Verdi’s “Otello” is one of the world’s greatest operas. For many, it is THE Italian opera. Premiering on Feb. 5, 1887, the penultimate opera in Verdi’s legacy is a work that is also the conjugation of all the styles that he had been playing with for decades. While many would look to “Falstaff” as a subversion of everything that had {…}
“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 returns to Quentin Tarantino’s {…}
Three years ago when Sonya Yoncheva recorded her first album “Paris Mon Amour,” it was a triumph. It was an album filled with a variety of interesting repertoire and a voice with great color and flexibility. It captured a rising star that was on the path to stardom and gave an incredible vibrancy to each reading on the album. Fast {…}
In recent years, Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” has slowly but surely established a potent foothold in the Metropolitan Opera’s standard repertory. The main reason? David McVicar’s striking and still awe-inspiring interpretation of Verdi’s middle-period masterwork. A Master At Work The inspiration of Francisco de Goya and his tableaus is obvious from the opening curtain and onwards. At the core of it {…}
A successful performance of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” is relatively easy, according to Enrico Caruso. All that is needed are the four greatest singers in the world. And Caruso was not really joking as that is exactly what the second installment of Verdi’s middle-period trilogy truly requires. “Il Trovatore” first premiered on Jan. 19, 1853 and has been a major operatic {…}
On Jan. 22, 2018, the Metropolitan Opera will revive David McVicar’s production of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” The production runs until Feb. 15, a total of eight performances. This year’s production is set to offer up quite some delights for newcomers to Verdi’s mid-period masterpiece. Here’s a look at some reasons you must see this revival. Rising Stars Take the Lead {…}
For one-night Film Forum will present “In the Mouth of the Wolf.” On Jan. 22 the theater will present the exclusive event. According to Film Forum’s website the film tells the story, “in Parma, near the birthplace of the revered composer Giuseppe Verdi, even the street-sweepers and cops sing opera, while soprano Margherita Roberti (née Margaret Jean Roberts in Davenport, {…}
We all know about Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini, Giordano, and the great Italian composers of the 19th century. We often attribute opera’s greatest gems to them, remembering every gorgeous melody and the potent emotions that they create for us. But they don’t deserve all the credit. In fact, without the text, most of these composers don’t write their music. {…}
Decca has released the full track list of Joseph Calleja’s new album “Verdi.” The album, which is slated to released by Decca Classics on Feb. 2, 2018, and marks his first in six years, will include “Di quella pira” and “Ah! Si, ben mio…” from “Il Trovatore,” “Già nella notte densa” from “Otello,” and “Celeste Aida” from the opening scene {…}
Premiering on December 24, 1871, at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo, Egypt, Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” is one of opera’s best-loved and most enduring works. Verdi was commissioned by Isma’il Pasha, who was governor of Egypt, in celebration of the opening of Egypt’s Khedivial Opera House, although the premiere was delayed due to complications from the temporary capture of Paris {…}
Time to have some fun. Here is our debut quiz feature for OperaWire.com. Every week, we will bring you a fun quiz so that you can get a new perspective on how you fit into the opera world you so love. In honor of the world premiere of Verdi’s “Aida,” which took place on Dec. 24, 1871, we bring you {…}