Manhattan School of Music 2017-18 Review – The Snow Maiden: Juliana Levinson & Castmates Deliver Rousing Showcase of Rimsky-Korsakov Gem

Audience members enjoyed a rare performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Snow Maiden,” in English, over the weekend. Translated by Alasdair Middleton for Opera North’s 2017 production, this opera was said to possibly be Rimsky-Korsakov’s best contemporary opera. In addition to its popularity in Russia, this specific opera contains remarkably poignant folklike melodies that gave life to the overall culture and complex {…}

Oct 7, 2017

Opera Profile: ‘The Golden Cockerel’

Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Golden Cockerel” has never been a major fixture of the operatic canon. And yet the opera, which first premiered on Oct. 7, 1909, is slowly finding its way into more and more opera houses in recent times. The opera is based on Pushkin’s 1834 poem, “The Tale of the Golden Cockerel” and was completed in 1907. Rimsky-Korsakov had {…}

Aug 8, 2017

Santa Fe Opera 2017 Review – Golden Cockerel: Emmanuel Villaume Leads An Impressive Cast In Rimsky-Korsakov’s Masterpiece

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov probably knew that a tale of an appallingly incompetent royal would still resonate with audiences almost 108 years after its Moscow premiere. On August 3, 2017, the Santa Fe Opera presented Rimsky-Korsakov’s seldom-performed “The Golden Cockerel,” marking its SFO debut. At the podium was conductor Emmanuel Villaume, paired with famed English director Paul Curran. Years ago, when Santa Fe Opera {…}

Jun 6, 2017

Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov & The Other Composers Influenced By Alexander Pushkin

Alexander Pushkin is one of the greatest authors in the history of the world. He is also one of the writers who has had the greatest impact in the world of opera. Perhaps only such authors as Victor Hugo or William Shakespeare have seen as many of their works adapted to the opera stage as has Pushkin. And while those other {…}

Mar 18, 2017

Exclusive: Conductor Gerard Schwarz Shares A Life-Altering Rimsky-Korsakov Encounter

In commemoration of Rimsky-Korsakov’s birthday on March 18, 1844, OperaWire has the great fortune of collaborating with famed conductor Gerard Schwarz to share a special memory about his very first operatic encounter with the composer. It is very interesting to think of the wonderful composers who are known primarily for a single work: Pachelbel – Cannon; Dukas – “The Sorcerer’s {…}

Feb 2, 2017

On This Day: A Look At Martina Arroyo’s Rarities as She Turns 80

Martina Arroyo is one of the greatest singers of 1960’s and 1980’s and was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve wide success. Today she is viewed as part of an instrumental group of performers who helped break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world. This year Arroyo celebrates her 80th birthday and {…}

Jan 27, 2017

On This Day: The Labryinthine History of ‘Boris Godunov’

The history of Mussorgsky’s famed “Boris Godunov” is quite extensive with many comparing it to Verdi’s “Don Carlo” in terms of its numerous versions. The truth is that the opera, like the Italian composer’s counterpart, has no definitive version. Mussorgsky originally released a version of the opera in 1869 but then went about revising it, expanding on musical material and {…}

Dec 22, 2016

Watch La Monnaie’s ‘The Golden Cockerel’ Via Opera Platform Stream

Opera Platform will be showcasing a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Golden Cockerel” from “Le Monnaie” on Friday, Decembr 23. The performance will be available on Demand starting at 2 PM EST with subtitles in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish. The performance will be available to viewers until June 22, 2017. “The Golden Cockerel” is a political satire that {…}

Dec 21, 2016

The Holy Night: Surveying Trends in Christmas Operas Throughout History

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 {…}

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