Albéric Magnard, inspired to abandon the law for music by a visit to Bayreuth in 1886, was wealthy enough to ignore the public and go off on his own to compose.
A few years ago, a certain major newspaper boasted a music critic who could not bring himself either to take opera seriously or to deny himself the opportunity to review it.
In its current production of Giacomo Puccini’ La fanciulla del West Lyric Opera of Chicago celebrates the centenary of the first performances of the opera.
It’ a joy to watch an athlete finding her legs, especially when you
know she’l achieve her feat superbly, matchlessly, with supreme grace. I
first heard Sutherland sing I Puritani (three times) during the famous
Met run of 1976.
The 2010-2011 season for Minnesota Opera is steeped in Bel Canto
opera selections, starting with Rossini’ Cenerentola this fall, currently featuring Donizetti’ Maria Stuarda, and for the spring, a production of Verdi’ La Traviata with acclaimed Violetta, Elizabeth Futral.
Premiered in 2003, and aired again in 2005 and 2008, this current revival of David McVicar’ Die Zauberflöte brings many ‘ld hands’back together to re-visit oft-frequented roles on familiar ground.
Yoav Gal, an Israeli-born composer-in-residence at the HERE arts complex in
Manhattan’ South Village, calls Mosheh a “VideOpera,” rightly giving as much place to what is seen (electronic projections) as to what is heard (from four sopranos playing the women in the prophet’ life and an orchestra of nine musicians).
The original story that formed the basis for the libretto of Puccini’
opera Turandot told of a Mongolian princess who insisted that any
prospective husband endeavor to win a wrestling match with her.
If you are ever lucky enough to have the opportunity to catch a great exponent of just one of two major roles — the heroines or villains — in Offenbach’ Les Contes d’offmann, you should secure a seat maintenant.
This production retains a special place in my heart: its first outing in
1999 was my first Parsifal in the theatre. Saving up my student
pennies, I made the journey not once but twice from Cambridge to London, was
mightily impressed the first time and a little irritated the second.
Witty and airy as an after-dinner anecdote over biscuits and cognac, Don
Pasquale (1844) is, unlikely as it may seem, almost the last opera Donizetti
completed before his descent into the madness of tertiary syphilis.
Gluck’ operas are part of a continuum, a tradition of French vocal
declamation (as opposed to the Italian school of flights of elegant,
open-throated vocal fantasy) that can be traced to him from Lully and Rameau,
and then from Gluck through certain works of Mozart and Gluck’ pupil,
Salieri to the operas of Spontini, Berlioz and Wagner.
Preparing for the Met premier of Nixon in China, I resolved to
forget—or place on hold—everything I remembered, or thought I
remembered, about the real persons who are characters in this opera,
In the mid-nineteenth century, every nationality that did not possess a
national state felt a need to prove itself, to square its shoulders and claim
nationhood with all the identifying marks of a nation: a language with a
literature, a tricolor flag, a national anthem extolling the people’
stalwart character and the country’ landscape (inevitably the loveliest
in the world), a national theater and a national opera to be performed there.
We had such a wonderful time this weekend with our friends from Utah Shakespeare Festival! We hope you enjoyed the great show they helped us put on.
Adams appeared to be having the time of his life as the mischievous Puck, while Bahr and Mellen earned laughs as fairy royalty Oberon ...
: The Opera Tattler Subscribe to this blog's feed West Coast Opera Companies Los Angeles Opera Portland Opera San Diego Opera San Francisco Opera Seattle Opera Bychkov conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker Main February 27, 2011 Ensemble Parallèle's Orphée Notes Philip Glass Orphée was performed impressively by Ensemble Parallèle last night in San Francisco . The 14 musicians sounded lush but clean under Maestra Nicole Paiement Brian Staufenbiel s production involved rather stunning circus art , including Roue Cyr , aerialism , and juggling . However , the video art , especially in the beginning , did not quite work , and people even laughed at the repetition in the introduction . It was used sparingly , and the pleasing retro circus feel was certainly attractive . The vision was carried
: The Opera Tattler Subscribe to this blog's feed West Coast Opera Companies Los Angeles Opera Portland Opera San Diego Opera San Francisco Opera Seattle Opera Il Turco in Italia LA Opera Main February 25, 2011 Marnie Breckenridge Interview This weekend soprano Marnie Breckenridge pictured left will be singing the role of the Princess in Ensemble Parallèle s production of Orphée by Philip Glass She will be singing in The Rape of Lucretia with Castleton Opera which will be presented by Cal Performances in Berkeley next month . Last week , the Opera Tattler met with her in a practice room of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music between . rehearsals You attended San Francisco Conservatory of Music , so welcome back Are you from California Yes , though the Conservatory was on Ortega Street
William Grant Still (May 11, 1895 – December 3, 1978) was an African-American classical composer. He was the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony of his own (his first symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera ...
