Victoria Livengood is a titan of opera: she has sung the title role of Carmen over 250 times on the great stages of the world; she is a Grammy award-winning Metropolitan Opera star; she has over 100 active students; and she is still as miraculous on stage as she was Read more…
When a person attends his or her first opera, one of the first questions s/he asks is, “What should I wear?” This process often begins with a Google search: what to wear to the opera. Here’s some advice! What to wear to the opera No, you don’t have to wear Read more…
Where in the world should you go if you want to watch opera? Here is a list of the 10 best locations around the globe for opera: opera by country. The statistics are for the 2015/2016 season, and the numbers represent the total number of opera performances in that country Read more…
It was one of those moments when the entire audience was enraptured. It was during Rosa Feola’s “Caro nome” in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s latest production of Verdi’s Rigoletto. I had the good fortune of being in the audience on opening night. As I basked in her sounds, I decided Read more…
Christine Goerke is one of today’s most sought after opera stars for the roles of Brünnhilde and Elektra, but her massive sound and assortment of colors aren’t limited to these two roles she has come to dominate; she’s equally compelling as Cassandra, or Ortrud, or Turandot, or, well, basically every Read more…
Right before I went to see Orphée et Eurydice at Lyric Opera of Chicago, I dug out my copy of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and re-read the tragic tale. It has a well-known plot: Orpheus’ wife Eurydice dies; Orpheus travels to Hades to retrieve her from the dead; when he looks back Read more…
Last night I was reminded of what happens when opera is done right – very right. The opening performance of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Rigoletto was a masterfully executed, well-rounded tour de force. First and foremost, the vocal performances in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Rigoletto were world-class. Leading the cast were Evanston Read more…
Minnesota audiences get to see Craig Colclough again this season – in only a few days! This time it’s in an opera you’re probably familiar with: Donizetti’s perennial favorite Don Pasquale. (Craig’s last performance with the Minnesota Opera was in Diana’s Garden last season). Despite his busy schedule, Craig was Read more…
Riccardo Massi loves action and opera. This stuntman-gone-opera singer is currently finishing up a very successful run in LA Opera’s Carmen. We feel fortunate that he was willing to take time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of our questions. I was amazed to read that you Read more…
You know those people who study Classics in college and then embark upon careers in finance? Well, here’s a new one for you: Carl Tanner went from being a bounty hunter to an opera singer. Yes, seriously, a bounty hunter (full disclosure: I didn’t even know such a career still Read more…