When Verdi sat down to write “Simon Boccanegra” in the mid 19th century, what did he want to express? What audience was he trying to reach? What has kept the opera in the background of his more popular operas? San Francisco Opera’s Claus Guth’s Hamburg production directed by Katherine M. Carter answers these questions. Especially welcome after the labor strike {…}
The opening weekend of San Francisco Opera’s 104th season will conclude with a performance on Sept. 13 with the company’s presentation of “Opera in the Park.” The free event, presented by the San Francisco Chronicle, features Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducting the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and stars of the Company’s fall season at Robin Williams {…}
At the Princeton Festival’s June 12 “Madama Butterfly” staged at Morven—the former governor’s mansion in Princeton, New Jersey—the Cio-Cio-San the audience watched was not the Cio-Cio-San it heard. The headliner, Toni Marie Palmertree, sidelined by a vocal infection, acted the role onstage while Brenna Markey sang it amplified from behind the set through speakers. Ironically, the staging presented two stories {…}
(Credit: West Bay Opera) This week, the Metropolitan Opera will conclude its run of “Madama Butterfly.” It’s been a noteworthy run with two acclaimed sopranos taking on the title role. But that’s not the end of the story. To close it all out, Toni Marie Palmertree will make her principal role debut at the Met as Cio-Cio San. The role {…}
(Photo: A soprano known for her “tender and expressive voice” (SF Examiner) Toni Marie Palmertree is described as giving “riveting” performances of Tosca, Donna Elvira, and Nedda across America. She makes her principal role debut March 28th at the Metropolitan Opera as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, Toni Marie Palmertree shares with OperaWire how {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Ken Howard) Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” is set to return to the Metropolitan Opera for 15 performances. The Anthony Minghella production will open on Jan. 9 and run through March 28 with different casts. The January performances will feature Ailyn Pérez as Cio-Cio-San, tenor SeokJong Baek as Pinkerton, Hyona Kim as Suzuki and baritone Andrzej Filończyk as {…}
(Credit: Soloman Howard) The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Madama Butterfly.” The company said that Ailyn Pérez and Toni Marie Palmertree will replace Elena Stikhina in March performances, singing the role of Cio-Cio-San. Pérez will sing the role on March 11, 14, 19, and 23, while Palmertree will sing the final performance on March {…}
This review of “Tosca” covers the June 17, 2025 production. On a warm June evening, the Princeton Festival staged “Tosca.” The setting didn’t match the material. A breezy night under a white tent, sipping wine, is incongruent with heinous assault, torture, and suicide. But maybe that’s the point. “Tosca” doesn’t need help being dramatic. And once the drama starts, it {…}
Seattle Symphony has announced its 2025-26 season, the first with Xian Zhang as its new music director. Here is a breakdown of the vocal performances on offer. Gemma New conducts works by Gabriella Smith and Vaughan Williams with Wendy Bryn Harmer and Jarrett Ott as the vocal soloists. The concert also features cellist Gabriel Cabezas and the Seattle Symphony Chorale. {…}
The Princeton Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a breakdown of the classical vocal performances on offer. Renée Fleming headlines the program, performing alongside the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under conductor Rossen Milanov. Performance Date: June 6, 2025 ”Tosca” will star Toni Marie Palmertree alongside Luis Ledesma as Scarpia and Victor Starsky as Cavaradossi. The cast is rounded out by {…}
The Arizona Opera is set to conclude the 2023-24 Season with a production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” The story of legendary libertine Don Juan is set to star Richard Ollarsaba, Joseph Lattanzi, Vanessa Vasquez, Lydia Grindatto, Toni Marie Palmertree, Mary-Hollis Hundley, Brad Bickhardt, Zachary Nelson, Vanessa Becerra, Véronique Filloux, Peter Barber, and Adam Lau. Daniela Candillari conducts the production by Tara Faircloth. {…}
