Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” is among the most underrated works in the entire operatic canon. Despite being one of, if not the absolute best, opera by the legendary composer, it doesn’t get nearly as many performances as some of his more iconic or popular works. One of the major reasons for this is that it is one of his {…}
Following a mixed premiere of “Samson et Delila,” the second evening of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018-19 season saw a far more conventional and beloved work being performed, Puccini’s “La Bohème.” This opera is, unsurprisingly, the most performed of the company’s history, and that experience made itself clear throughout the night. Strong Debutante Making her debut with the company was Nicole {…}
Puccini’s “La Bohème” comes back every season to the Met Opera. And because of its popularity, the opera often features a number of different casts, which can make it tricky for audiences to decide when to head to Lincoln Center for Puccini’s famed masterpiece. Here is a breakdown of the casts so you can be sure to catch this great {…}
Just like its heroine does in the final act, Puccini’s magnificent western “La Fanciulla del West” has come to the rescue. Because Maryland Lyric Opera’s original season-opening plans did not come to fruition, due to schedule challenges and a change in venue, it is now possible for Maryland-area audiences to become acquainted—or better acquainted—with this often-overlooked Puccini gem. Entering its {…}
Born on Sept. 7, 1940, Giuseppe Giacomini would go on to become one of the great Italian tenors of the 20th century. He had some solid success with song competitions prior to his professional debut in 1966 in Vercelli. In 1969, he was also performing around Italy, before finally making his international debut in 1970 in Berlin. Debuts in Lisbon, Barcelona, {…}
We are aware that we have done our fair share of movie related opera quizzes (Don’t know what we’re talking about? Click here or here). And here we are again. Of course, it’s just fun to look into the two great art forms and see how they correspond with another. But we also wanted to bring this quiz into the {…}
There is something so intimate about the theater at Santa Fe Opera. Though intimacy may not be the word in mind for the over 2,000 seat semi-outdoor theater, it was magical to watch the setting sun as the backdrop for Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” It’s a treat reserved specifically for the New Mexican audience. Director Lee Blakely’s melancholy production of “Madama {…}
On August 8, 2018, Laura Alonso Padin will make her role debut as Cio-Cio San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The Spanish soprano will sing the role at the Espacio Cultural San Martín Pinario in Santiago de Compostela, where she will be joined by Moises Molin, Sandra Olivas, and Pablo Atahualpa. Linus Lerner will conduct the performance which will begin at 7 {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra will be back in 2019 to showcase Puccini’s “Tosca” as Bravo! Vail Music Festival’s debut opera production. Performances are set for July 11 and 13, 2019 at the outdoor Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. The announcement was made by Bravo! Vail’s Music Festival’s Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott during a concert by the ensemble, as led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. {…}
Any time an opera production begins with non-textual lines, especially in a language different to the libretto, alarm bells ring louder the tubular Grail chimes in “Parsifal.” Such was the case in Davide Livermore’s new staging of “Manon Lescaut” for the Gran Teatre del Liceu which had already been seen in co-production with the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Instead of {…}
Tenor Jonathan Tetelman will replace Piotr Beczala in “La Bohème” at Tanglewood. Beczala was supposed to take on his signature role alongside soprano Kristine Opolais but opted for performing in “Lohengrin” at the Bayreuth Festival when Roberto Alagna stepped down from the production. Tetelman sang his first performances of Rodolfo in the Puccini masterpiece at the Fujian Grand Theatre in {…}