Jakub Józef Orliński‘s sixth project with Erato features music by early baroque composers, including Monteverdi, Caccini, Frescobaldi, Kapsberger, Saracini, Netti, and Jarzębski. Musicologist Yannis … [Read more...] about Jakub Józef Orliński‘s new album ‘Beyond’ with music by early baroque composers
music & opera
[Interview] Soprano Benedetta Torre – La Scala’s newest Susanna
Young soprano Benedetta Torre will be Susanna in the revival of Giorgio Strehler’s renowned production of Le nozze di Figaro at La Scala in Milan, which opens tonight, 30 September 2024. Torre, who … [Read more...] about [Interview] Soprano Benedetta Torre – La Scala’s newest Susanna
Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello
An opera about gangster ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser and the composer Ivor Novello, both jailed in Wormwood Scrubs prison in 1944, was due to be staged at the prison tomorrow but has been cancelled with four … [Read more...] about Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello
[Interview] Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, technique, and the obsolete CD
The voice is the instrument closest to the soul. It is the most fragile, but also the most powerful. It is the only instrument that is inside us and those of us who use it for singing have a strange … [Read more...] about [Interview] Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, technique, and the obsolete CD
Matthew Lee, Andrea Mingardi and Matia Bazar in Liguria
Ceriale, a small town on the Ligurian coast, halfway between Genoa and Montecarlo, has often offered tepid summertime entertainment – concerts, plays, stand-up comedy – in its piazzas on the seafront. … [Read more...] about Matthew Lee, Andrea Mingardi and Matia Bazar in Liguria
Rossini Opera Festival 2024
The Petite messe solennelle conducted by Michele Mariotti closed the 44th edition of the Rossini Opera Festival. There were 40 events on the programme, including performances and meetings. This … [Read more...] about Rossini Opera Festival 2024
A 131-CD collection to celebrate Maria Callas’ 100th birthday
To celebrate the 100th birthday of Maria Callas, Warner Classics will release La Divina: Maria Callas in all her roles on 22 September 2023. The massive 131-CD collection is the most comprehensive … [Read more...] about A 131-CD collection to celebrate Maria Callas’ 100th birthday
Renata Scotto dies at 89
Savona, 24 February 1934 – 16 August 2023 Renata Scotto died during the night at the age of 89. After retiring from singing – though she directed operas and taught masterclasses until recently – … [Read more...] about Renata Scotto dies at 89
Olga Peretyatko answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!
Q&A When did you start singing? My father is an opera singer – he still sings in the chorus – so when I was a little, I was always in the theatre! My first solo performance was at … [Read more...] about Olga Peretyatko answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!
Countertenor David Daniels pleads guilty to sexual assault
A surprise start to the David Daniels trial in Houston came about when his lawyer announced to the judge that there was a new offer that he wanted to discuss with his client. An hour later they were … [Read more...] about Countertenor David Daniels pleads guilty to sexual assault
Anna Netrebko sues the Met for $360,000
Anna Netrebko filed a lawsuit in the US district court in Manhattan yesterday, Friday 4 August, against the Metropolitan Opera. Her lawyers are seeking $360,000 in compensation after all future … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko sues the Met for $360,000
San Francisco Opera’s free ‘In Song’ video portrait series
San Francisco Opera’s In Song video portrait series continues with its eighth episode, In Song: Daniela Mack. Other episodes featuring sopranos Amina Edris, Meigui Zhang and Pretty Yende; … [Read more...] about San Francisco Opera’s free ‘In Song’ video portrait series
[Interview] Cecilia Gasdìa – I replaced Caballé in Anna Bolena when I was 21… I was crazy
Soprano Cecilia Gasdìa is the director of Verona's Arena Opera Festival, its season now in full swing. The 62-year-old was born in Verona, so it has been a coming home for her since she took over as … [Read more...] about [Interview] Cecilia Gasdìa – I replaced Caballé in Anna Bolena when I was 21… I was crazy
[Review] Carlo il Calvo – Fagioli, Lezhneva and Cenčić give explosive performances in Porpora’s opera
Carlo il Calvo? The name appears in small italics in some booklets of CDs of Baroque arias, so I’d vaguely heard of it. But there it was, as a concert performance in La Scala’s season calendar. If I … [Read more...] about [Review] Carlo il Calvo – Fagioli, Lezhneva and Cenčić give explosive performances in Porpora’s opera
Soirée Rachmaninoff – dance and music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great composer
The double anniversary of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), 150 years after his birth and 80 years after his death, is being celebrated all over the world. A tribute called Soirée … [Read more...] about Soirée Rachmaninoff – dance and music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great composer
New production of Verdi’s Aida opens 100th edition of Verona Arena Opera Festival
