“Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” are often paired together in performance, and throughout history, this famed double bill has taken on a life of its own. Not only do the two works operate within a distinct musical and thematic style, but their brevity in length allows their intense emotions to hit home in very similar fashion. It’s characters, while distinct often {…}
In Italy, Verdi and Puccini are the great representatives of Italian opera. In Germany, it’s Wagner and Strauss. In France? It’s hard to argue against anyone but Massenet. But what’s curious about the great composer’s output is that while he was rather bounteous in his creation, only a handful of operas actually became major staples. “Manon,” “Werther,” “Thaïs.” You could {…}
“Le Nozze di Figaro” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic works in the opera canon. It had its world premiere on May 1, 1786 and has, in the eyes of many, gone on to become the greatest opera ever written. It’s easy to see why this might be a consensus pick. It features incredible music, fascinating characters, enduring themes, {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) For this week’s edition of the opera quiz, we are going to take a look at the opening line of an opera. The beginning of any work of art is essential; the artist wants to make a big impression, throw the audience into the conflict, or readily establish a major player or world in {…}
There are a lot of opera stars born in April. They include the likes of Walter Berry, Leonard Warren, Monserrat Caballe, Lily Pons, Mariela Devia, Franco Corelli, Sondra Radvanovsky, Danielle De Niese, Natalie Dessay, Fiorenza Cossotto, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gianni Raimondi, Leo Nucci, Italo Tajo, and several others. So to celebrate the April birthdays we are going to dedicate this quiz {…}
Lily Pons, Montserrat Caballé, and Mariella Devia are some of the greatest sopranos of their respective generations. They were all also born on April 12. So for this edition of the quiz, we make a statement and ask you to guess, which soprano it refers to. What is most fascinating about these three singers is that despite very distinct and {…}
Herbert von Karajan may have been a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that as far as conductors go, he was one of the finest ever. While his symphonic output is often his most beloved, his operatic interpretations also have become legendary. So for this edition of the quiz, we turn to Karajan’s opera career with some fun questions {…}
Tchaikovsky is undeniably one of the greatest composers of all time and there is no doubt that his two greatest operas are “Eugene Onegin” and “The Queen of Spades.” These two operas, which not only share a place at the top of the composer’s creative output, also happen to premiere on March 29. “Onegin” came first in 1879 before “Spades” {…}
Mezzo-sopranos Teresa Berganza and Christa Ludwig shared a great deal in common. In addition to both being born on March 16, albeit of different years, they both practically made all their major debuts as Cherubino (Met Opera debuts, Vienna State Opera debuts). So in celebration of these two historic singers, here is a short little quiz, a lightning round if {…}
Composers Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky are actually more inseparable than one might imagine. Both were arguably the most enduring members of The Five. Rimsky-Korsakov famously completed many of his friend’s unfinished works. And the two had birthdays within days of one another. So in celebrating these two historic Russian composers, here is a quiz that pits them against one {…}
(Credit: A. Bofill) Verdi and Piave’s “La Traviata” is one of the most iconic operas of all time. Premiering on March 6, 1853, it has become the dream opera for any soprano able to take on its demanding lead role. Today, the work is performed at every opera house imaginable and it is often identified as a true audience favorite {…}