By David Salazar
Professor Paul Goldmark of Case Western Reserve University is set to present “Oh, Bwunhilde you’re so lovely:” Wagner’s Music in Classic Hollywood Cartoons.
The showcase will take place on Feb. 17, 2023, between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the National Opera Center in New York City.
During the program, Goldmark, the Head of Popular Music Studies at Case Western Reserve University, will explore the connection between Wagner’s famed tetralogy as it pertains to cartoons of the 1930s-1950s. He will showcase iconic clips from such shows as “What’s Opera, Doc?”
The event is a program of the Wagner Society of New York. The organization is also set to present a “Lohengrin” seminar in mid-March to coincide with the Met Opera production of that very opera. And then on May 22, 2023, the company will present its Annual Singers’ Recital.
By Nicolas Quiroga
Portland Opera will continue its 2022-23 season with “Thumbprint,” an opera inspired by the true story of Mukhtar Mai, written by composer Kamala Sankaram,
The work will be showcased on March 18, 22, 24 and 26, 2023 at the Newmark Theatre. Those unable to attend the live performance will have digital access for a limited time via Portland Opera Onscreen.
The cast will be led by soprano Samina Aslam who had previously performed this role with the Chautauqua Opera in 2022. She will be joined by Marian Anderson Kennedy Center Award-winning soprano Indira Mahajan, as well as Alok Kumar, Neil Balfour, Omar Najmi, and Leela Subramanian. Maria Badstue and Omer Ben Seadia directs.
“Thumbprint” based on the story of Mukhtar Mai who after surviving sexual violence perpetrated, decides to live, ultimately changing the world. She seeks to open a village school for girls to learn to read and write in order to save them from the humiliation of signing their names with only a thumbprint.
“We want to tell human stories that can empower, and lift up women,” said Portland Opera General Director Sue Dixon in an official press statement. “’Thumbprint’ does this beautifully when Mukhtar Mai chooses to advocate for her life over the tradition of suicide when dishonor comes to her Pakistani family. Her continued fight for justice for all women serves as a beacon of hope for those who find themselves in impossible situations. While this is one person’s story, we were drawn to the parallels across the globe where violence against women is prevalent. Mukhtar Mai’s courage and bravery in reclaiming autonomy over her body, and elevating her voice is inspiring.”
By David Salazar
The Teatro Real de Madrid is set to present the modern European premiere of Francesco Corselli’s “Achille in Schiro” starting on Feb. 17, 2023.
The opera, which will be presented in co-production with the Theater an der Wien, will run through Feb. 25, 2023 for a total of five performances. Mariame Clément directs a cast starring countertenors Franco Fagioli (Achille, Pirra) and Tim Mead (Ulisse); sopranos Francesca Aspromonte (Deidamia) and Sabina Puertolas (Teagene); tenors Krystian Adam (Arcade) and Juan Sancho and (Nearco), and bass Mirco Palazzi (Licomede). Ivor Bolton conducts the Coro Titutal del Teatro Madrid and the Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla.
“Achille in Schiro” originally premiered in Madrid over 279 years ago in 1744 at the Coliseo del Buen Retiro to celebrate the marriage of the Infanta of Spain, María Teresa Rafaela, daughter of Philip V, to the Dauphin of France, Louis, son of Louis XV. The Infanta died a year later in childbirth and her point-of-view will be of particular importance to Clément’s staging of the work.
The opera will be streamed via OperaVision on Feb. 25 with the recorded performance set to be aired via European Broadcasting Union to member nations.
By Francisco Salazar
The Ministero della Cultura has presented a series entitled “VIVA Verdi,” for the acquisition and valuation of the composer’s house/museum Sant’Agata di Villanova sull’Arda.
The Foundation Arena di Verona will begin the series with Verdi’s “Aida.” Massimiliano Stefanelli conducts the Franco Zeffirelli production which is set to star Monica Conesa, Ivan Magrì, Ketevan Kemoklidze, Youngjun Park, Antonio Di Matteo, and Romano Dal Zovo.
Performance Date: Feb. 10, 2023
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma will present Verdi’s Requiem with Michele Mariotti conducting a cast that includes Elena Stikhina, Yulia Matochkina, Stefan Pop, and Giorgi Manoshvili.
