Shira Reese will take {…}
The Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra will give a concert on Oct. 13, 2019 at the Musco Center for Arts at Chapman University in Orange, California. The concert commences at 4 p.m. local time. The performance will feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade” as well as excerpts from such operas as “Così Fan Tutte,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “La Bohème,” and “Madama Butterfly.” Sopranos Jerica {…}
The Puccini Opera Festival has announced its 66th season. The 2020 festival, which takes place at the Torre del Lago, Italy, will feature five operas including “La Bohème,” “Manon Lescaut,” “Turandot,” “Tosca” and “Madama Butterfly.” The season will also include a ballet performance. “Tosca” will open the festival with four performances. “Turandot” will also be performed four times, while “La {…}
“Opera Meets Film” has grown into one of OperaWire’s most popular sections. And to celebrate two years of the start of this weekly series, we are going to put opera and film fans to the test to see how much you really know about how opera is employed in movies. It should be a fun rediscovery of many topics we {…}
Opera Saratoga has unveiled its 2020 summer festival programming which will feature three new productions, including a New York Premiere. It all gets started with Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance,” which will be conducted by Brian DeMaris in a production by Eve Summer. The work will feature Opera Saratoga Festival Artists. Performance Dates: June 19-July 4, 2020 Next {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Guild has announced its education program for the 2019-20 season. The program will kick off with “Great Duets,” which is set for Oct. 23, 30, and Nov. 6, 2019. It will feature the music of Puccini, Mozart, and Massenet. Jane Marsch will lead the course. “Wagner Across Borders” is set for Jan. 15, 22, 29 and Feb. {…}
Asmik Grigorian started her summer festival season with a marvelous homecoming event in Vilnius. To say that this concert was long-awaited is a massive understatement. It would be sold out twice even if she had another recital days or weeks early — Asmik Grigorian is an absolute favorite of the local audience. But this concert happened after a long pause {…}