It is a royal throwdown between the young spinto soprano Miss Christina Nilsson as the captured Ethiopian princess Aida and the veteran Wagnerian soprano who has nowadays turned her attention to dramatic mezzo roles Madame Katarina Dalayman as the proud Egyptian princess Amneris. Which of these two phenomenal ladies of the stage will come out on top? Sit back, relax, enjoy, and find out in this review.
Opera Review
Read More
This has been in the making for weeks after I caught the live stream of the Bayerische Staatsoper’s production of Les Vepres Siciliennes. The question remains. How well does the star-studded cast consisting of the young American spinto soprano Rachel Willis-Sorenson, the Italian lirico-spinto Leonardo Caimi, the Romanian dramatic baritone George Petean, and the Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott? Find out in this review, enjoy, and have a blessed Easter week.
Three extraordinary ladies rose up to the challenge in New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. One was an American dramatic soprano who has been acclaimed for singing this punishing yet exciting tragic heroine of Elektra. The other was a gorgeous young South African spinto soprano who has made her role debut as the timid yet formidable sister, Chrysothemis. The third was an acclaimed German dramatic mezzo-soprano known for the versatility of her repertoire who has made her Metropolitan Opera House debut as the guilt- and angst-ridden anti-heroine, Queen Klytämnestra. How did these formidable singing actresses fare? Find out in this review!
Angela Meade’s mighty Queen Semiramide, Elizabeth DeShong’s sterling Arsace, Javier Camarena’s dashing Idreno, and Ildar Abdrazakov’s handsome Assur lead a cast of all-star bel canto singers. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
My time here in Oslo has come to an end and what better way for my trip to go out with a bang than with this charming production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore live from the Met headed by Maestro Domingo Hindoyan and starring Pretty Yende and Matthew Polenzani as the iconic lovers, Adina and Nemorino. This also marks the successful debut of one baryton noble, Monsieur Davide Luciano as Belcore. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Mein allerliebster und allmächtiger Herr Daniel Johansson has struck again as a passionate, virile, and handsome Mario Cavaradossi in Calixto Bieito’s haunting production of Tosca, which went on with no break whatsoever. He was joined by a rising full lyric soprano, Nina Gravrok, and a veteran dramatic baritone, Ole Jorgen Kristiansen. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
My first opera night in Oslo starts off rather well with this rather unusual yet detailed production of Bellini’s Norma at the Den Norske Opera og Ballett headed by two alluringly versatile divas, Signora Hrachuhi Bassenz as Norma and Frau Dshamilja Kaiser as Adalgisa. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
‘Tis time to bid my beloved Stockholm until the next time with this fabulous production of Tosca at the Kungliga Operan, starring a lirico-spinto soprano who has been known for her extraordinarily wide-ranging repertoire, a dramatic tenor who mostly has a penchant for the Germanic repertoire, and a tall, dark, and handsome dramatic baritone. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
La Grande Madame Evelyn Herlitzius brings one of her signature roles, Kundry, to New York’s iconic Metropolitan Opera House. Joining her was not only a veritable troupe of Wagnerian specialists but also some equally fabulous superstars both veteran and newbies. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Madamigiella Sonya Yoncheva rose up to the challenge to take on one of Puccini’s most dramatic and iconic heroines of all time, the great diva herself, Floria Tosca. Accompanying her as her lover was the ardent and impassioned Vittorio Grigolo. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.