A new song cycle exploring the realities of life as a black man in America will receive its world premiere performance with Opera Philadelphia tonight, then in Chicago at the DuSable Museum of African American History on 22 February, and the Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on 24 April. Cycles of My Being is commissioned by Opera Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, and Lyric Unlimited, … [Read more...]
Top opera singers discuss how they choose and prepare new roles
Opera singing is a high-wire profession. Only the most tone-deaf will not wince when a note is off. It is all too obvious when part of a role lies too high, or too low or, indeed, hovers too much around the centre of the voice, for a particular singer. Audiences reach out in empathy when a singer arrives ‘sung out’ at the end of an opera… or prepare to boo. Dancers, and … [Read more...]
Vampires are taking over the opera house
When the Royal Swedish Opera announced their “Night of the Vampires” dress rehearsal event on Facebook on 15 September, it became clear that there is a major popular culture interest in vampires. In the invitation people were asked to “come dressed to match you most beautiful inner vampire” – in only a few hours every seat had been booked. The world premiere of Dracula … [Read more...]
A box in the Royal Albert Hall goes for £2.76m
Jim Ratcliffe, the 64-year-old 'British chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist' - and, according to Forbes, is worth around 10 billion dollars - has bought a box in the Royal Albert Hall for £2.76m. There are 849 years remaining on the lease. That investment doesn't give him exclusive use however: he will be able to attend about two-thirds of the Hall's … [Read more...]
Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? In the crib. Apparently, I was a very vocal baby … no seriously, I already sang as a child. Why did you start singing? I loved tunes and music always made sense to me. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? Frank Sinatra. Which singer do you most admire? Giuseppe de Luca for pure vocalism and Tito Gobbi for why … [Read more...]