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WEB4 days ago — Beth Morrison Projects has announced its participants for the 2024 BMP: Producer Academy. Among those engaging with the 8-week course are Socks Whitmore, Kamna Gupta, Kevaughn Harvey, Katrina Fasulo, Jordan Rutter-Covatto, Anna Pidgorna, Anita Gonzalez, Brenda L. Huggins, Cameron Sczempka, Justin Werner, Jacqui Sutton, Erica Ferguson, Haui Tm, Roberto Di Donato, Charles Jackson Jr., Jasmine ...
Artist Profile: Baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, A Beloved & Greatly ...
WEBOct 16, 2018 — In late 2017, the opera world suffered a great tragedy, when it lost baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky at the age 55. Hvorostovsky, born on Oct. 16, 1962, was born in Krasnoyarsk and grew up without much interaction with his parents, whose work consumed most of their time. He studied at the Krasnoyarsk School of Arts and would make his professional debut {…}
Obituary: Soprano Patricia Burda Janečková Dies at the Age of 25
WEBOn Oct. 1, 2023, Patricia Burda Janečková died of breast cancer. She was 25. An official statement on Facebook said, “The opera and musical singer lost her courageous fight with an aggressive disease.
12 Modern Operas That Yannick Nézet-Séguin Must Bring to the ...
WEBApr 13, 2017 — A few weeks ago, Metropolitan Opera Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin made the proclamation that he would be bringing newer and fresher composers to the Metropolitan Opera throughout his tenure.. A few days later it was reported that among the new composers he would be bringing would be Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.” It’s a great start, considering Heggie, who has been ...
Opera Profile: Wagner’s ‘Siegfried’ - OperaWire
WEBAug 16, 2017 — Within Wagner’s famed tetralogy, the third installment, “Siegfried,” might be the least popular or well-known. But there is no doubt that it is as crucial as any and might actually be the one most important in establishing dramatic balance across the four works. Among its major dramatic tasks is establishing the “Ring Cycle’s” major hero and bridging the musico-dramatic gap {…}
Opera Meets Film: How A Comparison of ‘Pretty Woman
WEBOct 5, 2017 — “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 the Richard Gere {…}
Opera Profile: ‘Otello,’ Verdi’s Final Tragic Masterpiece - OperaWire
WEBFeb 5, 2019 — When it comes to contesting which of Verdi’s operas is his greatest, “Otello” usually ranks amongst the top two or three. This work of supreme genius almost never came about as the composer had retired after creating “Aida” in 1871. But with the combined efforts of his Milan publisher Giulio Ricordi and librettist Arrigo Boito, Verdi came out of retirement {…}
Opera Profile: Rossini’s Final Masterpiece ‘Guillaume Tell’
WEBAug 3, 2018 — Rossini’s final opera is arguably his finest. “Guillaume Tell,” which had its world premiere on August 3, 1829, has never been his most popular. But in the work, the great composer took all the dramatic ideas he had developed throughout his career and encapsulated them into a cohesive and potent opera. The work has found popularity in the 21st century, {…}
Obituary: Legendary Soprano Mirella Freni Has Passed Away At 84
WEBFeb 9, 2020 — Famed soprano Mirella Freni has passed away at age 84. According to Italian newspapers the soprano died at home in Modena due to illness. Born on Feb. 27, 1935 in Modena, Italy, she made her operatic debut at the Teatro Municipale in 1955 in “Carmen.” She would then go on to perform “La Bohème” at the Teatro Regio Torino in {…}
Opera Profile: ‘Simon Boccanegra,’ Verdi’s Most Divisive Opera
WEBMar 12, 2019 — “Simon Boccanegra” is one of Verdi’s most divisive operas. Many consider it among his greatest works, while others find it a major bore. The opera had its world premiere on March 12, 1857, in a version that was received very poorly. The original reaction was so negative that the opera was quickly forgotten. But Verdi endured and before working with {…}