Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week several new solo albums will be released. There will also be an album released for the centennial of Victoria de los Ángeles. Here is a look at the new releases. Forgotten Arias Philippe Jaroussky releases his latest album which pays tribute {…}
(Credit: Allan Warren) The Metropolitan Opera is set to celebrate Victoria de Los Ángeles’ centennial on Nov. 1 2023 during a performance of “La Bohème.” The Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation announced that news noting that the legendary soprano made her Met debut in 1951 with “Faust” and appeared on the Met stage in performances of “Manon,” “Madama Butterfly,” “Pelléas {…}
(Credit: Allan Warren) The Gran Teatre del Liceu is set to celebrate Victoria de Los Angeles’ centenary. The company will hold a gala on Nov. 7, 2023 which will revisit the core repertoire of the undisputed soprano. The gala, which is curated by Marc Busquets, artistic director of LIFE Victoria Barcelona, will feature soloists Maria Agresta, Louise Alder, Dame Sarah {…}
Ópera de Oviedo commemorated their 75th season by presenting Massenet’s “Manon,” a new coproduction between opera de Oviedo, Teatro Municipal Santiago de Chile and Auditorio de Tenerife. All performances were dedicated to the great Spanish soprano Victoria de los Angeles who performed 75 years ago at the Oviedo coliseum. Emilio Sagi’s Beautiful Labyrinth The veteran and admired stage director Emilio Sagi {…}
Victoria de los Angeles is arguably the greatest soprano from Spain in the history of opera. Born on Nov. 1, 1923, the soprano studied voice and guitar at the Barcelona Conservatory, graduating at the age of 18. She actually gave her operatic debut at the Liceu in Barcelona in 1941, when she was still a student. Her formal professional debut {…}
This week Erato has two releases featuring legendary artists and one of today’s most sought-after singers. One releases features rarely performed works while the other features a new edition of a popular work. Here is a look: Orfeo ed Euridice Erato releases a new recording of Gluck’s 1174 classic opera with Philippe Jaroussky and Amanda Forsythe in the lead roles. Diego Fasolis {…}
Victoria De Los Ángeles was one of the great sopranos of the 20th century, taking on a wide range of roles from “Madama Butterfly” to “La Bohème,” to “Manon.” Born on Nov. 1, 1923, the Spanish soprano would go on to a tremendous career, her recording of Puccini’s “La Bohème” under Sir Thomas Beecham widely considered the greatest of the {…}
On Sept. 9, 2017, the LA Opera opens its 2017-18 season with a repertory staple, Bizet’s “Carmen.” However, what makes this revival so appealing is the addition of a soprano in the title role instead of a mezzo-soprano. Ana María Martínez takes on the iconic role for the second time after receiving raves at the Houston Grand Opera. With the {…}
Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” returns to La Monnaie on Jan. 31. The run will feature 11 performances that end on Feb. 14. Tickets start at 10 euros a piece with all but two performances starting at 8 PM local time. The opera will feature two separate casts. Alexia Voulgaridou and Amanda Echalaz will alternate the title role while Ning Liang and {…}
UPDATE: On Tuesday, Jan. 17 it was announced that Sophie Koch would not be singing the role at the Met and that Clémentine Margaine would be taking over the entire run. For more information, read OperaWire’s coverage on the news. Opera’s most famous gypsy returns to the Metropolitan Opera stage on Thursday, Jan. 19. This year’s run of “Carmen” will {…}
Thursday December 22 is the 158th birthday of one of the greatest opera composers of all time – Giacomo Puccini. The Italian composer is best known for his brilliant melodic invention and his operatic output, while relatively small when compared with the likes of Italian predecessors such as Verdi, Rossini or Donizetti, is among the most popular in the entire {…}