“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 “No Reservations.” The {…}
There was a rather sad preamble to the premiere of Puccini’s “Turandot” at Teatro Real on the 30th of November, 2018, largely due to the cancelation of Nina Stemme in the title role. The Swedish dramatic soprano had just scored a major success during the run of Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London {…}
Jorge de León will jump into a production of “Madama Butterfly” at the Wiener Staatsoper on Dec. 3, 2018 The tenor will step in for Andrea Carè, who is ill. De León recently concluded a production of “Manon Lescaut’ at the Staatsoper Hamburg and will perform the role of Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly” at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in {…}
Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will be live streamed from the Vienna State Opera on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, as part of the company’s ongoing streaming service. Ana María Martínez brings her famed interpretation to Vienna alongside tenor Andrea Carè and baritone Gabriel Bermúdez. Conductor Jader Bignamini leads the musical direction in the production by Josef Gielen. This is the final performance {…}
Maria Callas is considered for many a turning point in the opera. Born on Dec. 2, 1923, in New York (she would later renounce her U.S. citizenship), the soprano received her musical education in Greece and would find her career flourishing in Italy. She made her Italian debut in 1946 in “La Gioconda” in Verona. From there she made a {…}
Puccini’s “La Bohème” was revived on Thursday, Nov. 29 with a cast of predominantly American stars in Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production. There isn’t much to remark about the production that hasn’t already said, though it must be noted that the singers, in conjunction with revival stage director J. Knighten Smit did seem to attempt some new staging at different junctures {…}
Audiences around the globe will get a chance to check out Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production of “La Bohème,” live from the Vienna State Opera on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, as part of the company’s live streaming service. The famed production will feature Benjamin Bernheim as Rodolfo, Marina Rebeka as Mimì, Clemens Unterreiner as Marcello, and Mariam Battistelli as Musetta. Bernheim {…}
Even before you stepped into the Metropolitan Opera on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, you knew who the star of the night was destined to be. The entire marketing campaign run by the Metropolitan Opera in anticipation of “Il Trittico” had seemingly focused on one person and one person only. The company had announced a special ceremony would take place at {…}
The Metropolitan Opera will hold a special ceremony honoring Plácido Domingo during the Friday, Nov. 23 performance of “Il Trittico.” Domingo is celebrating his 50th Anniversary season with the company and he will be presented with a special honor at some juncture during the performance. The legendary artist is set to perform in the title role of the final opera {…}
Puccini’s “Il Trittico” returns to the Met Opera on Nov. 23, 2018, for seven performances. Despite being one of Puccini’s finest works, it has only been presented with the company on 74 occasions; by the end of this run, it will have 81 performances total. As is always the case with these operas, there are a ton of singers involved {…}
Following a series of extensive tours, the Hungarian State Opera returns is set to return to the Erkel Theatre to begin its 135th season, which will be dedicated to Puccini and his contemporaries. As expected the company will kick off its brand new season with one of Puccini’s finest works, “La Fanciulla del West,” in a new production by Vasily {…}