This year marks the 50th year in business for Opera Grand Rapids. They just released their 2017-18 schedule and it’s packed with such a variety of opera events! “Balance is our programming mantra for the season,” Maestro James Meena, Opera Grand Rapids artistic director said. “We strive to create season schedules that include the familiar as well as the new.” {…}
Hearing a famous opera star taking on a new role for the first time in his or her career is usually a fascinating experience. Having heard the singer grow in other repertoire and roles, there is always a tremendous sense of anticipation about hearing an artist take on a new challenge. On Tuesday, March 21, Barcelona audiences will get that {…}
It is arguably the most misogynistic piece in all of opera, its text essentially calls women “fickle” and “small-minded.” And yet everyone revels in its sumptuous melody that has become opera’s most iconic number. When Verdi first composed “La Donna e mobile” for his “Rigoletto,” which premiered on March 11, 1851, he hid it for tenor Raffaele Mirate because he {…}
Vittorio Grigolo is one of the most acclaimed tenors of his generation and has already been hailed as the successor to Luciano Pavarotti, his greatest qualities including his rampant energy and charisma on stage. On Feb. 19 Grigolo celebrates his 40th birthday and as a result OperaWire takes a look at some his most acclaimed roles The Duke in “Rigoletto” Vittorio Grigolo {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2017-18 season, a celebration for the company’s 55th anniversary. The season opens with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” on Oct. 7 and runs through the 15. It will be followed in November with a new production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The opera will premier on Nov. 11 and will run through the 19. The 2018 {…}
It’s Valentine’s Day, a momentous occasion to celebrate love and romance. Romance is at the heart of opera with the art forms pull coming from our connection with beautiful love affairs. Most everyone melts at Rodolfo and Mimì’s blooming love in “La Bohème” or Alfredo and Violetta’s in “La Traviata.” We admire the sacrifice of Roméo and Juliette or even {…}
Lyric of Kansas City’s 2017-18 got its announcement earlier this week, the company announcing that it would be showing five works in addition to two events. The company will kick off its season with a production of Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterwork “Eugene Onegin” with performances on Sept. 30, October 4, 6 and 8. The work will be directed by Tomer Zvulun {…}
10 operas. Six New Productions. A Classic Musical and a new chamber opera. The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its new season and it is full of a balanced repertory selection. Orphée et Eurydice – Sept. 23, 27, Oct. 1, 6, 9, 12, 15 (2017) The new season kicks off with a new production of Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice” {…}
For Javier Camarena, the start of 2017 has been a blending of the past, present and future. His year started with an operatic goodbye and the month of February he will slide into comfortable repertoire that he feels will be his meat and potatoes in the immediate future. And in March, he ventures into unknown terrain that might just prove {…}
The Los Angeles Opera’s 2017-18 season promises to feature a number of major classics and some new works as well. Carmen In total there are eight operas, including “Carmen” which kicks off the new season on Sept. 9. The 6-show run stars Ana María Martinez in the title role while Amanda Woodbury plays Michaela. Alexander Vinogradov portrays Escamillo and James {…}
Roberta Peters’ passing on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 was a rough day for the opera community. The soprano, who had such a memorable career at the Metropolitan, was an artist like no other. She was elegant both physically and vocally and her singing was undeniably fearless. She took on many repertoire classics but never had any qualms about adding her {…}
