Halloween is around the corner and the Dallas Opera has, by chance or choice, opened its season with an opera that offers equal servings of fright and delight. The second performance of the run was jaw-droppingly good, the stuff of crazy dreams and desperate nightmares. The story is relatively simple. Satan has cursed the Dutchman to wander the seas aimlessly {…}
“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 Joel Edgerton’s “The {…}
Over the last few months, one of the biggest headlines has been the announcement that the Bayreuth Festival would be taking its forces to Abu Dhabi for a couple of performances of Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” The Bayreuth Festival isn’t known for traveling abroad for its productions and Abu Dhabi is not among the recognized homes of opera. But this shift {…}
Richard Wagner’s anti-semitism is one of the defining characteristics of the legendary composer. And now it is being taken to task in an off-Broadway play asThe Directors Company gets ready to showcase the world premiere of “My Parsifal Conductor” by Alan Leicht. Previews for the show are currently underway, but Opening Night is slated for Oct. 11, 2018 with performances {…}
Opera Vision will start streaming a production of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” live from the Latvian National Opera and Ballet on Sept. 28, 2018. Wagner’s first masterwork will feature Egils Silins as the titular character with Vida Mikneviciute as his star-crossed lover Senta and Ain Anger as her father Daland. Interpreting the role of Erik will be Corby Welch with {…}
“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 Adam McKay’s “Anchorman {…}
Not many American artists ever quite get a potent associate with Wagner like bass-baritone Thomas Stewart did. Born in Texas on August 29, 1928, Stewart went from being a Baylor graduate a Juilliard student under the tutelage of Mack Harrell. In 1954, at the age of 36, he made his professional debut in the American premiere of “Capriccio” before singing {…}
Tenor Peter Hofmann was a rock star. Literally. The tenor, born on August 22, 1944, in Marienbad, German Sudetenland, actually started his musical career as the singer in a rock band. It would prove to be prophetic. He would go on to serve in the West German Armed Forces for seven years. Once he was honorably discharged, he went on {…}
We are aware that we have done our fair share of movie related opera quizzes (Don’t know what we’re talking about? Click here or here). And here we are again. Of course, it’s just fun to look into the two great art forms and see how they correspond with another. But we also wanted to bring this quiz into the {…}
“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 “Captain America: The {…}
Born on August 1, 1926, Theo Adam would go on to be a major Wagnerian bass-baritone of the 20th century. Adam was born in Dresden and spent his formative years as a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor before serving in the German Army during World War II. However, after the war ended, he resumed his musical studies and eventually made {…}