“Il Trittico (The Triptych)” is comprised of three one-act operas. While the works are not connected through their plots and characters, Puccini had intended for each of them to relate to the canticles of Dante’s “Divine Comedy;” only the third opera, “Gianni Schicchi,” reflects this by exploring a historical case involving the Donati family, into which Dante married. While Puccini {…}
Stepping into the opera house is almost always about stepping into the past. If that past is a vision of lavishness and grandeur, seeing the current production of Puccini’s “Turandot” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago is emblematic of what anyone would envision as the quintessential operatic experience. Now that’s not to say that this production, directed by Rob Kearley {…}
On Dec. 12, 2017, Medici.tv will present Puccini’s “La Bohème” from the Paris Opera. The new production by Claus Guth, which takes place in space, stars Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. Rising star Aida Garifullina stars as Musetta while Atalla Ayan is Rodolfo and Artur Ruciński is Marcello. When the production opened audiences booed it but critics were {…}
To wait for one whole act, plus a quarter of a second, just to glimpse the heroine, let alone hear her, is practically a crime. Especially, with all the talk. From the moment the curtain rises, what do we hear? Turandot, Turandot, Turandot. And so, where is she? On and on, troops of “the people” – boy chorus, various authorities {…}
Maria José Siri’s world-renowned interpretation of “Madama Butterfly” will be live-streamed by the Vienna State Opera on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, as part of its season-long series. Siri will be paired with the likes of mezzo Zoryana Kushpler as Suzuki, tenor Murat Karahan as Pinkerton, and baritone Gabriel Bermudez as Sharpless. The stream kicks off at 7 p.m. local time {…}
A wise man of opera once said in my hearing, testifying to the enduring emotional impact of Puccini: “When I no longer cry at ‘Boheme,’ I quit.” The same should be said of “La Fanciulla del West,” from “Ch’ella mi creda” to the end – and so it is with Lillian Groag’s production that opened on Nov. 10 at the {…}
Kristine Opolais, born on Nov. 12, 1979, has built up quite a prominent career all around the entire world. Born in Latvia, she would go on to join the chorus of the Latvian National Opera, then slowly but surely make her way through some of the famed houses in Europe. Along the way, she has developed a wide range of {…}
“Madama Butterfly” is one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire, which makes it no surprise that the Metropolitan Opera will bring back the work for its 2017-18 season. This year’s run kicks off on Nov. 2, 2017 and will be showcased six times in the fall before returning on Feb. 22 for another six performances. In the {…}
The Vienna State Opera’s current production of Puccini’s “Tosca” will get a live stream on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, as part of the company’s season-long live streaming service. Led by conductor Jesús López Cobos, the production will feature soprano Adrianne Pieczonka as the famed diva and Yonghoon Lee as her lover Mario Cavaradossi. As the villainous Scarpia, audiences will get {…}
Tito Gobbi is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest baritone of the 20th century. Born on Oct. 24, 1913, his career really took off after the second World War with the singer performing all around the world in a wide range of great Italian repertoire. He not only sang with a gorgeous baritone sound that featured tremendous {…}
Anja Harteros. Anja Harteros. Anja Harteros. Yes, reading that isn’t very interesting. Listening to her and experiencing her is quite a different story. The German soprano was nothing short of sensational on a starry Saturday opening night of a revival of the Robert Carsen production of “Tosca” at the Zurich Opera. It was recently reported that Harteros has stopped singing {…}