The closing gala concert at Salzburg’s Whitsun Festival was to have featured the Festival’s director, Cecilia Bartoli, together with tenors Jonas Kaufmann and Rolando Villazón, and the Staatskapelle … [Read more...] about Bartoli steps in as Villazón withdraws from closing gala at Salzburg Festival
Rolando Villazón
Cecilia Bartoli – the enchantress casts her spell at the Lucerne Festival
After a couple of years of not hearing La Bartoli live, I was a little apprehensive before her concert at the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, KKL, after having read Rupert Christiansen’s … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli – the enchantress casts her spell at the Lucerne Festival
ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
All the details of the 2016-2017 Opera Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON … [Read more...] about ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
Ramón Vargas in crescendo at La Scala
Talk about gaining momentum! Tenor Ramón Vargas’s recital at La Scala started off limply, not helped by a very determined little frog which insisted on residing in his throat until the interval. He … [Read more...] about Ramón Vargas in crescendo at La Scala
La Scala complete Opera casts and dates: 2014 – 2015
4 December (Preview for young people), 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 23 December 2014 Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio Conductor: Daniel Barenboim Director: Deborah Warner Sets and costumes: Chloe … [Read more...] about La Scala complete Opera casts and dates: 2014 – 2015
Villazón and Barenboim at La Scala: Schumann, Verdi and beer
Seeing Rolando Villazón in recital for the first time was surprising. I was expecting him to bound on stage like a hyperactive puppy, agitated and full of life, gazing wide-eyed at the audience, … [Read more...] about Villazón and Barenboim at La Scala: Schumann, Verdi and beer
Angela Gheorghiu falls ill as the curse of La Scala strikes again…
As already reported on this blog here, and here, the recital series at La Scala seems to have a generous share of bad luck when it comes to cancellations. There are only seven vocal recitals during … [Read more...] about Angela Gheorghiu falls ill as the curse of La Scala strikes again…
The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
Ok, the headline is a bit over the top, but the vocal recitals at La Scala have been having a spot of bad luck recently, especially seeing that there are only seven recitals each season. Just over … [Read more...] about The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
The opera world’s Angelina Jolie, Nino Machaidze: It’s useless to be nervous
Nino Machaidze, the 28-year-old soprano from Georgia, graduate of Milan's Teatro alla Scala Academia, is in Los Angeles with Romeo and Juliet which is boomeranging her around the world's opera houses … [Read more...] about The opera world’s Angelina Jolie, Nino Machaidze: It’s useless to be nervous
Vienna Opera and La Scala exchange goes ahead tomorrow
A much-anticipated exchange between the Vienna Opera and Milan's Teatro alla Scala will go ahead despite earlier fears it might be cancelled because of a strike. Two unions at the Milan opera house … [Read more...] about Vienna Opera and La Scala exchange goes ahead tomorrow
