“…whenever he was joined by the baritone Simon Keenlyside, who sang Rodrigo, the Marquis of Posa and Carlo’s devoted friend, Mr. Alagna opened up in every way.” Well, wouldn’t you? [NYT]

By on November 23, 2010 at 11:01 AM
143 comments

“A Zeffirelli, dopo le polemiche della vigilia che lo hanno opposto al soprano Daniela Dessì, da lui ritenuta non giusta per il ruolo di Violetta in questa Traviata, qualche dissenso misto agli applausi al momento di comparire in proscenio assieme a Gelmetti.” [Il Messaggero]

By on December 25, 2009 at 10:52 AM
39 comments

Call this Prima Donna: The Opera: The Documentary: The Trailer. Plus it includes a glimpse of tween Rufus playing Scarpia. 

By on December 22, 2009 at 11:43 PM
27 comments
Fortune’s fool Fortune’s fool

Have you heard the most recent update on the Franco Zeffirelli outburst earlier this week at the Rome Opera?

By on December 13, 2009 at 1:11 AM
35 comments

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Obp0PAZB108″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]

By on September 08, 2008 at 6:23 PM
45 comments

Calixo Bieito? Over! Peter Konwitschny?  Yesterday’s news! And David McVicar? Head for the showers! The new home of cutting-edge Regie is in little Seattle, my god, and who could have devised so utterly innovative and openly homoerotic take on Salome? Our Own Wenarto, of course!

By on February 28, 2008 at 10:41 AM
22 comments

So, who said this? “… all opera hovers on the border of parody. No other performing art — except possibly dance — so exposes its practitioners to ridicule. Part of the thrill of opera is pitting sheer volume against human limitations, the constant awareness of the possibility of failure.” Was it James McCourt? Ethan Mordden?…

By on April 09, 2006 at 7:32 PM
5 comments