(Photos: Lisa Tomasetti) Gounod is one of the core composers of the French repertory. Born on June 17, 1818, two of his operas remain major staples of the repertory. But Gounod composed more than just “Faust” and “Roméo et Juliette.” How well do you know that repertory? This quiz will test your knowledge of Gounod’s entire operatic output.
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2019 Summer Encores series which will feature four total operas over the years. First up will be “Roméo et Juliette” which features Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo in the title roles. This was transmitted live on Jan. 21, 2017, but this summer will appear in the U.S. on June 19, 2019 and in Canada {…}
Charles Gounod is one of the great composers of French opera. Born on June 17, 1818, in Paris, he learned the piano with his mother, a pianist, from a young age. He then entered the Paris Conservatoire and won a prize for his cantata “Fernand” in 1839. Despite attempts of becoming a priest, he resumed composition, his first opera “Sapho” premiering {…}
There aren’t any settings of Shakespeare’s famous “Romeo and Juliet” in the opera world more popular than Gounod’s. Part of the reason for that is the long-running success of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” which premiered on April 27, 2018. The opera in five acts is a fixture in the operatic canon, famous for its extensive love duets for both lead {…}
On Feb. 27, 2018, “Romeo et Juliette” will be broadcast in movie theaters from the Gran Theatre Liceu. The opera will star Saimir Pirgu and Aida Garifullina as the star-crossed lovers and will be shown live in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. In a press release, Pirgu noted, {…}
It’s Valentine’s Day, the day to cherish a significant other. Last year we took a cynical look at the holiday, but not this year. Opera is rife with love, almost every single plot in every single work has some communion of two persons in that blissful word. In fact, love in opera has incited just as many battles and tension {…}
The Utah Opera announced its 2018-19 season featuring two new productions by the company’s in-house Production Studios. The season opens on Oct. 13, 2018, with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” with tenor Joshua Dennis as Roméo and soprano Anya Matanovič, who will star as Juliette. Robert Tweten conducts the production with scenery designed by Eric Fielding and costumes by Susan Memmott Allred. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
Andrea Bocelli, born on Sept. 22, 1958, is one of the most famous tenors in the world, his fan base rivaling and quite possibly surpassing that of some of opera’s greatest artists. To put it succinctly, he has known how to balance the fine line between classical and popular music. Because of Bocelli’s blindness, a challenge that he has had {…}
As is expected throughout this time period, we have yet another 2017-18 season announcement to report. This time it comes from the Volksoper in Vienna. The company has proudly announced that its new year will feature numerous premieres and 20 repertory pieces among the many offerings for 2017-18. There will be a mix of musicals, operettas, and operas among the {…}
The well-reviewed “Roméo et Juliette” from the Metropolitan Opera will be showcased on PBS on Friday, April 14 starting at 9 P.M. EDT. The opera, which featured Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo in the lead roles, is an adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play. The performance that will be showcased on PBS took place on Jan. 21, 2017 as part {…}
On New Year’s Eve, the Metropolitan Opera opened a new production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.” The result was a mixed bag with two bright stars heading the cast. The production was a dreary classically fitted take that lacked clarity of vision and ultimately dragged the show. After a few months, the Met has revived the production with better results. {…}