Soprano Amber Wagner will sing all the performances of Ariadne auf Naxos at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2011-2012, replacing Deborah Voigt, who “is focusing increasingly on dramatic soprano roles and has made the decision to remove the role of Ariadne from her repertoire for the time being.” Performances run November 19-December 11.

By on July 18, 2011 at 11:51 AM
178 comments

An “unbelievably honest narrative of a woman caught in a dangerous cycle of addiction and illness who overcame her demons in an utterly triumphant way” — that’s what publisher Harper Collins is calling the forthcoming memoir by  Deborah Voigt, tentatively titled “True Confessions of a Down to Earth Diva.” The tome is scheduled for publication…

By on June 01, 2011 at 12:20 PM
157 comments
And the Pubies go to… And the Pubies go to…

At long last, the most closely guarded secret of 2011 (besides, you know, everything about what’s going to happen to City Opera) is about to be revealed. Ladies and public, the Second Annual Parterre Cher Public Choice Awards!

By on May 26, 2011 at 10:29 PM
32 comments

The annual Richard Tucker gala came and went at Avery Fisher Hall with the usual quota of gaffes, wardrobe malfunctions, no-shows, too-much-shows, substitutions and surprise guests (well, guest).  And sandwiched between the routine, the egocentric and the just plain dull were moments of true dementia, the moments that we melomanes live and die for.  Most…

By on November 15, 2010 at 6:41 PM
59 comments

Richard Strauss’s brilliantly disturbing Elektra was first performed at the Dresden State Opera in 1909, and arrived in America in 1910 at the Manhattan Opera House.  A second American premiere, this time in the original German, was in Philadelphia in 1931 with – and this will kill you – Nelson Eddy as Orestes. Along with…

By on August 22, 2010 at 8:45 PM
82 comments

The dramatic soprano (and soon to be belter!) celebrates her golden birthday today. 

By on August 04, 2010 at 12:01 AM
34 comments