(Photo credit: Michele Crosera) Having seen more versions of “Don Giovanni” than there are sands on the beach, I can attest that the greatness of the opera is seldom undermined by a less than optimum staging. However, when the staging is good—or even great—, one feels that there is no better opera than “Don Giovanni.” The revival of Damiano Michieletto’s {…}
The Royal Opera House Muscat and Teatro La Fenice have met to discuss future collaborations. On a recent visit to Teatro La Fenice his Highness Sayyid Dr. Kamil Fahad Al Said, the Secretary General in the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers and Member of the Board of Directors of Royal Opera House Muscat met with Fortunato Ortombina, General {…}
I will never die. But when if I do—certainly after 2300—, I want to be mourned with Verdi’s “Requiem.” No discussion. Few musical moments are more rewarding than the first tenor “Kyrie,” breaking into the orchestral mass, abashing any feelings that are not of heroic repentance. I simply love it. However, such strong personal preference creates rigid expectations of how {…}
Opera houses are mourning the loss of legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini, who died at 82 on March 23, 2024. In a statement, the Teatro alla Scala said, “La Scala mourns the loss of Maurizio Pollini, one of the great musicians of our time” while the Teatro La Fenice said, “It hurts our hearts to write about his passing… yes, because {…}
Photo: Roberto Moro Sometimes, opera programming can be extremely original, providing us with unexpected titles. That was the case with La Fenice/Maria Malibran’s “Maria Egiziaca,” Otto Respighi’s eclectic and sensuous opera. Especially when hearing lesser-performed titles, it is very hard to define what to expect musically. While in classic and baroque operas, there is a certain inner grammar of the {…}
The Teatro Mailbran is set to present Respighi’s “Maria Egiziaca.” The opera, which is presented as part of the Teatro La Fenice’s 2023-24 season will open on March 8 and run through March 16, 2024. The production will be by Pier Luigi Pizzi and will be conducted by Manlio Benzi. Francesca Dotto leads a cast that includes Vincenzo Costanzo, Simone {…}
Each music-lover has their “Requiem” of choice. The Heroic will want to be mourned under Verdi’s; tender souls feel represented by the ethereal melodies of Brahms or Fauré. But, it is safe to say that nine of ten music-lovers prefer Mozart’s unfinished “Requiem.” More than a masterpiece, it is arguably the most gracious sacred work in the classical repertoire. However, {…}
The Teatro La Fenice has announced the conductor for its 2024-2025 New Year’s Eve concert. The company noted that Daniel Harding will conduct the prestigious concert which will celebrate its 22nd anniversary. This will mark the fifth time that Harding conducts the concert. He previously led it in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023. Harding is a British conductor who was {…}
The Teatro La Fenice is set to broadcast its 2024 New Year’s concert on Rai 1. Fabio Luisi will lead the concert with soloists Eleonora Buratto and Fabio Sartori and will include music by Johannes Brahms, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Amilcare Ponchielli. The concert will be performed four times on Dec. 29, 30, 31, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024. The New Year’s {…}
(Credit: Michele Crosera) After 1,100 years as an independent state, Napoleon’s invasion of Venice in 1797 brought the Venetian Republic to an end. Once the Queen of the Adriatic, with an empire extending throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, it has since been reduced to a small city in the north-east of Italy, with a declining population and overrun by tourists. Unfortunately, {…}
On Oct. 5, the Teatro La Fenice honored the victims of the bus crash in Venice during the performance of “La Traviata.” Before the performance, Superintendant Fortunato Ortombina came out on stage and asked all members of the audience for a minute of silence in honor of the victims of the terrible accident which saw at least 21 people killed {…}
