In a world where the universality of music transcends borders and languages, Symphony Tacoma embarks on an ambitious journey to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem. This event, set for February 24th, is not just a concert; it's a monumental homage to a piece that has vibrated through the halls of history, capturing the essen...
READ MOREI was 15 when I went to my first Verdi opera, “Il Trovatore,” at the Met, the old Met, in 1964. I could barely figure out what was going on but didn’t care. Leontyne Price sang Leonora, and I was in awe of her plush, beautiful voice. The singing, the chorus, the orchestra, the emotional drama, the music with its mixture of soaring melody, intensity...
READ MOREWould you care for some Puccini with that pasta? How about a little Rigoletto with your risotto? The concept of combining the sounds of opera with the tastes and smells of Italian cuisine was integral to the creation of the Verdi Chorus, which celebrates its 40th anniversary with a pair of concerts Nov. 18 and 19 in Santa Monica. Things have change...
READ MORENew Jersey Lyric Opera’s year of debuts is shaping up to be monumental. With three new opera productions already under their belt, they will plunge headfirst into the busy fall season with three more. For founder and artistic director John Calkins, the midpoint marks an adventurous new phase in the company’s development that focuses on expansion. T...
READ MOREDon’t miss Verdi’s Rigoletto October 27 & 29 at The Grand Opera House (4 S. Poplar St. Wilmington, DE). Verdi’s masterful Rigoletto is an opera in three acts that premiered in Venice on March 11, 1851. It was based on a controversial Victor Hugo piece known as “Le Roi s’amuse” which translates to “The King enjoys himself.” The story of the jester R...
READ MORENestled amidst the serenity of Skyline Drive, Front Royal’s Italian gem, Osteria Maria, is set to blend the melodies of opera with the allure of authentic Italian gastronomy. On August 31 and September 1st, 2023, as the evening beckons at 5:00 pm, patrons are invited to partake in an unparalleled experience with the acclaimed opera, ‘La Traviata.’...
READ MOREIt’s time to celebrate summer with a picnic basket, blanket, a libation, and lawn chairs (low profile, of course) and then head to the park where you can hear live classical music for free. That’s right – free! Portland’s annual Opera in the Park will take place in Washington Park on Sunday, Aug. 13, with a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto...
READ MOREFifth Avenue is used to seeing everything; it’s famous for films, high fashion, and luxury hotels. But perhaps it did not expect to be enveloped by the notes of ‘Va Pensiero.’ Instead, the International Friends of Festival Verdi amazed those present at the Gala by involving them in an unexpected opera performance initiated by a ‘plainclothes’ choir...
READ MOREWhen, on 9 March 1842, the premiere of Nabucco at La Scala in Milan erupted in triumph, decreeing the success of Giuseppe Verdi, the composer of Busseto had just experienced terrible family bereavements and little appreciation of his first two operas. In previous years he had lost both his two children and his first wife Margherita Barezzi. On the...
READ MOREOpera Grand Rapids has announced that one of its next productions will be Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. The opera will be performed at the DeVos Performance Hall on May 5 and 7. The performance on Friday, May 5 will be held at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 7, the opera will be performed at 2 p.m. The opera will be sung in Italian and have projected English tit...
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