This review is for the performance on Wednesday January 11 and is written jointly by David & Francisco Salazar. Applause rang from every corner of the Metropolitan Opera, the audience awaiting the final performer to step onstage so that she too could get her accolades. The moment Ailyn Pérez walked out of the iconic golden curtain, she was not only {…}
The union between an opera singer and his or her craft is a love story, many of which come in two variations. The first origin story is like most love stories, a chance encounter on their way into adulthood. Their first love was some other profession or dream that, like many first loves, never quite came to fruition. Such has {…}
It is always a challenge to make a role debut in a season, particularly when it features some of the most challenging repertoire in the operatic repertoire. It is an even greater risk and challenge to make three in one season. But don’t tell Davinia Rodriguez as the soprano has spent this season doing just that and succeeding all the {…}
30 performances. Seven cities. Five house debuts and two role debuts. That is what tenor Brian Jagde faces in 2017. The first half of 2017 that is. The tenor, who has been growing in prominence over the last few years, is slated for a monstrous calendar year that will see him make more house debuts than he ever has before. {…}
Thursday December 22 is the 158th birthday of one of the greatest opera composers of all time – Giacomo Puccini. The Italian composer is best known for his brilliant melodic invention and his operatic output, while relatively small when compared with the likes of Italian predecessors such as Verdi, Rossini or Donizetti, is among the most popular in the entire {…}
We all know the story. The manger. The three wise men. Herod’s murder of innocent children. And of course, the birth. Jesus Christ’s origins are a well-documented story for many and the source of great inspiration for artists for centuries. Opera is no different with a plethora of works related to great story. A look back over the history of {…}
The repertoire for Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov’s Feb. 27 concert in Paris has been announced with numerous surprises. After performing a number of concerts featuring verismo repertoire, this upcoming concert will feature Verdi in the first half. The soprano will return to arias from “La Traviata” a few days before her farewell performances of the role at the Teatro {…}
Opening Nights are always special at Teatro alla Scala as it reigns in a new season and brings out some of the most famous celebrities in Italy. It also provides star studded casts and some of the richest performances in the whole season. As a result, this occasion can sometimes be difficult to get into. For some it may be {…}
On Dec. 5 the Metropolitan Opera will continue its Facebook Live series with Piotr Beczala at 2:30pm. The Polish tenor will answer questions about his current role, Rodolfo, in Puccini’s “La Boheme.” Questions will come from audiences and fans through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This segment will have a unique twist with Beczala taking audiences on a tour through the {…}
When Puccini set out to write his “Manon Lescaut,” the composer drew attention to his “feeling it like an Italian, with a desperate passion.” Though the comment came in the context of his comparing it with Massenet’s own interpretation of the work, that idea of desperation has certainly played into numerous readings of the work. A look at the catalogue {…}