(Credit: Marty Sohl/Karen Almond-Metropolitan Opera/Ken Howard-Santa Fe Opera/ Gianfranco Rota-Donizetti Opera) We hope that the end of your 2019 is a prosperous one and that the start of 2020 is even better. As we look forward to the next calendar year, we are taking some time to reflect on the opera performances that defined 2019 for many of us. As {…}
Legendary baritone Leo Nucci has announced that he is set to retire from the stage. Per Platea and a number of other sources, the baritone announced that he would no longer perform onstage after receiving the Pavarotti d’oro on Oct. 17, 2019. I had already decided to let the curtain drop, but in honor of the memory of my friend {…}
(Credit: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg) Bartlett Sher’s “Rigoletto,” new this year at the Staatsoper Berlin, initially appeared an intriguingly localized production. Though a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, its context and setting were uniquely Berlin. The opera’s action has been relocated to Weimar-era Germany, and the stage was dominated by the paintings of the Berlin-born painter George Grosz. The audience, as they filed {…}
(Credit: Lana Mullen) Sarasota Opera is set to open its 2019-20 season with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starting on Nov. 1, 2019. The production, which will run for six shows through Nov. 17, will feature baritone Marco Nisiticò in the title role with tenor William Davenport as the villainous Duke of Mantua and Hanna Brammer as Gilda. Young Bok Kim will play {…}
Brian Mulligan has pulled out of Houston Grand Opera’s opening night production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The company announced that due to illness the baritone would not be able to perform the upcoming new production. As a result, Michael Mayes and Scott Hendricks will replace the baritone. Mayes will perform the production on opening night Oct. 18 through Oct. 26 and {…}
Pittsburgh-based performing arts company Resonance Works has announced details of its seventh season, entitled “Fresh Perspectives – New Traditions.” The season will kick off with the multicultural program “the national anthems,” inspired by David Lang’s work for choir and string quartet. Performances will be held at Heinz Chapel and Charity Randall Theatre, and will be preceded by a “musical prelude {…}
(Credit Sunny Martini) Right from the start of Seattle Opera’s “Rigoletto,” stage director Lindy Hume signaled not to expect the evening to adhere too closely to operatic convention. The curtain went up suddenly with the house lights still on, showing us, in silence, a man dressed as a waiter or Maitre D’ sitting on a deluxe leather sofa in a {…}
When it comes to presenting a unique experience, Austria’s Bregenz Festival already has a head start: their “floating” stage on Lake Constance is an astonishing setting for operatic performances, which take place immediately after a breathtaking sunset over the opposite shore. The playing area of Bregenz’s stage extends to the lake itself (drowning seems to be the leading cause of {…}
For many artists, Verdi’s operas are the supreme pinnacle that they work towards. Getting there and being one of the foremost interpreters of his work often requires tremendous technique skill, but also great artistic maturity. For tenor Enea Scala, Verdi has always been a dream from the start of his career. While he has focused on the Bel Canto repertoire for {…}
Moving from Bel canto to Verdi is a common thread for most young singers. Verdi is the dream as his works are some of the masterworks of the canon. For Enea Scala, the dream of singing Verdi is coming true as he starts to take on his third opera by the composer. After singing Alfredo in “La Traviata” and Fenton {…}
The great Italian baritone Leo Nucci, who is already an opera legend, made history at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, giving the first encore ever at the theatre by repeating the end of the duo “Si, Vendetta,” which closes the Act Two of “Rigoletto.” That alone made it a memorable evening. But it was made all the more {…}