Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 6 years old. Why did you start singing? My Dad. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? My Dad, my sister, and Leontyne Price Which singer do you most admire? My Dad and Leontyne Price. What’s your favourite role? Violetta and Tosca. What role have you never played but would like to? Salome. What’s your favourite … [Read more...] about Angel Blue answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Puccini
Interview with Jonas Kaufmann: opera in the age of #MeToo and why he refused to go to the sauna
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...] about Interview with Jonas Kaufmann: opera in the age of #MeToo and why he refused to go to the sauna
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...] about Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
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...] about Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
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...] about Jonas Kaufmann on his return to singing after 4 months, and his love of Italian singability
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...] about Tenor fractures spine after stage collapses during Turandot
Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? When I was a girl. Why did you start singing? For my own personal enjoyment. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? No one. Which singer do you most admire? The good ones. What’s your favourite role? More than one... all the masterpieces. What role have you never played but would have … [Read more...] about Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Mark S Doss answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? I was in the 5th grade when the music teacher, Mrs Mapson, asked me to sing the Wells Fargo Wagon song from Music Man. She heard me sing it back to her and then exclaimed, "Wow, that's beautiful! You could go to New York right now and make a lot of money!" Scared to death of that comment I didn't sing ANYTHING for a long time … [Read more...] about Mark S Doss answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…
Silvano Bussotti, known as Sylvano, is an Italian eccentric, some say genius, and the word 'flamboyant' appears in many articles about this modern Renaissance man. He is a composer, poet, set and costume designer, painter, journalist, actor, singer, theatre and film director and sometime bad boy of the arts. Internationally he is more known as a composer, and the Oxford Grove … [Read more...] about Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…
Great Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86
Russian opera legend Galina Vishnevskaya has died today, December 11, at the age of 86. Vishnevskaya was born in St Petersberg (Leningrad) 25 October 1926, and cast out by her parents at six weeks. She was raised in absolute poverty by her grandmother. As a ten year old Galina was presented with a gramophone and an album of Eugene Onegin. This was her passport from the … [Read more...] about Great Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86