Transparent pyramids and architectural lighting will feature in the new production of Aida for the 100th edition of the Verona Arena Opera Festival – a production that is technological but intimate … [Read more...] about New production of Verdi’s Aida opens 100th edition of Verona Arena Opera Festival
Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci to become Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Opera
The Royal Opera House has announced that Speranza Scappucci will become Principal Guest Conductor of The Royal Opera. She will take up the position in September 2025, at the start of the 2025-2026 … [Read more...] about Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci to become Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Opera
Darell Moulton – piano expert and singing teacher – has died at the age of 79
Darell Moulton, one of the UK’s top piano experts and singing teachers, has died at the age of 79 after living with motor neurone disease. Darell was an extraordinary human being who I was proud to … [Read more...] about Darell Moulton – piano expert and singing teacher – has died at the age of 79
Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow
Rising, Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, sees the tenor commission six of today’s leading African American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song. Warner Classics releases the album … [Read more...] about Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow
The Florence opera house to sell its vast archive to avoid closure
The Maggio Musicale in Florence may sell off its large archive in a desperate attempt to find €8.5m by July, part of a huge debt left behind after Alexander Pereira resigned last February. Without … [Read more...] about The Florence opera house to sell its vast archive to avoid closure
La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024
The 2023-2024 Opera Season of the Teatro alla Scala will present 14 productions, 10 of which are new: 2 operas by Giuseppe Verdi and 2 by Giacomo Puccini, and one opera each by Antonio Cesti, Luigi … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024
Gustavo Dudamel to leave the Paris Opera at end of 22/23 season
The Paris Opera has announced that Gustavo Dudamel will resign as Music Director at the end of the 2022/2023 season for personal reasons. It is with a heavy heart, and after long consideration, … [Read more...] about Gustavo Dudamel to leave the Paris Opera at end of 22/23 season
Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season
The Royal Opera House has announced its next Cinema Season with 13 productions, eight of which will be broadcast to screens around the world. The season begins in September when Music Director of … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season
[Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death
Alessandro Manzoni died in Milan on 22 May 1873, 150 years ago. The Milanese poet, novelist and philosopher is famous for his novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed, 1827), which is full of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death
[Interview] Conductor Henrik Nánási – immersing himself in the music
The Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási will be conducting Rusalka at the Bayerische Staatsoper from 14 May, but his international career, and wide-ranging repertoire, will soon see him taking off … [Read more...] about [Interview] Conductor Henrik Nánási – immersing himself in the music
The bizarre story of Italian opera house musical chairs – Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner
An Italian story… Carlo Fuortes was brought in to manage the Rome Opera House at Christmas in 2013 when the theatre was on the verge of closing with a €32m debt. He overhauled the working practices … [Read more...] about The bizarre story of Italian opera house musical chairs – Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner
[Interview] Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev: Music is not politics
Guest author Alisa Alekseeva talks to Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev Russian opera singer Aleksei Isaev regularly sings at the major European theatres. Last month he finished a run of performances … [Read more...] about [Interview] Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev: Music is not politics
[Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
The current run of Les contes d’Hoffmann at La Scala sees soprano Eleonora Buratto making her debut as Antonia. After the opening night, I asked her how she was settling into her new role. It's a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
An interview with soprano Virginia Zeani, 1925 – 2023
Virginia Zeani: 21 October 1925 – 20 March 2023 In 2015, when the soprano Virginia Zeani was 90, I was asked to interview her, and we enjoyed (yes, we laughed a lot) a long video call where … [Read more...] about An interview with soprano Virginia Zeani, 1925 – 2023
[Review] Gian Carlo Menotti celebrated in Italy with The Medium and The Telephone
The Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti is celebrated far more outside Italy than in his homeland, with his works being especially popular in the US. The (in)famous Italian critic Paolo Isotta wrote … [Read more...] about [Review] Gian Carlo Menotti celebrated in Italy with The Medium and The Telephone
