(Credit: Richard Termine / Met Opera) Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” is undeniably one of his greatest operas. The work certainly has its dramatic challenges, but it is hard to look at the score and find one piece that misses the mark. Every single musical number is vibrant, full of life, and unique in its own way. Not even the {…}
Orchestra of St. Luke’s second performance of the 2018-19 Carnegie Hall Series was led by Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie which featured Jonathan Biss as a guest artist performing Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19” and soprano Ying Fang also as a guest artist, performing Mozart’s aria “Non temer, amato bene, K.490” from “Idomeneo.” The evening began {…}
Update: Paul Lewis was originally scheduled to perform the Piano Concerto but canceled. The second concert of Orchestra of St. Luke’s 2018-19 Carnegie Hall Series will take place on Feb. 28, 2019. Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie will lead the ensemble. Soprano Ying Fang will be featured, performing the aria “Non temer, amato bene,” K. 490 from the 1786 Vienna version of {…}
The line-up for the first-ever Riga Jurmala Music Festival has been announced. The festival will take place in the Latvian cities of Riga and Jurmala this summer in a series of four concert and recital-packed weekends. For the purposes of this article, we will focus primarily on the vocal/opera-related performances. The first weekend of the Festival will kick off at {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring six new productions, two company premieres, and one world pmiere. Here is a look at what to expect. Main Stage Barrie Kosky directs the first production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” in 25 years. Marina Costa-Jackson makes her LA Opera debut in the title role with Saimir Pirgu as Rodolfo. Erica Petroelli, {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2019-20 season featuring 10 productions, including four new productions and the Ring Cycle in its entirety. The season will also include one special concert event and one important recital, among other projects. Here is a look at what audiences should expect. Main Stage The season opens with a revival of Rossini’s “Il {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2019-20 season which includes seven operas, including five new productions, one world premiere, and one company premiere. The season kicks off with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Tomer Zvulun. The famed Italian work will feature Brian Mulligan in the title role and Mané Galoyan and Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Gilda and the {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced it 2019 season with five new productions, two revivals, and two concert operas. Here is a look at what audiences can expect this season. Productions The 2019 Salzburg Festival opens with Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” Teodor Currentzis and Peter Sellars team up again after “La Clemenza di Tito” with a cast that includes Russell Thomas (Idomeneo), Paula Murrihy {…}
The North Carolina Symphony has announced its 2018-19 season. The new season will feature some of today’s greatest instrumentalists as well as some of today’s greatest singers. As with the past season announcements, we will only focus on the vocal events that this has to offer. The season opens with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Choral Fantasy with pianist Andrew {…}
The New York Philharmonic has announced its 2018-19 season filled with numerous stars and new music. The new season marks the first for music director Jaap van Zweden. For this article, we will concentrate on the vocal events of the season and the singers who will headline important concerts. Matthias Goerne Artist in Residence Matthias Goerne, one of today’s leading {…}
It was 1980, and Hildegard Behrens was at the Metropolitan Opera singing “Fidelio” with Jon Vickers. Gastón Ormazábal was but a student at Columbia University, where he is today a Senior Research Scientist. The two were about to meet for the first time. Neither knew that they would develop a friendship that would transcend Behrens’ lifetime. As Ormazábal, now the {…}