Verdi’s 211th birthday will be celebrated on Oct. 10, 2024 at Verdi Square in New York City. The event, led by August Ventura, will be open to the public and will offer an opportunity for attendees to join in singing Verdi’s “Va pensiero.” The event will also feature the offering of 27 roses, one for each opera, at the base {…}
Chelsea Opera Group has announced its 2024-25 season. First up is a Puccini Centenary Concert featuring “Le villi,” “Capriccio Sinfonico,” and “Messa di Gloria.” The concert features Seljan Fermor-Hesketh, Charne Rochford, and Stephen Gass. Peter Robinson conducts. Performance Date: Nov. 2, 2024 Paul Wingfield conducts a concert performance of Lalo’s “Le Roy d’Ys.” Performance Date: March 30, 2025 Then comes a concert {…}
Opera Orlando has raised $100,000 for the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida The money was raised from its recent concert performance of “DEFIANT REQUIEM: Verdi at Terezín” on Sept. 14, 2024. The performance was sold out with more than 500 free tickets given to students and educators. “Words cannot express our immense gratitude to the Opera and {…}
(Credit: The Verdi Chorus) The Verdi Chorus is set to present “We Are Verdi Bizet” on Nov. 16 and 17, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica. The showcase will feature music from three Verdi operas – “I Lombardi,” “Don Carlo,” and “Rigoletto” – to go along with two Bizet classics – “Carmen” and “The Pearl Fishers.” Soloists {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl) Throughout the entire history of opera, from its beginning in the Francophile 18th century to the American 21st, there have been numerous moments which stand out as having been controversial of their time and controversial even today due to the contentious nature of the events. If one looks to contemporary issues like Anna Netrebko’s alleged blackface while {…}
(Image Courtesy of Vashon Opera) Vashon Opera is set to present Verdi’s “Otello” on Sept. 20 and 22, 2024. The production, which will take place at the Vashon Center for the Arts, will star Errin Brooks in the title role alongside Jennifer Krikawa as Desdemona and Chad Armstrong as Iago. Other cast members include Brendan Tuohy, Soon Cho, Zachary Lenox, {…}
Sarasota Opera has unveiled its 2024-25 season. First up is “The Music of Giuseppe Verdi” featuring principal artists of the company. Victor DeRenzi conducts the two performances of the concert. The showcase includes music from nine operas, including “I Lombardi alla prima crociata,” “Aida,” “Rigoletto,” “Attila,” “La Traviata,” and “Don Carlos.” Performers include Virginia Mims, Rochelle Bard, Jean Carlos Rodriguez, {…}
(Photo: Genevieve Girling) Set in early 14th century Spain, “Ernani” is a simple tale of three men competing for the love of the same woman, in which the society’s values and codes of chivalry dictate the course of the narrative. Providing that one accepts the context uncritically, it can be a gripping, quick-moving drama that rattles along with plenty of {…}
The Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo in Bogotá, Colombia is set to present Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The opera, which will be presented between July 12 and 14, is set to star Julia Muzychenko and Eliana Piedrahita in the title role. They will be joined by Paolo Fanale as Alfredo and Fabián Veloz as Germont. The cast will be rounded {…}
Dubai Opera has announced its September 2024 performances. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances. The season starts with “Aida” in a production directed by Roberto Laganà Manoli and conducted by Patrick Fournillier. The work is performed by the Polish National Opera and stars Marigona Querkezi and Oxana Nosatova in the title roles; Agnieszka Rehlis and Monika Ledzion as {…}
Malmö Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” will be conducted by Daniela Musca and directed by Philipp M. Krenn. The cast will include Ania Jeruc, Magnus Tödenes, Fredrik Zetterström, Gustavo Johansson, and Tor Lind. Performance Dates: Oct. 12 – Nov. 24, 2024 There will be a run of performances of the children’s opera “Snösystern.” Performance Dates: Nov. 16, 2024 {…}