(Credit: © Simon Pauly) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that Spanish bass-baritone Carlos Álvarez will not be appearing in the role of Count René Anckarström in the December 2021 performances of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” American baritone Thomas Lehman will take over the performances scheduled for Dec. 20, 22, and 29, 2021. Lehman joins a cast that includes {…}
(Credit: Klaus Frahm) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its upcoming December 2021 performances. Mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel will give a concert singing lieder by Gustav Mahler and Kurt Weill. Performance date: Dec. 2, 2021 Soprano Anja Harteros gives a concert featuring Wagner’s “Wesendonck-Lieder” and “Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde.” The orchestra will also present Richard Strauss’ “Tod und Verklärung” op. {…}
Rai5 is set to broadcast the Teatro Regio di Parma’s new production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo Maschera” on Oct. 14, 2021. The performance, which is part of the annual Festival Verdi, stars Piero Pretti as Gustavo, Anna Pirozzi as Amelia, Amartuvshin Enkhbatyn as Anckastrom, Anna Maria Chiuri as Ulrica, and Giulia Giandaldoni as Oscar. Roberto Abbado conducts the Orchestra and {…}
There has been a cast change for the Festival Verdi’s production of “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The Parma festival announced that soprano Anna Pirozzi would be taking over the role of Amelia for Maria Teresa Leva on Sept. 24, 2021; per a press release, Leva is withdrawing from the performance due to health concerns. Leva is still scheduled to take {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment) The Teatro alla Scala in Milan has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring some of the greatest performers in the world. Here is the full slate. Operas Anna Netrebko and Luca Salsi open the season in Verdi‘s “Macbeth” in {…}
(Photo credit: Frances Marshall) What’s opera about? Passion? Drama? Politics? Sex? All the above, of course, and it’s been that way since 1597, even in the face of censorship. Yet, the prohibitions around taboo topics such as politics and sex caused composers and librettists to get creative when including such material in their operas. Opera critic, author, and historian par {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight 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 Murnau’s {…}
Regina Opera Company has released its recording of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera on its official website. The free stream features a performance from Nov. 30, 2014 with a cast starring Michael Morrow as Riccardo, Alexis Cregger as Amelia, Andrew Cummings as Renato, Mizuho Takeshita as Oscar, Lara Michole Tillotson as Ulrica, Antoine Hodge as Samuel, Jonathan Dauermann as Tom, {…}
(Credit: Studioline Photography / Xavier Sabata official website / Ascolta Artists official website) The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced that it will perform a version of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” for two pianos and the percussion on Feb. 12-14, 2021. The showcase will be presented by the Coro Nacional, and the percussion section of the Orquesta Nacional {…}
(Credit: Studioline Photography) The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced that soprano Elena Sancho Pereg will perform the role of Stella in the upcoming production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on Jan. 18, 19, 25, 28 & 31, 2021. Soprano Adriana González must spend 10 days in preventive isolation, in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations. González will perform the role {…}
(Credit: http://www.avantartmagazin.com/) Famed Serbian mezzo-soprano Biserka Cvejić has died at the age of 97. Cvejić performed over 70 roles during throughout her renowned career, including Bizet’s “Carmen,” which became one of her calling cards. Other major roles included Eboli in Verdi’s “Don Carlos,” Amneris in “Aida,” Ulrica in “Un Ballo in Maschera,” Azucena in “Il Trovatore,” Charlotte in Massenet’s “Werther,” {…}