“Lucia di Lammermoor” is a role known for its high-flying coloratura, its expansive and dramatic scenes and, of course, the mad scene. In order for a Lucia to work, there must be a soprano who can handle all the challenges and a supporting cast that can work around her. There must be a soprano who cannot only conquer the virtuoso {…}
This review is for the performance on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Before I begin my review, properly, of this absolutely incredible evening, which featured some amazing musical moments, I want to bring up a constant I have seen throughout the past few years at the Metropolitan Opera and many theaters in the world. This season, the Metropolitan Opera presented a {…}
The Royal Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which is set to include five new productions, classic revivals, and operas that span the entire breadth of the repertory. New Productions The Royal Opera will begin its season with a cycle of works for families over the next few Seasons, beginning with a new production of Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” by director/designer {…}
Vittorio Grigolo is undeniably one of the finest artists of his generation. Born on Feb. 19, the tenor embodies what most would want from a leading man. Great looks. Tremendous acting dynamics. A powerfully resonant voice with both strength and tenderness. And most of all, he is highly unpredictable, meaning that every performance is quite an adventure. Grigolo’s artistry has {…}
The 2018-19 Paris Opera will celebrate a double anniversary including the signing, in 1669, of the letters patent authorizing Perrin to establish an Academy of Opera – rapidly named the Royal Academy of Music and that of the inauguration of the Opéra Bastille in 1989. The season will feature a number of new productions, classic revivals, and world premieres. It {…}
This weekend, the Metropolitan Opera’s famed Live in HD series returns with Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production by David McVicar stars Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo, and Zeljko Lucic, with Emmanuel Villaume conducting. The production premiered on New Year’s Eve 2017 and has divided critics left and right. Of this cast, OperaWire’s David Salazar wrote, “Yoncheva, Grigolo, Villaume Not Ready for Primetime,” {…}
This review is for the performance on Friday, January 12th, 2018. In keeping with the spirit of verismo, Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Tosca” offered one of the most realistic portrayals of Puccini’s celebrated work. The set may as well have been a window to another time thanks to the care taken by the creative team headed by John Macfarlane. As {…}
This review is for the performance on Jan. 4, 2018. It was the most hotly anticipated production of the new Met season, the run-up to its unveiling on New Year’s Eve as big a melodrama as the opera itself, filled with unexpected twists and turns. And like the opera itself, where its final act feels like an anti-climax after the {…}
Let’s keep things Metropolitan Opera-centric this week. With one exception. It’s the end of the year and that means the big Met gala on New Year’s Eve as well as another hotly anticipated revival set to take the stage with a new cast. Isabel Leonard got everyone jumping with excitement for the upcoming “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the Met. {…}
Over the past years, Vittorio Grigolo has become one of the biggest stars in the opera world for his magnetic and charismatic stage presence. His performances have been heralded by critics in numerous lyric roles including Nemorino in “L’Elisir d’Amore,” Edgardo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Rodolfo in “La “Boheme,” and Hoffmann in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” And now the tenor is {…}
Every year the Richard Tucker Foundation awards a promising young American opera singer with the annual Richard Tucker Award. The award comes with a star-studded gala that showcases the victorious artist alongside some of the greatest singers in the world, many of which are also previous winners. This year Nadine Sierra was given the award and headlined the gala at {…}