Apart from the onslaught of syphilis, 1840 was a good year for Gaetano Donizetti. He become the first composer to have three operas (“La Fille du Régiment”, “Lucrezia Borgia,” and “La Favorite”) debut in three different theaters in Paris within a period of less than 12 months. The last of the trifecta was written specifically for Rosine Stolz (née Victoire Noël) {…}
It’s a weekend of Bel Canto, Wagner, Mozart, and Puccini with many of the greatest stars in the world. There are some rarities and some signature pieces that are must see. Tosca – Teatro Municipal de Chile, Chile Melody Moore and Lilit Soghomonyan share the title role in Puccini’s masterpiece with Leonardo Caimi and Artem Golubev alternating Cavaradossi. Elchin Azizov and Alexander Krasnov {…}
The San Diego Opera announced that the opera “Hansel and Gretel,” originally scheduled for performances in December, has been replaced by performances of “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” The company announced that it is trying to reschedule “Hansel and Gretel” for a future season. General director David Bennett noted in a press release, “In preparing for our {…}
Stephen Costello has long been one of the leading lyric tenors of his generation. His vocal beauty and stage presence have brought great acclaim and his vast repertoire has also shown his virtuosic power. This week Costello makes a major house debut, as well as a big role debut that will once again show the diversity that Costello has to {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which is set to include five classic operas and numerous international stars. The season kicks off on Oct. 12, 2018 with Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” starring Greer Grimsley in the title role, Anja Kampe in her Dallas debut, and Jay Hunter Morris. Music director Emmanuel Villaume conducts. Performance Date: Oct. 12-20 (4 {…}
This weekend will be filled with new productions, an opening night in Zurich and, as always, many great stars. Austria Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti headlines “La Traviata” at the Vienna State Opera with Jean-François Borras and Paolo Rumetz. At the Volksoper, “Die Zauberflöte,” “Gypsy” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will be shown this weekend. Belgium Anna Caterina Antonacci will sing her signature {…}
This weekend a number of companies open their 2017-18 season featuring some of today’s biggest stars while other companies open new productions. Austria The Vienna State Opera’s continues its season with “Chowanschtschina” starring Ferruccio Furlanetto, Christopher Ventris, Herbert Lippert, Andrzej Dobber, Ain Anger, and Elena Maximova. The company also presents “Le Nozze di Figaro” with Carlos Álvarez, Dorothea Röschmann, and Adam {…}
The weekend has a number of operatic classics being offered even though many companies are in the midst of ballet season. Take a look as there is something for everyone. Austria The Vienna State Opera is in Ballet mode but will present Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” with Olga Bezsmertna, Christopher Maltman, Pavol Breslik and Mika Kares. Czech Republic The Prague National Opera {…}
Even though the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season ends in mid-May, the Company is not completely closed for business this summer. In fact, the Met will continue its 2017 Summer Recital Series, now in its ninth year, with six free concerts all across the five boroughs featuring some of the world’s greatest singers. First up are two recitals on June 12 {…}
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. {…}
The Houston Grand Opera makes a big return as opera companies slowly but surely get prepared for the spring. Houston’s opening comes on Friday Jan. 20 with a production of John Adams’ “Nixon in China.” Scott Hendricks, Andriana Chuchman and Chad Shelton lead the production which will also take the stage on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Metropolitan Opera continues its {…}