Sonya Yoncheva will make her role debut as Tosca. As part of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2017-18 season, the Bulgarian soprano will sing her first Tosca in Puccini’s masterpiece under the direction of Yannick Nezet-Seguin. The event will also mark the soprano’s debut with the orchestra. In a statement for the Philadelphia inquirer Nezet-Seguin said, “I finally got the ‘Tosca’ that I’ve {…}
Often when we react to a flood of news, like a new opera season, it is easy to dwell on some of the negatives, such as which of your favorites are now showing up or which operas got the boot for yet another season. But the beauty of a new season is ultimately the gems that we will get to {…}
One of the most hotly anticipated parts of every Met Opera season has to be the Live in HD Series. Arguably the most successful aspect of Peter Gelb’s tenure with the company, the video recordings of live performances work on so many levels. Not only do they connect with audiences worldwide, but they immortalize performances and interpretations of beloved works {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2017-18 season and as promised, it contains a lot of hotly anticipated productions and performances. Here is a quick rundown with OperaWire set to include additional content throughout the day. The New Productions The Metropolitan Opera season will feature five new productions. David McVicar’s new production of Bellini’s “Norma” will open the season on {…}
The Welsh National Opera announced its 2017-18 season, a schedule that features works accompanying certain themes and concepts. Fall 2018 – Russian Revolution The autumn season will kick off with three Russian-themed works – “Eugene Onegin,” “Khovanshchina” and Janácek’s “From The House of the Dead,” which is based on Dostoevsky’s book. This segment intents to honor the centenary of the {…}
Pittsburgh Opera’s 2017-18 season is set to keep opera modern with three new works making their way onto the schedule. The season will kick off with “Tosca” starring soprano Leah Crocetto alongside Mark Delavan. That run will start on Oct. 7 and end on the15th. On Nov. 4, “Le Nozze di Figaro” bows with Joélle Harvey, Danielle Pastin and Corrie {…}
On Friday, Feb. 10, legendary soprano soprano Leontyne Price turns 90. The soprano is perhaps one of the greatest in the history of all of opera, her influence spreading far and wide. Not only do other artists embrace her greatness, but her prominence on the operatic stage in the 50’s and 60’s helped open the door for black singers to {…}
Hildegard Beherens is regarded as one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of the 20th century as she delivered intensity in everything she portrayed. Sometimes criticized for her over acting, whatever Behrens did on stage was still effective and memorable. In celebration of the great soprano’s birthday, OperaWire takes a look at the mad scenes that Behrens portrayed. Salome One can {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has returned to the stage. After having cancelled her run of Massenet’s “Manon” at the Opera de Monte Carlo due to back pains, the soprano returned to the stage for “Les Victoires de la musique classique.” The soprano performed “Vissi d’Arte” from Puccini’s “Tosca.” Yoncheva has yet to perform the complete opera but based the on the frequency with which {…}
The world is set to undergo a change this week with a massive transfer of power. There is tremendous uncertainty regarding this situation, some expecting the very worst. Art represents an interesting window into our deepest fears and opera has its fair share of oppressive regimes and tyrannical rule in all guises. What follows is a look at some of {…}
Puccini’s “Tosca” had its debut on Jan. 14, 1900. Since then it has been an instant classic, one of the staples of the operatic repertoire. All of the world’s greatest sopranos have taken their respective cracks at the role with Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price and Eva Marton among some of the many popular exponents of the role. And {…}