Royal Opera House 2017-18 Live Cinema Preview: Controversial ‘Carmen’ Hits Silver Screen

On March 6, 2018, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will showcase its new production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production, directed by Barrie Kosky, stars mezzo Anna Goryachova, Francesco Meli, Kostas Smoriginas, Kristina Mkhitaryan, David Soar, Jacquelyn Stucker, Aigul Akhmesthina, Pierre Doyen, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, and Gyula Nagy under the musical direction of Jakub Hrůša. The production has been getting mixed {…}

Feb 5, 2018

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Live Cinema Preview: Calleja, Pieczonka Star in Puccini’s ‘Tosca’

The Royal Opera House will present Puccini’s “Tosca” live in cinemas on Feb. 7, 2018. The performance will be broadcast around the world and stars Adrianne Pieczonka in the title role, Joseph Calleja as Mario Cavaradossi, and Gerald Finley as the villainous Scarpia. Regarding the showcase, OperaWire praised the production by Jonathan Kent noting, “It’s humorous to think that many {…}

Jan 19, 2018

Cast Change In Royal Opera’s ‘Tosca’

The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its production of “Tosca.” The company announced that due to scheduling changes, the role of Mario Cavaradossi will be sung by Italian tenor Massimo Giordano on Feb. 22 and by Italian tenor Riccardo Massi on March 3. Giordano made his Royal Opera debut in 2003 as Fenton in “Falstaff” and has {…}

Jan 17, 2018

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Review – Tosca: Pieczonka, Calleja, Finley Don’t Quite Mesh in Revival of Jonathan Kent’s Classic Produciton

There are instances in which it’s difficult for opera-lovers to remember “Tosca” is no comedy. From that perspective it is easy to recall the legend of a certain prima donna who once bounced back from the trampoline that was supposed to break her fall as Tosca killed herself. Floria Tosca is not one of opera’s most pitiable characters. She is {…}

Jan 15, 2018

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Review – Salome: David McVicar’s Thrilling Production & Michael Volle’s Violent Presence Make For Impactful Evening of Opera

London is a chilly place. Yet on this particularly evening I leave my coat in the hotel and zip to Covent Garden. No room nor time for extra layers, since attending a performance in the Royal Opera House is a cluttered affair. The long lines for cloakrooms stifle with imperial colognes, and the tight, even if velvet, chairs make Ryanair {…}

Jan 4, 2018

Sabine Puértolas Replaces Lucy Crowe At Royal Opera House

Lucy Crowe has withdrawn from tonight’s performance of “Rigoletto.” The Royal Opera House announced that due to illness Crowe would not sing the Jan. 4 performance. As a result, Spanish soprano Sabina Puértolas will take over. Puértolas made her Royal Opera debut in 2013 as Lisette in “La rondine” and has since returned to sing Despina in “Così fan tutte.” She recently {…}

Dec 22, 2017

Royal Opera House Evacuated After Suspicious Package Scare

There was a big scare at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, but it all ended happily for all involved. According to the Evening Standard, hundreds of audience members were evacuated from the famed opera house when a suspicious package was found. Right after the last act of “Rigoletto,” the theater ordered audience members {…}

Dec 18, 2017

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Review – Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci: Verismo Duo Falls Prey to Verismo Schtick

In the beginning of the 20th-century there was a snootiness about verismo opera. All of its propagators – Puccini, Giordano, Mascagni, among others – were accused of simplifying opera by eliminating many of its challenges. Those long showy lines of coloratura were long gone. In place of it, the singers began interspersing notes and passages with great long sighs or {…}

Dec 16, 2017

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Review – Rigoletto: Dmitri Platanias Shines Bright In Unsatisfactory Affair

“Bleakness” would be best used to describe the ambience of this by now well known Royal Opera House revival: David McVicar’s “Rigoletto”. Originally mounted in 2001, it was first publicized as an audacious, controversial exposé of sixteenth-century Mantuan aristocracy; the kind of risky spectacle of which Verdi – plagued chronically by problems with his censors – could have only dreamed. {…}

Dec 15, 2017

Top Five Opera to See This Weekend – International (12/15-17): Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera & Opera Di Roma Highlight Weekend

We are in the midst of holiday season and the opera houses in Europe are going as strong as ever. This week, we feature a company opening its season, among many other distinguished performances. Let’s take a look. Der Rosenkavalier – Vienna State Opera On Saturday, opera lovers in Vienna will get a chance to hear the Strauss masterpiece in {…}

Dec 11, 2017

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Preview: Michael Fabiano, Dmitri Platanias Among Who’s Who of ‘Rigoletto’ Revival

This Thursday, Dec. 14, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden kicks off its revival of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The production will get a total of nine performances, the final one taking place on Jan. 16, 2018. There will be cast variations throughout, though there will be a consistent crop of artists for most of the performances. Here is a look through {…}