Opera Colorado has announced its 2019-20 season featuring three classic operas. The season includes rising stars in the business as well as veterans. Here is a look at what to expect. The season opens with Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” with Megan Marino and Andrew Stenson headlining the cast. Bruno Taddia sings the title role, while Stefano De Peppo and Harold Wilson {…}
Tosca. Mimí. Rodolfo and his bohemian friends. Musetta. Suor Angelica. Manon Lescaut. Gianni Schicchi. Turandot. Cio-Cio San. The list goes on and on when it comes to Puccini’s iconic characters. Each and everyone is crucial to the composer’s output and the way that he gives them each unique voices are a part of the reason for his transcendence. In honor {…}
Giacomo Puccini lived during the age of Verismo, but he couldn’t easily be pinned down to said opera genre. In fact, much like Verdi before him, he was far greater because he defies categorization. Puccini’s works strive for the same exoticism that we find in composers that preceded him and like Verdi’s forays into “Ancient Egypt” or Rossini’s into Algiers {…}
Puccini is undeniably one of those names that will forever be linked with opera. Born on Dec. 22, 1858 (his full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini) in Lucca, Italy, he was set to occupy the position of maestro di cappella after his father’s death. However, he was only six-years-old and unable to occupy the position his {…}
La Divina, born on Dec. 2, 1923, sang just under 50 roles over the course of her career. From Carmen to Medea to Tosca, she approached each role with the dramatic prowess which truly earned her the title that we so lovingly reference to this day. In musical circles, Callas has always been and will always remain a topic of {…}
Lawrence Tibbett was one of the shining stars of the Metropolitan Opera in the pre-World War II era. The baritone, born on Nov. 16, 1896, would sing over 600 performances with the company between his debut on Nov. 24, 1923 and his final performance on March 24, 1950. Interestingly, he began his Met career as a bit role in “Boris {…}
Jonathan Tetelman is set to replace Fabio Sartori at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. The Liceu announced that Sartori canceled performances of “Tosca” in June due to personal reasons. As a result, Tetelman will perform the role of Cavaradossi alongside Liudmyla Monastryska and Erwin Schrott. Tetelman will make his role debut in the production by Paco Azorín and it will also {…}
Puccini’s “Tosca” received its 966th performance at the Metropolitan Opera on Thursday, Oct. 25. The work featured the second revival of David McVicar’s production from last season, with some unique distinctions. As noted in last year’s review of this production, this version of the work’s success will live or die based on whether the performers bring a strong perspective to {…}
If you wanted to list off the greatest baritones of the 20th century, Tito Gobbi will land somewhere on that list. Born on Oct. 24, 1913, the baritone actually started his career studying law. But a family friend suggested that he study singing. So he moved from Padua, where he was studying, to Rome. In 1935, at the age of {…}
“Tosca” is one of the more popular operas in the entire repertory and this season it will be returning to the Met Opera for a total of 13 performances throughout the months of October, November, March, and April. There are two main casts across the two runs, distinguished by the two leading ladies in the title role. However, the remainder {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Wolfgang Koch has withdrawn from the fall run of “Tosca.” The company announced that Koch, who was set to debut with the company, had to withdraw due to illness. As a result, Željko Lučić will sing the role of Scarpia on opening night on Oct. 25 and Claudio Sgura will sing the remaining six performances {…}