On March 9, 2019, Matthew Laifer Artists Management will showcase the “Viva Verdi” reception at the National Opera Center in New York. The event will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and present arias and ensembles from such operas as “Aida,” “Il Trovatore,” “Otello,” “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “Macbeth,” and “Don Carlo.” The artists set to perform include mezzo-soprano Natasha Novitskaia, {…}
When it comes to contesting which of Verdi’s operas is his greatest, “Otello” usually ranks amongst the top two or three. This work of supreme genius almost never came about as the composer had retired after creating “Aida” in 1871. But with the combined efforts of his Milan publisher Giulio Ricordi and librettist Arrigo Boito, Verdi came out of retirement {…}
On January 25, 2019, Arizona Opera presented Giuseppe Verdi’s opera of love and death, “La Traviata” at the Phoenix Symphony Hall—a perfect vehicle for the debut of 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Winner Vanessa Vasquez. Currently a recent graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Vasquez gave each note a beginning, a middle and a well planned {…}
On Jan. 30, 2019, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will showcase its Richard Eyre’s famed “La Traviata” production in cinemas around the world. The production, known for its elegant style and visual elements, will feature Ermonela Jaho in the title role with Plácido Domingo and Charles Castronov as Germont and Alfredo, respectively. Antonello Manacorda conducts the production. To find {…}
Verdi’s final masterpiece “Falstaff” will be live stream to audiences worldwide from the Vienna State Opera on Jan. 30, 2019. The Italian comedy will feature a production by David McVicar with James Conlon as the musical director. Carlos Alvarez takes on the title role with the likes of Simon Keenlyside, Jinxu Xiahou, Olga Bezsmertna, Hila Fahima, and Monika Bohinec also {…}
For years, scholars have been hoping to have complete access to a treasure trove of documents by Giuseppe Verdi, but they were locked away at the composer’s home in Sant’Agata by his heirs. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, it was announced that those archives, which include some 5,400 pages (600 of which are blank) will be made public to scholars. Per {…}
Internationally renowned soprano Aprile Millo returns to New York on January 30, 2019 for a highly anticipated recital with the New York City Opera. This performance marks her first concert in the city in nearly a decade. Accompanied by Inseon Lee on piano, Millo will perform a wide-ranging program consisting of songs by Bellini, Tosti, Liszt, Donaudy, Rachmaninoff, and Wagner, as {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2019-20 season and it features some of the most diverse programming of any season announcement to date. The proceedings kick off with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The classic opera will feature Paolo Fanale, Andrea Carroll, Markus Werba, Olga Pudova, and Morris Robinson, among others. Emmanuel Villaume conducts the score in a production originally directed {…}
This review is for the performance on Monday, January 14, 2019. This season’s revival of “Aida” is well underway after opening in September of 2018, boasting a compelling cast of artists such as Anita Rachvelishvili and Anna Netrebko. The second cast which reopened the opera’s run earlier this month has re-stoked the fires of excitement and offered audiences freshness to {…}
“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 Dustin Hoffman’s “Quartet.” {…}
The story of soprano Katia Ricciarelli is one of rags to riches. Born on Jan. 16, 1946, the Italian soprano grew up with a poor family, working during her time as a student at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice. Upon graduation, she kickstarted her career as Mimì in “La Bohème” in Mantua and from there she had a major {…}
