Ah, Maestro Lawrence Brownlee and Signora Albina Shagimuratova, two fabulous Bel Canto specialists. With their flawless interpretive powers combined, they scored A+’s all across the board in musicality, theatricality, for being complete performers, and for leading a most brilliant ensemble cast. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
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By the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the Elysian Fields, this was definitely a most invigorating, extraordinary, and uplifting afternoon I had with this magnificent Legion of Superwomen. Three mighty and awesome ladies who put Richard Strauss’s high-octane music to great use, Iréne Theorin as a powerful and nuanced Elektra, Cornelia Beskow as a gorgeous and youthful Chrysothemis, and Katarina Dalayman as an elegant yet troubled Klytämnestra, managed to sweep me off my feet. They, of course, were joined by a fine ensemble, but these ladies certainly stood proud and tall. Find out in this review why I especially admire these classy, alluring, and strong superwomen and let me know your opinions as well.
What happens when you combine a strapping Korean spinto tenor, a versatile and mighty American dramatic coloratura soprano with a spinto edge, a mighty and virile American dramatic baritone, a gorgeous and sinuous Georgian dramatic mezzo-soprano, and a voluminous Slovakian dramatic bass? Find out in this review and let me know your opinions as well.
It’s Rossini’s Cenerentola set in Merry Olde England with an exciting cast headed by the indescribably gorgeous and charming young lyric mezzo-soprano, Mademoiselle Johanna Rudström. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
By their powers combined, this veritable multitude of Bel Canto singers brings this underrated Rossini comedy to life in Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Two fabulous and versatile sopranos playing two historical British queens, one who is the pristine, pure-toned, and elegant lyric-dramatic coloratura soprano Marlis Petersen as Maria Stuarda of Scots and the other who is the alluring, noble, and gorgeous spinto soprano Alexandra Deshorties as Elisabetta I of England. These two divas join forces under the Theater an der Wien’s majestic roof. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
What happens when you combine a Russian dramatic coloratura soprano known to the world for her sizable instrument which she produces with abandon, a Polish full lyric tenor whose gallant presence has made him internationally famous, a virile American dramatic baritone oozing with testosterone, a Romanian basso cantante who is on the cusp of international fame, and three fine American opera stars consisting of two lyric tenors and a lyric mezzo-soprano? Find out in this review and let me know your opinions as well.
How did these two pairs of Italianate singers, the delicately charming lyric tenor Francesco Demuro as Rodolfo and the gorgeously alluring lyric soprano Mariangela Sicilia as Mimí, plus the robust, charismatic, virile and bold dramatic baritone Nicola Alaimo as Marcello and the excitingly magical lyric coloratura soprano Hasmik Torosyan as Musetta, fare as the iconic pairs of lovers in this Puccini magnum opus? Find out in this review and let me know your opinions as well.
Jessica Pratt brings one of her greatest calling card roles to Paris’s Théâtre des Champs Élysées, where she is joined by one legendary conductor, one super dashing and charming lyric tenor, one dramatic baritone oozing with testosterone, one basso cantante/profondo known for his richly textured voice, one young light lyric tenor on the verge of international fame, another lyric tenor with an amazingly youthful voice, and a lovely young lyric mezzo. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well. I know I already mentioned this in the video review, but I just want to reiterate, as this serves as a sort of “petition”. To all opera houses, concert halls, and music studious, please, I am begging you, give coloratura sopranos like Jessica Pratt the opportunity to sing this opera in its original key. This happens once in a blue moon and for many an opera fan, listener, and expert this will be something worth remembering.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have come to this. The phenomenal Bel Canto diva, Jessica Pratt, has made her role debut as Adina, as she is joined by her Nemorino, the stylishly fabulous, Pavol Breslik. In addition to them, they are joined by other awesome Italianate singers, the virile low comic baritone, Signore Paolo Bordogna as Belcore, the charismatic comic baritone, Signore Roberto di Candia as Il Dottore Dulcamara, and the stellar rising young light lyric soprano, Señorita Mercedes Gancedo as Giannetta. How does this extraordinary, noble, masterful, and grand troupe of megastars fare? Find out in this review and let me know your opinions as well.