Mexican baritone Gerardo de la Torre is one of opera’s exciting young up-and-comers. He recently tied for first prize at the prestigious Verismo Opera’s Annual International Vocal Competition. I am thrilled to have had the chance to discuss his career and love of opera with him. You’re fresh off a Read more…
Here is a list of the 10 most popular opera composers by performance numbers. The data used to compile this list is from Operabase, perhaps the world’s greatest source of opera data. All data is for the most recently completed full season – the 2017/2018 season. In the top 10 Read more…
Here is a list of the 10 most famous arias in the world. Bask in the glorious sounds of some of the world’s greatest singers singing tunes from the world’s most famous operas. Performers include Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Renée Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Anna Netrebko. “La donna è mobile” Read more…
Opera Sense recommended audio and video recordings of La bohème: Lyric Opera of Chicago’s La bohème returns to the stage following the tremendous success of its initial run earlier this season. The beautiful yet largely traditional staging of this perennial favorite by Puccini is sure to enchant both seasoned operagoers Read more…
Mark Campbell is one of today’s leading opera librettists. A champion of contemporary opera, Campbell has written 28 librettos, the most popular of which is Silent Night, which won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music. The opera premiered at Minnesota Opera in 2011, and returns to the stage at the Read more…
Audiences can soon hear opera superstar and karaoke master Lucas Meachem singing on stage at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Minnesota Opera’s upcoming production of Massenet’s Thaïs. I am thrilled that Lucas was willing to share his thoughts on Thaïs, karaoke, and his passion for all things opera Read more…
Director Jennifer Williams is making the opera world more exciting. Bringing a non-traditional voice to an art form drowning in the conventional, Williams is exploring the use of technology – currently video projections – in opera, and digging deeper into the narratives of the standard repertory in an attempt to Read more…
Countertenor John Holiday is currently performing Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I am thrilled that John was willing to take the time to answer a few of my questions about this production, his background, and his passion for opera. Tell me about your upcoming performance of Chichester Read more…
American tenor René Barbera is making major house debuts left and right this season. The Texas native is performing primarily in Europe, making his La Scala debut in early April. I am thrilled that I got the chance to talk to René about his path, passions, and love of opera. Read more…
Icelandic baritone Olafur Sigurdarson is currently performing a role near and dear to his heart at Minnesota Opera: Rigoletto. I am thrilled that Olafur was willing to answer a few of my questions about the role, the production, and what it was like growing up in Iceland. Rigoletto is a Read more…