Review: THE SAN DIEGO OPERA'S PUCCINI DUO at San Diego Civic Center Theater
The big question for the evening was how mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe would do as the first woman in professional opera to sing the baritone title role in Gianni Schicchi. But the question wouldn’t be answered until the second one-act opera in San Diego Opera’s “Puccini Duo.” Blythe was first a contralto as the stern, unfeeling Principessa in Suor Angelica. This crushingly poignant half of the Duo is set in a 17th-century Italian convent where Sister Angelica has been living for seven years after her family banished her for the sin of giving birth to a boy out of wedlock. The one-hour opera builds slowly from a choir of offstage convent sisters singing adoringly of the Virgin Mary. From its first appearance the Opera company’s choir led by Chorus Master Bruce Stasyna sang with a solemn warmth consistent with the convent setting. When the sisters reach the stage, a monitor becomes the center of attention as she sings of a succession of minor sins and their punishments. Two sisters lose a day of holy celebration for arriving late to services, another is sent to her room for hiding two red roses in a sleeve of her habit.
Puccini Duo Of SUOR ANGELICA And GIANNI SCHICCHI Opens Next Month At San Diego Opera
San Diego Opera's 2022-2023 Season continues with The Puccini Duo: a double-bill of the tragic Suor Angelica and the witty comic opera Gianni Schicchi on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances. Additional performances are February 14, 17, and 19 (matinee), 2023. All evening performances take place at 7:30 PM, matinees at 2 PM.
BWW Review: COKORINOS RECITAL ON LA OPERA WEBSITE at Home Computer Screens
Known in opera houses across the globe for his excellent comedic timing and first-rate singing, bass-baritone Philip Cokorinos won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1985 and went on to make his debut during that company's 1987-1988 season. In a new a?oeLiving Room Recitala?? on the Los Angeles Opera website, Cokorinos and pianist David Holkeboer perform songs by Schubert, Brahms, Tosti, and Cole Porter, as well as a Rossini aria. The recital is currently available on both the LA Opera homepage and on its Facebook page.
BWW Feature: ONLINE OPERA VIRTUAL TOUR AUGUST 22-29
In a new a?oeLiving Room Recitala?? on LA Operaa??s website, bass-baritone Philip Cokorinos and pianist David Holkeboer perform songs by Schubert, Brahms and Cole Porter. Mezzo-soprano Gabriela Flores, accompanied by Head Coach of LA Operaa??s Young Artist Program Nino Sanikidze, gives a recital of songs from Spain, Cuba, Argentina, and Mexico.
BWW Feature: ONLINE OPERA VIRTUAL TOUR AUGUST 15-22 at Home Computer Screens
Here are some of the online events for the week of August 15 - 22 under LA Operaa??s banner, LAO At Home. On Tuesday, August 18, at 4 PM PDT, the a?oeGrown-Up Edition of Learn at Homea?? lets music lovers join Jeremy Frank at the piano for a?oeOpera Happy Hoursa?? which feature murder mysteries, verismo stories and dance.
Metropolitan Opera Guild's 85th Annual Diamond Jubilee To Honor Martina Arroyo & Teresa Stratas
The Metropolitan Opera Guild today announced that the honorees of its “Diamond Jubilee” celebration will be luminaries Martina Arroyo and Teresa Stratas. The Guild's 85th Annual Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, November 20th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Special remarks by Stephanie Blythe and musical tributes by Ailyn Pérez and Matthew Polenzani will be performed during the event.
Wolfgang Koch Withdraws From Metropolitan Opera's Fall Production of Puccini's TOSCA
Wolfgang Koch has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera's fall performances of Puccini's Tosca, due to illness. Željko Lu?i? will now sing the role of Scarpia in the season premiere performance on October 25, and Claudio Sgura will sing the remaining six performances of the fall run. Mr. Koch's Met debut will be delayed until March, when Tosca returns to the repertory for a spring run.
BWW Review: City Opera's AMORE DEI TRE RE Gets the Kiss of Death
Italo Montemezzi's L'AMORE DEI TRE RE, which played four performances at City Opera's Rose Theate this weekend, was greeted as a masterpiece when it premiered at La Scala in 1913 proved popular for years at the Met. Today, I'm not sure that even Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann as the lovers could keep it afloat.