Performance Date: Feb 14, 2023
The Teatro Regio di Torino will present Verdi’s “Aida” with Michele Gamba conducting William Friedkin’s production. The cast includes Angela Meade, Silvia Beltrami, Stefano La Colla, Gevorg Hakobyan, Evgeny Stavinsky, and Marko Mimica.
Performance Date: Feb 23, 2023
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna will present Gala verdiano with Daniel Oren conducting soloists Latonia Moore, Aoxue Zhu, and Luciano Ganci.
Performance Date: Feb. 26, 2023
The Teatro La Fenice will present Verdi’s “Ernani” with Riccardo Frizza conducting the production by Andrea Bernard. Piero Pretti, Ernesto Petti, Michele Pertusi, and Anastasia Bartoli star.
Performance Date: March 16, 2023
Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova will present Verdi’s “I Due Foscari” with Renato Palumbo conducting and Alvis Hermanis diretcing. Franco Vassallo, Fabio Sartori, Angela Meade, and Riccardo Fassi star.
Performance Date: March 28, 2023
Teatro Lirico di Cagliari will present a concert featuring orchestra works by Verdi and Tchaikovsky. Jaume Santonja conducts.
Performance Date: March 31, 2023
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo will present “Le allegre Comari di Falstaff” with music by Verdi.
Performance Date: April 18, 2023
The Teatro Verdi Trieste will present a concert with Daniela Barcellona.
Performance Date: April 19, 2023
The Teatro Petruzzelli will present Verdi’s “Attila” with Marko Mimica, Leo An, Maria Tomassi, and Klodjan Kacani.
Performance Date: April 20, 2023
The Teatro San Carlo will present a concert featuring Anna Pirozzi and Freddie De Tommaso. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts.
Performance Date: May 7, 2023
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will present a concert featuring Verdi overtures and ballets. Daniele Gatti conducts.
Performance Date: May 10, 2023
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia will present a Verdi concert.
Performance Date: May 26, 2023
The series concludes at the Teatro alla Scala with Verdi’s “Macbeth.” Giampaolo Bisanti conducts soloists Luca Salsi, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Fabio Sartori, and Jinxu Xiahou.
Performance Date: June 15, 2023
By Francisco Salazar
Meghan Picerno has joined Promethean Artists for General Management.
Picerno has performed at New York City Opera, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, and in concerts with the San Francisco Symphony. She has also performed at David Geffen Hall and Alice Tully Hall, The Kennedy Center, The National Center of Performing Arts in Beijing, and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo.
In a statement, Picerno said, “From the moment we spoke, I unequivocally knew Promethean Artists was where I belonged. Their visionary, open-minded, and souled approach to our ever-evolving art form, fiery passion, hard work ethic, and genuine care to collaborate and build together with their artists is as rare a find as it is brilliant. Particularly for a crossover artist, it is absolutely imperative to have the fiercest of teams in place on all sides of the business, and I am so incredibly excited to say my team is now -finally- complete! I’m immensely proud to call Promethean my home for all things classical and to join their incredible roster alongside such legendary artists. I’m thrilled for our journey together to begin, and for all the magic we’re sure to create!”
Callan Coughlan added “I am honored and incredibly excited to be welcoming the fantastic crossover soprano Meghan Picerno to Promethean Artists. It’s a rare thing to find an artist that can really do it all. Meghan brings a tremendously broad range of repertoire and abilities to Promethean, as well as an incredible determination to broaden the classical audience beyond the traditionally established audience borders.”
By Nicolas Quiroga
The San Diego Opera will present Puccini‘s “Tosca” this March.
The famed work will star soprano Michelle Bradley, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, and tenor Marcelo Puente. Other cast members include baritone Michael Sokol, tenor Joel Sorensen, and soprano Abigail Allwein. Valerio Galli conducts.
Performances are set for March 25, 28 and 31 and April 2, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theater.
Michelle Bradley previous performed the role of the iconic diva the Lyric Opera of Chicago with the Chicago Sun Times stating that “Bradley with each high note convincingly conveys Tosca’s tragic pathos and unwavering mettle.”
