Giuseppe Di Stefano is one of the great Italian tenors in history. For many, he possessed the most beautiful timbre of any lyric tenor and some fans lament the tenor’s insistence on singing operas that were often darker and heavier than his lyric could seemingly handle. And yet, one of the reasons why Pippo, born on July 24, 1921, was {…}
On Thursday, the San Francisco Opera Guild, in collaboration with San Francisco Opera Association, announced details for Opera Ball 2017 at The Imperial Palace. The event is a gala benefit aimed at celebrating the start of SFO’s 95th Season. The event will take place on Sept. 8, 2017, at the Imperial Palace Pavilion adjacent to the War Memorial Opera House. The {…}
She won’t be singing “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera anymore next season, but Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais is still primed to take on the tragic heroine in the Northeast this summer. On Saturday, August 26, she will join husband and Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andris Nelsons in the second Act of Puccini’s famed masterpiece. She will perform alongside Bryn Terfel, who was to {…}
Leah Crocetto is known for her work in Verdi’s spinto roles as well as her interpretation of my Puccini operas. She has garnered acclaim in this repertoire and is among the rising stars in the opera world. However, this weekend she steps out of these boundaries and moves into the realm of Bel Canto for her role debut as Eleonora {…}
The 63rd Festival Puccini kicks off later this week and will showcase five great operas from the legendary composer. The opening of the festival is currently slated for July 14 with a production of Puccini’s final work, “Turandot,” which will star Martina Serafin and Irina Rindzuner in the lead role, Stefano La Colla and Amadi Lagha sharing the character of {…}
For decades Riccardo Muti has been one of the finest interpreters of Verdi’s music. In fact, his understanding of the great composer’s style has created countless imitators, but few with the capacity of truly understanding the balance between a propulsive rhythmic emphasis and the nuance of Verdian singing. On Thursday, June 22, 2017, the maestro showcased his interpretative genius with {…}
Starting this weekend Connecticut Lyric Opera will debut its fully staged production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” On May 12, 2017, the doors will open at 7:30 p.m. EDT at the Trinity Arts Center in New Britain, CT. The show will go on the road and open Sunday, May 14, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. EDT at the Wadsworth Museum of Art in {…}
Luigi Illica is a rather famous man in the world of opera. If you don’t believe me, then look at his body of work. “Manon Lescaut,” “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” “Madama Butterfly.” And those are just the Puccini selections. The librettist also authored such prominent opera works as “La Wally” and “Andrea Chénier.” But the majority of Illica’s output has been {…}
Angela Gheorghiu has canceled the live stream performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” on May 8, 2017. The Vienna State Opera has announced that Gheorghiu is sick for tomorrow night’s performance which was scheduled to be seen all over the world on the company’s live stream. The stream is free for all viewers courtesy of OMV. It was to have reunited Jonas {…}
Sopranos dead by the final curtain are a dime a dozen; murderous sopranos are rarer; sopranos who slay murderous roles scarcer still. As “Tosca,” in the Canadian Opera Company’s revival of Puccini’s beloved work which opened on April 30th, Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka died, murdered, and slayed, not necessarily in that order. A Triumphant Diva Her death should have been {…}
Atlanta Opera is gearing up for a revival of Puccini’s “Turandot,” the iconic opera featuring arguably opera’s most iconic melody. The company, which is reviving the production by French Canadian duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe, will feature a cast that includes tenor Gianluca Terranova and Marcy Stonikas as Turandot. Finding Deeper Meaning From Another Vision Reviving the production will {…}
