Vienna State Opera 2017-18 Live Stream: Marina Rebeka & Thomas Hampson Star in ‘Simon Boccanegra’

The Vienna State Opera’s live stream series resumes this Sunday, May 13, 2018, when the company showcases Verdi’s middle period masterwork “Simon Boccanegra.” Per the official website, the Peter Stein production will be conducted by Evelino Pidò and stars Thomas Hampson in his iconic signature interpretation of the conflicted Doge. Dmitry Belosselskiy, coming off a successful run of “Luisa Miller” {…}

Apr 26, 2018

Opera National De Paris 2018-19 Season: Here Is A Look At All The Live In HD Performances

The Opéra National de Paris has announced its cinema season for the 2018-19 season. Here is a look at the works that you can expect to see on the silver screen. Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (Oct. 4, 2018): The season begins with Meyerbeer’s grand opera starring Bryan Hymel, Diana Damrau, Ermonela Jaho, and Nicolas Testé. Michele Mariotti conducts Andreas Kriegenburg’s new production. Verdi’s {…}

Apr 21, 2018

Artist Profile: Baritone Leonard Warren, Legendary Verdi Interpreter

Leonard Warren, born on April 21, 1911, was one of the greatest American baritones in opera history. He is also widely remembered for one of the most tragic deaths in the artform. Warren grew up in the Bronx and worked in his father’s fur business early in his life. At 24, he joined the chorus of the Radio City Music {…}

Feb 24, 2018

The Major Librettos of Arrigo Boito

Arrigo Boito, born on Feb. 24, 1842, has marked his space in the opera world mainly through his opera “Mefistofele.” He didn’t get a chance to create much other music, his final work, “Nerone,” never coming to full fruition. But he did leave his mark in other major ways. Here is a look at his most famous works, outside of {…}

Oct 24, 2017

Baritone Tito Gobbi’s 5 Greatest Recordings

Tito Gobbi is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest baritone of the 20th century. Born on Oct. 24, 1913, his career really took off after the second World War with the singer performing all around the world in a wide range of great Italian repertoire. He not only sang with a gorgeous baritone sound that featured tremendous {…}

Jul 29, 2017

Viva Verdi – Baritone Luca Salsi on His Undying Love For Italy’s Greatest Composer

For Luca Salsi, there is no composer better than Verdi. No one. Salsi, the Italian baritone, who is slated to sing the role of Amonasro at the Salzburg Festival starting in early August, has repeatedly professed that no composer in the history of Italian opera was able to fuse music and text with the same level of conviction and depth. {…}

Jun 18, 2017

All Over the Map – Opera’s Most Famous Fathers

Happy Father’s Day! Fathers are those we turn to in moments of need, who set great examples by which we can live by and, the best, seek out ways to enrich our lives every day. Opera has quite the list of famous fathers, and unlike the mothers, who are often portrayed negatively, fathers come in all shapes and sizes. So {…}

May 18, 2017

4 Operas That Ezio Pinza & Boris Christoff Both Performed Extensively

Yesterday we took a look at two titanic sopranos that shared a birthday. Today, May 18, we turn our attention to two important basses that were also born on the same day. Ezio Pinza’s birth came on this day in 1892 while Boris Christoff’s came in 1914. Both artists led rather different careers with the former finishing out his career {…}

Mar 12, 2017

The Sea As The Central Element in Verdi’s ‘Simon Boccanegra’

“Simon Boccanegra” was one of Verdi’s most sublime operas and a prized creation for the composer. After suffering a brutal premiere back on March 12, 1857, the work was essentially left for dead, likely to never get a chance to firmly establish its place alongside many of Verdi’s other masterworks. But on March 24, 1881, the composer premiered another version {…}

Jan 17, 2017

Clemency & Self-Reflection in Opera’s Just & Benevolent Rulers

Corrupt power is at the heart of most drama. Seeing rulers misuse their power for personal greed or arrogance is at the heart of the mythology on ruling. Moreover, it is impossible not to find some degree of corruption in every leader regardless of his or her greatness. After all, this is a world where a Nobel Peace Prize winner {…}

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