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.
Opera Review
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.
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.
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.