The scene is set: a masked ball, set into the morning audience of King Gustavo III of Sweden – scarlet taffeta capes and gowns, coal-black hats and boots, creme and black masks. Donald Runnicles’, Music Director of the Deutscher Oper Berlin, lifts his baton with the brisk and lively overture to Verdi’s “Un Ballo In Maschera” and the curtain rises. {…}
Swedish baritone Ingvar Wixell engaged in a lengthy career that spanned from 1955 all the way to 2003. Born on May 7, 1931, in Lulea, Sweden, he studied at the Stockholm Academy of Music, making professional debuts in 1952 in Galve and 1955 in Stockholm, where he would become a member of the Royal Swedish Opera until 1967. Then came {…}
The Vienna State Opera’s live stream series resumes this Sunday, May 13, 2018, when the company showcases Verdi’s middle period masterwork “Simon Boccanegra.” Per the official website, the Peter Stein production will be conducted by Evelino Pidò and stars Thomas Hampson in his iconic signature interpretation of the conflicted Doge. Dmitry Belosselskiy, coming off a successful run of “Luisa Miller” {…}
A number of Verdi’s early operas are closely associated with the Risorgimento, no more so than “Nabucco” with its famous chorus, “Va pensiero,” in which the people yearn for a homeland. Arguably, however, it was the follow-up and now rarely performed opera, “I Lombardi alla Prima crociata,” which best encapsulates the spirit of the Italian people’s desire for nationhood. Listening {…}
“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 we will take a {…}
Fiorenza Cossotto is one of the great Italian mezzo-sopranos of all-time. Born on April 22, 1935, Cossotto attended the Turn Academy and made her opera debut in the world premiere performance of Poulenc’s now-iconic “Dialogues des Carmélites” at La Scala in 1957. From there she went on to have a prolific international career at such companies as the Met Opera, {…}
Leonard Warren, born on April 21, 1911, was one of the greatest American baritones in opera history. He is also widely remembered for one of the most tragic deaths in the artform. Warren grew up in the Bronx and worked in his father’s fur business early in his life. At 24, he joined the chorus of the Radio City Music {…}
Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli was born on April 19, 1967, and carved out a solid career in the Italian repertoire. Frittoli, a Milan native, went on graduate from the famed conservatory in her city. Unsurprisingly, she would have a solid career at the famed Teatro alla Scala, where she worked extensively with Riccardo Muti in such operas as “Falstaff,” “Otello,” {…}
Leo Nucci is one of the greatest baritones of the 20th century, dominating in the repertoire of Verdi, among other Italian operas. Born on April 16, 1942, he hails from Castiglione dei Pepoli and made his debut in Spoleto as Figaro in Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia.” A quick run through of his career yield the following dates as his {…}
The Music Academy of the West has announced its 71st season which is set for June 11, 2018. The festival will run through August 11, 2018, and will star some of the greatest artists in the world of opera and classical music. As has been the case for these season announcements, the focus will be solely on opera and vocal {…}
“Don Carlos” or “Don Carlo?” In French or Italian? Four acts or five? Three hours or four? Paris, Naples, Milan or Modena version? Pas de deux or pas de nul? Verdi’s longest opera is so full of revisions, rewrites, authorized or impious corrections, it is impossible to nominate a definitive score. The master music dramatist tinkered with this opera for 20 {…}