interview
The musical director of the Opera Royal de Wallonie at Liege is currently experiencing the early phase of a promising international career in music.
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Fabiano To Headline ArtSmart Benefit Concert
On December 4, at 8:00 pm, world-renowned tenor Michael Fabiano inaugurates a new initiative at Merkin Hall in collaboration with Classical Vocal Arts (CVA) International entitled, “A Passion for Song.” This benefit concert will raise funds for the ArtSmart program and will be accompanied by pianist Kamal Khan.
In this recital, the Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny and his pianist Lech Napierala present the world premiere recording of Stanislaw Baranczak‘s Podróz Zimowa (Winter’s Journey), which weds the poet’s meticulously crafted poetry to the music of Franz Schubert.
Next Marko Mimica discussed which music “reached” him most and how he regards expressing himself in various languages.
By Niel Rishoi
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MILA comes to New York and San Francisco
Sung in English, Cantonese and Tagalog, Mila explores the cultural diversity of Hong Kong at New York’s Angel Orensanz Center (Dec. 7) and San Francisco’s Wilsey Center for Opera (Dec. 12). The hour-long opera is the creation of Eli Marshall, Candace Chong and Chu Hei Chan, with music director Neal Goren.
Next, I asked Marko Mimica which basses he prefers to listen to on recordings.
By Niel Rishoi
In Bellini’s opera Norma, the “padre” role of Oroveso, it may be safely said, is “undistinguished”—dull and conventional. The bass entrusted with the role usually will engender two reactions: more frequently than not, “Cut this boring music,” and rather more rarely: “What a pity Oroveso doesn’t have more music.”
By Niel Rishoi
How did you first grow interested in singing?
By Niel Rishoi
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be having lengthy telephone conversations with John Raitt.
By Niel Rishoi
Mezzo Rinat Shaham takes a short break from being the world’s busiest Carmen and rehearsing for the theatrical concert “The Sorrows of Young Werther” to dish with your doyenne.
By La Cieca
Fifteen years after his first parterre box interview, that criterion of countertenors David Daniels speaks of Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Horne, marriage and political art.
By Roy Wood
Our Own Poison Ivy interviews conductor Alain Altinoglu over at her own blog, Poison Ivy’s Wall of Text.
By La Cieca
American mezzo Jamie Barton, who has steadily been winning fans in the US over the past few years for her rich and nuanced singing, took the international opera world by storm last weekend by winning both the Song Prize as well as the overall prize in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.
Beatrice di Tenda was a problem child, Vincenzo Bellini an alternately protective and disparaging parent.
By John Yohalem
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Opera Lafayette presents John Blow’s Venus and Adonis
Renowned French lutenist Thomas Dunford returns as musical director of Venus and Adonis, a work which prefigured Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and bass-baritone Douglas Williams return to Opera Lafayette’s stage in the title roles, and soprano Sarah Shafer makes her company debut as Cupid.