Jonas Kaufmann: [#MeToo is happening in opera] and not just for the girls! We men are at risk too! I know the situation well because as a young man it happened to me. I was at the beginning of my career and an agent offered me a concert, a fantastic opportunity. But in return I would have had to go with him to a sauna... it was a very unambiguous exchange. I was afraid, and I … [Read more...]
Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
Chénier is not only a masterpiece of verismo, but it mirrors many contrasting aspects that preceded the music of the 20th century: there’s Wagner, with echoes of the prelude of Tristan; there is Mahler, in the striking modernity of the orchestration; there is Puccini, who was certainly influenced when writing his Tosca four years later... Riccardo Chailly has said that he … [Read more...]
Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
The studio recording - her first in six years - explores the generation of Italian composers that followed Verdi, including three duets with tenor Joseph Calleja Eternamente - The Verismo Album, Angela Gheorghiu's first studio recording in six years, will be released on 20 October 2017, and will feature performances of opera and song by Italian composers of the generation that … [Read more...]
Jonas Kaufmann on his return to singing after 4 months, and his love of Italian singability
Jonas Kaufmann has not sung since September when he sang the programme from his glorious new cd, Dolce Vita, at Teatro San Carlo in Naples. He was forced to cancel his imminent appearances due to voice problems… then a few more dates… then a few more, even cancelling his appearance at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. Well, the good news is that his annus horribilis is over and … [Read more...]
Tenor fractures spine after stage collapses during Turandot
Friday night's performance of Turandot at the open-air theatre in Torre del Lago nearly finished in more tragedy than the opera had already delivered when, just after midnight, part of the stage collapsed sending tenor Marco Voleri to the ground. After the two-metre fall, Voleri was taken to the local hospital in Versilia where it was ascertained that he had suffered a fracture … [Read more...]