Puente will make his operatic debut with the company after having made notable appearances at the Royal Opera House Convent Garden, Opera National de Paris, Deutsche Oper Berlin and Teatro Alla Escala.
Director Alan E. Hick’s production was originally designed by Ft. Worth Opera and is owned by San Diego Opera. The original costume designer is Andrew Marley. Gary Marder is the lighting designer.
By Francisco Salazar
Domenico Cimarosa’s “Il Matrimonio Segreto” is set to return to the Teatro Regio di Parma after a 60-year absence.
The opera, which is set to be performed on Feb. 10 through Feb. 19, will be directed by Roberto Catalano, in co-production with Ópera de Tenerife and Teatro Massimo di Palermo.
The production of “Il Matrimonio Segreto” will feature sets by Emanuele Sinisi, with costumes by Ilaria Ariemme, lights by Fiammetta Baldiserri, and choreography by Sandhya Nagaraja.
Davide Levi will conduct the Orchestra Cupiditas with a cast that includes Giulia Mazzola (Carolina on Feb. 10, & 17), Veronika Seghers (Carolina, Feb. 12 & 19), Antonio Mandrillo (Paolino, Feb. 10 & 17), Bekir Serbest (Paolino, Feb. 12 & 19), Veta Pilipenko (Fidalma, Feb. 10 & 17), Valentina Stadler (Fidalma, Feb. 12 & 19), Francesco Leone (Geronimo, Feb. 10 & 17), Ignas Melnikas (Geronimo, Feb. 12 & 19), Marilena Ruta (Elisetta, Feb. 10 & 17), Eleonora Nota (Elisetta, Feb. 12 & 19), Jan Antem (Conte Robinson, Feb. 10 & 17), and Ramiro Maturana (Conte Robinson, Feb. 12 & 19).
By Afton Wooten
The Toronto-based opera company, Opera Revue, combines opera and burlesque in its upcoming “Debauchery at the Dakota.”
The Valentine’s Day program will feature selections from R. Strauss to Weill to Elvis. Soloists include soprano Danie Friesen and baritone Alexander Hajek. Claire Elise Harris will join them on piano. Each vocal selection will be paired with a “mixed-gender” troupe of burlesque dancers, including local burlesque choreographer A’Slayna von Hunt.
Opera lovers will enjoy familiar pieces, such as the “Toreador Song” from Bizet’s “Carmen” and ‘The Dance of the Seven Veils’ from R. Strauss’ “Salome.”
The event will take place on Feb. 11 at 7 pm at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto.
By Francisco Salazar
Will Liverman has released a new Music Video for the piece “I Dream a World.”
The video is performed by Will Liverman and Damien Sneed. Sneed composed the music while the text comes from a work by Langston Hughes.
The video comes a few days before Liverman performs a program on Feb. 15 at Alice Tully Hall dedicated to the work of renowned Black composers across generations. He will perform select songs from his Grammy-nominated album Dreams of a New Day alongside pianist Paul Sánchez.
The baritone recently performed at the Metropolitan Opera in a production of “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” and is set to present his opera “Factotum” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
By David Salazar
Curtis Opera Theatre will present “La Voix Humaine” on Feb. 14, 2023.
The monodrama by Poulenc will feature mezzo-soprano Ruby Dibble. She will be directed by Marcus Shields with Lisa Keller accompanying at the piano. The showcase kicks off at 7:30 p.m. local time.
“This piece is a virtuosic emotional/vocal showcase for the performers, in our case, Ruby Dibble and Lisa Keller,” Shields said in an official statement issued by the institution. “It is a piece about the relationship between a human and another human, and it is a piece about the relationship between a human and technology. The opera was written some 65 years ago, but we are still very much struggling to sort out these same exact relationships. Maybe the stakes are even higher today. This production will try to place this all into a single frame.”
Dibble is a recent recipient of the Stephen De Maio Memorial Award from the Gerda Lissner Foundation. She has performed at the Santa Fe Opera and also debuted at the Kimmel Center under Yannick Nézet-Séguin singing excerpts from Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.” She has also performed with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Bar Harbour Music Festival, among other venues.