The 2011 Deer Valley® Music Festival includes a little bit of everything to help you enjoy your summer to the fullest!
Our Saturday Pops concerts will open with the timeless Music of the Eagles, followed by best-selling jazz artist Chris Botti performing with the Utah Symphony. Broadway powerhouse and “Glee!” favorite ...
While Beethoven was becoming the most Daring Young Man in the German-speaking musical world, Gioachino Rossini was sipping the finest champagne and chatting up the most eligible ladies as Italy's most successful young opera composer. It's hard to believe that his opera-writing career didn't even last 20 years (his final opera, Guillaume Tell, premiered in Paris in 1829,when he was 37, yet the composer lived on for another 39 years). There are many reasons for choosing something else like La cenerentola (Cinderella), but I'll stick with Il baribiere di Siviglia, which had its premiere exactly 195 years ago, today. It's...
Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth announced the Utah Opera’s complete 2011-12 season yesterday, featuring four dynamic works: a thematic opener, one of Verdi’s most enduring masterpieces, an Italian comedy, and a stunning adaptation of a classic American novel.
The season will open with Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, ...
Mona Seghatoleslami2011 02 17falseCenterfalse Mark O’Connor is in Wheeling this week. He’s performing his American Seasons with the Wheeling Symphony on Friday (the concert also includes two by Beethoven the Sixth Symphony (“Pastorale”) and the Coriolan Overture). Maestro Andre Raphel
Maurice Arnold (born Maurice Arnold Strothotte) was an American composer born in Missouri in 1865. Arnold started his musical education in Cincinnati, then studied in Germany and Poland. He toured parts of Eastern Europe before returning to America where he worked as a violinist, educator, opera conductor, and composer.
Arnold was ...
It's always fun to watch the costumes take shape for each of the operas, and Little Women has been no different! Here's a peek at one of Amy's dresses when she's gone away to Europe:
Conductor Pascal Rophé and pianist Joyce Yang were absolutely amazing this weekend! We hope you had the opportunity to experience it. Here are some of the reviews:
After intermission came one of the 20th century’s greatest masterpieces, Bartók’s exhilarating Concerto for Orchestra. The piece is jam-packed with terrific tunes, ...
Mona Seghatoleslami2011 02 11falseCenterfalseWith Lincoln’s birthday tomorrow, Washington’s later this month, and Nixon in China by John Adams at the Metropolitan Opera now (and at the movies this Saturday ), presidents and music have been on my mind. Today’s program
: The Opera Tattler Subscribe to this blog's feed West Coast Opera Companies Los Angeles Opera Portland Opera San Diego Opera San Francisco Opera Seattle Opera Premiere of Nixon in China at the Met Main February 10, 2011 Ton Koopman Mario Brunello at SFS Notes Ton Koopman is conducting San Francisco Symphony this week in a program of J.S . Bach , Haydn , C.P.E . Bach , and Schubert . Last night's performance began with J.S . Bach's Orchestral Suite No . 3. The playing was stately and vigorous . One of the trumpets might have had a single bad note , but otherwise the playing was clean . The orchestra maintained a refined sound for Haydn Cello Concerto No . 2. In comparison , soloist Mario Brunello pictured above was sloppy , his instrument buzzed and jarred at times . Yet he pulled it off ,
Of course you've heard of Scott Joplin! Everyone knows his two most famous pieces: Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer.
Joplin was the self-proclaimed King of Ragtime, a musical form popular in America around the turn of the 20th century. Ragtime was a pairing of European classical music songs with the ...
How are the Sundance Film Festival and Utah Opera related? Well, we are both cool entertainment options in Utah. But the real way is, the Utah Opera scene shop gets busy every year building set pieces for Sundance's awards show! Here's this year's product:
Great job, guys!
Did you make it to the concert this weekend? Were you absolutely blown away by violinist Augustin Hadelich? Here's what the reviewers had to say:
The concerto’s outer movements gave the violinist ample opportunity to showcase his formidable technique, including a jaw-dropping display in the first movement’s cadenza. It was fascinating ...