(Photo: Tristram Kenton) Robert Carsen’s new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” opened at the Royal Opera House back in the autumn; now it is receiving its first revival as the 2022-23 season begins to wind up for the year. First time round it was conducted by Antonio Pappano; this time an equally distinguished British institution takes the musical reins in {…}
After two years of lockdowns, cancelations, and COVID, 2022 seemed like it would be an easier year. But alas it wasn’t as the world was struck with a war, human rights violations that were met with worldwide protests, and governments that threatened to rewind time and take away rights. There were also major cuts in funding for opera that has {…}
(Credit: Tristram Kenton/Royal Opera House) Double-crossing, licentiousness, and the sad demise of a once popular showman: that was all going on down the road in Westminster while the Royal Opera House revived Damiano Michieletto’s double bill of “Cavalleria rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” Sightings of former prime minister Theresa May and former Johnson ally Michael Gove – himself ignominiously sacked by Johson {…}
The Filarmónica de Gran Canaria has announced its 2022-23 season featuring four vocal performances and international artists. Here is a look: The season opens with excerpts from “Aida” starring Elina Garanča, Latonia Moore, Seokjong Baek, and Rihards Macanovskis. Karel Mark Chichon conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 23, 2022 Josep Gils conducts the chorus of Gran Canaria in a program of music {…}
(© 2022 ROH. Photograph by Clive Barda) Camille Saint–Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” received its first new production – indeed first performance – at the Royal Opera House in nearly 20 years, replacing Elijah Moshinsky’s, which had a vintage of 1981 (before this reviewer was even born). It’s a tricky work to get right – traditionalist stagings feel uncomfortably Orientalist, sometimes {…}
This week, the Royal Opera House opens a new production of “Samson et Dalila” led by the company’s music and starring one of the great mezzo’s of our time. But perhaps what makes this production all the more exciting is the young tenor SeokJong Baek, who will make his house debut. The South Korean tenor, who began as a baritone, {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Samson et Dalila.” The company noted that SeokJong Baek will take over the role of Samson from Nicky Spence, who has withdrawn. Per an official press statement, Spence was still recovering from an injury earlier this year and was unable to take on the rigors that {…}
The Fort Worth Opera and the McCammon Voice Competition Committee have announced the cancelation of the 2020 Competition due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a press release, the Committee informed each of the 30 semi-finalists that they will be granted an award of $300 to provide some financial relief during these difficult times. Semi-finalists will also be {…}
Fort Worth Opera and the McCammon Voice Competition have announced the 29 artists who made it into the semi-finals of their biennial competition. The semifinalists SeokJong Baek, Rachel Blaustein, Leah Brzyski, Teresa Castillo, Wonjin Choi, Taylor Comstock, Joshua Conyers, Sylvia D’Eramo, Jesse Donner, Dylan Elza, Jessica Faselt, Rudolph Giron, Elana Gleason, LaMarcus Miller, Megan Moore, Tshilidzi Ndou, Alexandra Nowakowski, Ndumiso {…}
The Merola Opera Program has announced the Grand Finale concert that will cap its 2018 summer festival. The concert will take place on Saturday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. local time at the War Memorial Opera House. The event will be conducted by Dean Williamson, who is the music director of the Nashville Opera. This year’s program features a whopping {…}