On Jan. 2, 2023, American soprano Nadine Sierra outshone the rest of the cast of “La Sonnambula” due to her beautiful dark Lirico-leggera voice, her incredible thrilling high notes up to high F, a piercing projection and a strong, believable characterization of the weak Bellini heroine. Despite of her astonishing higher register, her voice is bigger and darker than the {…}
The Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the operatic vocal performances. Opera Charles Dutoit conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in a production by Romeo Castellucci. Jaquelina Livieri and Guadalupe Barrientos star. Performance Dates: March 7-12, 2023 Jan Latham-Koenig conducts a production of Gounod’s “Faust” by Stefano Poda. The cast includes {…}
The 2022 International Opera Awards were handed out at the Teatro Real on Nov. 28, 2022. The Opera Company of the Year accolade was awarded to Lyviv National Opera and the Odessa National Opera. The companies were chosen due to their perseverance in performing during the war. There was no shortlist this year. The Female Singer of the Year went {…}
(Credit: © Bertie Watson/Gemma Escribano) The International Opera Awards has announced the program and performers for its upcoming ceremony on Nov. 28, 2022 at the Teatro Real de Madrid. Jessica Pratt and Francesco Demuro will headline a duet from “I Puritani” with soprano Nardus Williams presenting “Dovo sono” from “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Audiences will also hear soprano Barno Ismatullaeva {…}
The ABAO 2022-23 season opened with an offering of the critical edition of Bellini’s “I Puritani” by Fabrizio della Seta. It featured Bel Canto expert Jessica Pratt and promising tenors Xavier Anduaga in the award-winning production by Emilio Sagi. Sagi’s “Puritani” has been already appeared in several theatres around the world, its last revival was at the Opera de Oviedo {…}
The ABAO Bilbao Opera is set to open its 71st season with Bellini’s “I Puritani.” The production, which is set to run between Oct. 15 and 24 for four performances, will feature an all-star headed by Jessica Pratt and Xabier Anduaga. Andrzej Filończyk, Manuel Fuentes, Alejandro López, Josu Cabrero, and Laura Vila round out the cast. Giacomo Sagripanti is set {…}
Opera is going through a transition with companies trying to modernize works in order to bring younger audiences and bring the art form into the modern world. In some cases, it works and in other cases, it becomes a mere distraction that puts a concept up front and places the work and its music in the background. For the Teatro {…}
The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli is set to present a revival of Filippo Crivelli’s classic production of Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The production, which premiered in 1998 features set designs by Lele Luzzati and costumes by Santuzza Cali. Riccardo Frizza wll conduct the work and said, “conducting what is perhaps the best-loved opera buffa in the repertoire is {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced its 2022-23 season. Here is a look at the performances. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Don Carlo” starring Matthew Polezani, Ernesto Petti, Ailyn Perez, Michele Pertusi, Elina Garanca, and Alexander Tsymbalyuk. Juraj Valcuha conducts the production by Claus Guth. Performance Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 6, 2022 Lorezno Passarini conducts concert performances of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” {…}
The Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña has announced its 2022 season featuring recitals, operas and concerts. Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniusas perform at the Teatro Rosalía de Castro. Performance Date: Sept. 1, 2022 Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” will be performed in concert by Angela Meade, Alejandro Roy, Ginger Costa-Jackson, Luiz-Ottavio Faria, Luis Cansino, and Borja Quiza. Guiseppe {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2022-23 season featuring nine company premieres. Opera Philip Glass’ “Orphée” opens the season with Jordi Francés conducting Rafael Villalobos’ production. The chamber work stars María Rey-Joly, Isabella Gaudí, Sylvia Schwartz, Natalia Labourdette, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Edward Nelson, Karina Demurova, Pablo García-López, and Emmanuel Faraldo. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-25, 2022 Nicola Luisotti, Diego García Rodríguez, {…}