What is the greatest opera of all time? Everyone has his or her own opinions but a recent poll of 172 of the world’s greatest singers has yielded a consensus – Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The poll included such stars as tenor/baritone Plácido Domingo, sopranos Kiri Te Kanawa and Renée Fleming and bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, among others, and was {…}
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu possesses a warm, plush timbre that is distinctively unique ― one note and it’s apparent it’s Gheorghiu. Also possessing dramatic abilities that rival Hollywood’s most respected actresses and the Romanian soprano has secured a place as one of the most established singers in history. Born on Sept. 7, 1965, Gheorghiu is perhaps most celebrated for her interpretations {…}
The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s Artistic Director, Lucine Amara, has announced that the company is casting supernumerary roles for its upcoming production of “Tosca” on Oct. 15, 2017. Per the press release, the company is searching and that “experienced, beginning, and aspiring actors may apply for supernumerary roles. Female and male adults and teenagers, ages 17 and above, are {…}
Kristine Opolais’ “Tosca” will be released on DVD. The production, which premiered last April at the Baden Baden Easter Festival, is scheduled for release on Oct. 20. The opera also stars Marcelo Alvarez and Marco Vratogna. Simon Rattle conducted the performance which was met with mixed reviews. When the production opened the Financial Times noted that it was “a bitterly disappointing {…}
Ramón Vinay was one of the greatest dramatic tenors of all-time, his dark and potent voice often cited as the shining example of what Verdi’s “Otello” should sound like. In fact, Carlo Bergonzi famously declared that Vinay’s was the only one he found suitable for the role of the tragic Moor. Vinay, born on August 31, 1912, in Chile, actually {…}
The Opéra de Montréal will open its 38th season with Puccini’s “Tosca.” The first performance takes place on Sept. 16, with subsequent shows on the 19th, 21st, and 23rd, all at 7:30 p.m. All showcases will appear at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at the Place des Arts. The opera will be presented in a co-production with the Cincinnati Opera under the {…}
Opera Australia has announced its 2018 Melbourne Season. The Autumn 2018 season will kick off with Brian Howard’s “Metamorphosis,” starting on Oct. 25 and running through the 27th. That will be followed by “La Bohème,” which will feature soprano Maija Kovalevska in the title role with Yosep Kang as her beloved Rodolfo. Performances start on Nov. 7 and run through {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Marc Forster’s “Quantum {…}
If you’re looking for multiple releases this week, only one major opera will come out. That, of course, will be a re-release that is considered a modern classic. Tosca Back in 2001 award-winning filmmaker, Benoit Jacquot, directed a cinematic version of “Tosca” with Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, and Ruggero Raimondi. The film was a success and became one of the {…}
Seven years. The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Berlin State Opera, Royal Swedish Opera and Metropolitan Opera. Those are just some of the companies that have featured spinto tenor Riccardo Massi. Seven years. Now in his 30s, the tenor is slowly stealing the spotlight as one of the most exciting tenors on the rise, his vocal artistry matched by his {…}
Maria Guleghina and Salvatore Licitra were always great friends and onstage partners. They also celebrated birthdays one year apart. With Guleghina born on August 9 and Licitra on August 10, it is no surprise that we continue to find links between these two great artists and that in some ways, their legacy is joined. Of course, the two had incredible {…}
