Arturo Toscanini is one of the greatest conductors in history. He championed a number of new operas during his time, leading dozens of world premieres. He was a favorite of Puccini, championed the operas of Catalani, and even impressed the young Verdi as a young musician. Throughout his career, he held a plethora of important posts, including music director of La Scala in {…}
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! While it might not be a nation that is “dominant” in the opera world like such traditional powers as Italy, France, and Germany, Ireland does have a rich history of operatic divas and divos. There are a few singers in the modern opera world that are making big waves at the biggest countries in the world. {…}
“Don Carlo,” which premiered on March 11, 1867, is arguably Verdi’s most complex concoction. The work features five major characters, all of them imbued with tremendous complexity, some more than others. Among them we see a confused prince trying to find purpose in his life; a rebel ready to risk all for his cause; a queen troubled by the conflict {…}
Is Bizet’s “Carmen” the most famous opera in the entire universe? That is certainly a valid question given the fact that almost no opera company in the world can live without the perennial favorite in a single season of programming. While it’s rich and evocative melodies are certainly one of the major reasons for its enduring popularity, there is no {…}
When people think about the most famous opera singers in history, Enrico Caruso generally comes to mind. He was undeniably one of the first operatic superstars and his many recordings among the first major hits of the opera world. As we celebrate his birthday on Feb. 25, 1873, here is an opera quiz dedicated to his career. If you want {…}
The opera world has a plethora of great black artists dominating more than ever before. Taking the baton from past generations, the new singers have simply made their presence felt even more prominently than ever before. Whether it be redefining the ranges of both tenors or sopranos, or the awesome lows of basses and mezzos, this new generation is undeniably filled {…}
Opera is rife with sweeping love duets. Some are of passionate bliss while others of a more mature variety. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we turn to a handful of opera’s greatest declarations of love between two lovers from the classical repertoire. Continue to find out which of the selected love duets suits your romantic evening (and don’t worry, the {…}
It’s Black History Month! A year ago we dedicated the month to highlighting the great singers of the past, present, future, and even dedicated a special segment to Marian Anderson. This year we are going to have some fun, providing opera quizzes throughout the month that allow audiences to learn a bit more about the rich history of black artists {…}
Born on Jan. 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would go on to become one of the greatest geniuses in all of history. His music is iconic and his operas are easily among the best in the entire canon, transforming the art form. Arguably one of the most fascinating aspects of all of Mozart’s operas is his characters. Simply put, his {…}
Plácido Domingo, born on Jan. 21, 1941, is one of opera’s most iconic figures. Not only has he traversed more repertoire than any other singer in history, he has also taken on the role of conductor, arts administrator, sung two different voice types, and simply become the face of opera for many years. Such a massive career includes a tremendous {…}
We all know about Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini, Giordano, and the great Italian composers of the 19th century. We often attribute opera’s greatest gems to them, remembering every gorgeous melody and the potent emotions that they create for us. But they don’t deserve all the credit. In fact, without the text, most of these composers don’t write their music. {…}