Donizetti certainly had an intimate relationship with England’s Queen Elizabeth I, and with the Tudors in general, who provided him with a rich source of characters and themes for his operas. Three works have substantial roles for Elizabeth, herself; “Maria Stuarda” and “Roberto Devereux” are well-known and receive regular performances, whereas the third, “Il Castello di Kenilworth,” rarely receives a {…}
The Festival Donizetti is set to present a new critical edition of “Lucrezia Borgia” in 2019. The news was revealed by Music Director Riccardo Frizza. According to the conductor, the new version will include new arias and will also showcase Donizetti’s first intentions with the piece. In the interview, the conductor also noted that his intentions with the festival were to {…}
Performances of Bellini’s melodrama, “Il Pirata,” at the Teatro alla Scala have, over the years, been few and far between. Originally written for the theatre in 1827, and starring the celebrated soprano, Henriette Méric-Lalande as Imogene and the famous tenor Giovanni Battista Rubini as Gualtiero, it was roundly deemed to be a success, and quickly received two revivals, one in {…}
The evening was all about Mariella Devia. At the age of 70, and following a hugely successful career, in which she has performed some of opera’s greatest soprano roles in the world’s most famous opera houses, she is taking her final curtain calls at the Teatro la Fenice in three performance as Bellini’s “Norma,” a wonderfully appropriate role for the {…}
Conductor Riccardo Frizza has been named the first and new music director of the Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo. The festival is the only one dedicated to the research and dissemination of the Bergamo born composer´s wide repertoire, a cornerstone of the Romantic bel-canto style. The new appointment was announced by Bergamo´s councillor for culture, Nadia Ghisalberti, and by the director of the {…}
For 50 years, the Metropolitan Opera has made its home in Lincoln Center, creating numerous cathartic and revelatory memories for both audiences and artists alike. In speaking with some of the world’s greatest artists that have performed at the Met, OperaWire has been granted the opportunity to hear some unique, enriching and entertaining stories and experiences that have taken place {…}
This week Jonas Kaufmann has a new CD out while Dynamic brings a new “Otello” interpretation to home video. Das Lied Von Erde Sony releases a new recording of Mahler’s “Das Lied von Erde” with none other than Jonas Kaufmann. In this new recording conducted by Jonathan Nott, Kaufmann takes on the tenor and baritone parts. The symphony is accompanied {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 2016-17 season in a big way when it showcases Bellini’s masterful “Norma” on its stage this Saturday. The production will feature Sondra Radvanovsky, who has dominated the title role all around the world. Conductor Riccardo Frizza recently told OperaWire that working with Radvanovsky on this role is a revelation because she is “fully {…}
At age 14, Riccardo Frizza decided he wanted nothing to do with opera. The catalyst? Bellini’s “I Puritani.” “I was studying in the conservatory and they took us to see ‘I Puritani,’” the famed conductor told OperaWire in an exclusive interview. “I thought it was so boring. It was a mistake to take me to see that first before any {…}
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 {…}