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…
French tenor Benjamin Bernheim will soon be making his U.S. debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago, singing the title role in Gounod’s Faust. I am thrilled that Benjamin was willing to take some time to talk to me about the new production, his take on the Faust legend, and his Read more…
Opera Sense recommended audio and video recordings, as well as musical score: I appreciate this production of Così fan tutte; right or wrong, it does something unconventional while staying true to the story. The traditionalists bemoan this sort of thing, while the radicals claim it doesn’t do enough. For folks Read more…
American tenor Lawrence Brownlee is a renowned interpreter of many of the great bel canto roles, but he is doing equally important work off the stage as well: currently serving as an artistic advisor to Opera Philadelphia, Brownlee is working toward bringing more diversity to the world of opera. I Read more…
What happens when you mix together a thrilling story, a sleek set, captivating orchestration, a short playing time, and a tight libretto? You get Elizabeth Cree. Elizabeth Cree is a new opera by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell. Chicago Opera Theater co-produced the work with Opera Philadelphia, which Read more…
Opera Sense recommended recordings of I puritani: Lyric Opera of Chicago has a special place for Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece I puritani in its collective memory; it was part of the company’s second season in 1955. Leading the cast as Elvira was none other than Maria Callas, who had made Read more…
American countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has a voice of sheer beauty and what appears to be an insatiable passion for opera and the arts. An enthusiastic supporter of new works, Anthony will soon be on stage at Opera Philadelphia in George Benjamin and Martin Crimp’s Written On Skin. I am Read more…
Following last year’s tremendous success, Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola is returning to Chicago to conduct Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece I Puritani at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Maestro Mazzola conducted Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor last season to rave reviews. He is a master of bel canto, sought all over the world Read more…
Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack is having one of those seasons that opera singers dream of: a run of a new opera that received rave reviews, role and house debuts at major opera houses, and the title role in Carmen at one of the great U.S. houses. I am so pleased that, Read more…