(Credit: Nile Scott Studios) I get it. Making opera in this day and age, in America, is not for amateurs. It is a tough business, with very little governmental support — unlike most countries in the world. That said, with all the sympathy due the Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) as an institution and the artists of this performance, I cannot, {…}
Casa Duse will mark the 212th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi with a special event on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The event, titled “There’s Something About Verdi,” will feature a screening of the acclaimed “lost” opera documentary film “In the Mouth of the Wolf,” presented by filmmaker and opera historian August Ventura. Guests are invited to arrive at 6 p.m., with {…}
Verdi lovers around New York City will join forces on Friday, Oct. 10, with a public celebration at Verdi Square, located at Broadway and 73rd Street. Admirers of the legendary composer are invited to gather at 10:15 a.m., with the ceremony beginning promptly at 10:30 a.m. The event is free and open to all. The commemoration offers a chance to {…}
LA Monte Productions, Wanbli, and SimonSays Entertainment will present the new documentary, Yvonne Russo’s “Viva Verdi!” The film will open in Los Angeles for a one-week run at the Laemmle Monica Film Center from Oct. 3–9, 2025. The film explores the lives of opera singers and musicians living out their “third act” while mentoring music students at Casa Verdi, built {…}
(Image provided by Cape Town Opera) Cape Town Opera (CTO) has made history by releasing a filmed performance of Verdi’s “Aida” at Ster-Kinekor movie theaters nationwide. Released on Sept. 27, 2025, this is the first time a South African-produced opera has been released on the silver screen. The production was directed by Artistic Director Magdalene Minnaar and reimagined Verdi’s epic {…}
Sarasota Opera will celebrate Verdi’s birthday with a screening of “VIVA VERDI!” On Oct. 10, 2025. The film, which was filmed in Milan and premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in Milan, Italy, was directed by Yvonne Russo and produced by Christine La Monte and Ron Simons. The film explores the lives of opera singers and musicians living out their {…}
Verdi’s “Macbeth” is a pillar of the standard repertory, beloved for the composer’s ability to capture the spirit of one of the bard’s great plays. If “Macbeth” never captures the raw power of “Otello” or the immaculate precision and robustness of “Falstaff,” it is merely because of his three Shakespeare adaptations, this is the earliest in his oeuvre. And yet, {…}
The Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra is set to present a concert of opera selections starring Maria Brea and Dane Suarez on June 15, 2025 at the Brooklyn Museum. The program, which will be conducted by Felipe Tristan, features music by Verdi, Leoncavallo, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. “I’m thrilled to work with two fantastic artists for this concert with the {…}
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is set to present “Aida” this June. The Verdi opera will sar Angel Blue in the title role alongside Jamie Barton as Amneris, Limmie Pulliam as Radamès, Reginald Smith, Jr. as Amonasro, and Mark S. Doss as Ramfis. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Johnathan Heyward conducts the performances. “’Aida’ offers everything that makes a story great; love, {…}
(©Cory Weaver – LA Opera) Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” has an interesting reputation in opera history. A staple of the opera canon, it is widely beloved for its melodic abundance and as a final homage to the greatness of bel canto. For Verdi it came at a period of major artistic fecundity and stands as the middle opera in a trilogy {…}
Vashon Opera is set to cap its 2024-25 season with a production of Verdi’s final opera, “Falstaff.” Set for performances on May 23 and 25 at the Vashon Center for the Arts, the comedy will star Joshua Conyers in the title role. Of his upcoming performances with the company, Conyers stated that “I love the people. I have performed on {…}