Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

September 11, 2018November 4, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Monumental Met Opera production of a timeless masterpiece by Verdi with star-studded cast returns to the Met Opera stage in January, 2019

Opera Verdi Aida New York Metropolitan Opera — A scene from Verdi’s Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

Grand Opera in its ultimate sense, Verdi’s Aida in Sonja Frisell’s production from 1988 is a highlight of the 2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera season. The grandeur of the staging calls for an equally magnificent cast. In the winter and early spring a talented duo of Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role and Dolora Zajick as Amneris with Aleksandr Antonenko and Yonghoon Lee alternating as Radomes will take the stage.

The stage design by Gianni Quaranta recreates the pompous style of the Old Kingdom architecture in all its sumptuousness. The director Stephen Pickover is matching the decor with hundreds of performers including four horses, two brass choirs, ballet dancers and supernumeraries trooping the stage. It all aims to convey the might and power of Egypt’s Pharaoh. And it surely fulfills the intent. That state omnipotence is skillfully contrasted against the lonely and touching scenes of soul-searching and love despair. This is the theater in all its might with its tricks finely brought together for the joy of the opera fans. Get tickets at 21% off with TodayTIX.

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Music in NYC: Anna Netrebko in Carnegie Hall Recital

November 7, 2018April 24, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com

Music in NYC: Anna Netrebko in Carnegie Hall Recital

Dazzling Russian soprano Anna Netrebko accompanied by Malcolm Martineau on piano performs a program by Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 2 pm

Since successfully debuting on the opera stage of Mariinsky Theater in Saint-Peterburg, Russia in the early 1990s, Anna Netrebko’s star has risen earning her high acclaim and faithful following from the classical music lovers. Netrebko’s radiant voice and tremendously sensuous acting of each and every role she chooses are highly anticipated musical events around the world.

A recital at Carnegie Hall with a distinguished pianist Malcolm Martineau brings the deeply emotional scores by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and other romantic masters to the audience of consummate fans who will not settle for just another concert. But there is no too high a bar for a talent of such strength. Netrebko’s genius will surely triumph and win the admiration from the audience.

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Opera in NYC: Mefistofele at the Met Opera

November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: Mefistofele at the Met Opera

Splendid and colorfully rich production of Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele at the Met Opera until December 1, 2018

Michael Fabiano as Faust and Christian Van Horn as Mefistofele in Act II — Michael Fabiano as Faust, Christian Van Horn in the title role of Boito’s “Mefistofele.” Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera

A revival of Robert Carsen’s the 1999 production of Boito’s Mefistofele brings all the elements of grand opera to the Met Opera stage. Omnipresent and vicious devil whistling and steering havoc, magnificent chorus scenes mightily delivered by the members of Met chorus and ballet, vibrant costumes and powerful singing are all in evidence throughout the performance.

Regarded as a showpiece for basses with Samuel Ramey famously singing Mefistofele with all the demonic charisma in place, Christian Van Horn, a bass-baritone, commands a formidable presence. Faust, his counterpart, played by young tenor Michael Fabiano, is reasonably sensual if restrained at times. Yet, both make an impressive leading pair going through all the ups and downs of Boito’s illustrious masterpiece.

The set and costume design by Michael Levine adds a strong visual component to the production and sometimes competes for attention with the music and the main characters. With sensitive and penetrating soprano Angela Meade as Margherita and Carlo Rizzi conducting, the opera is a fantastic treat for the spectators reminding us of vices and virtues in a truly theatrical way.

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Beyond NY: Caramoor Summer Season Finale with Orchestra of St. Luke’s and Susan Graham

July 13, 2018July 30, 2018 contact@arts-ny.com 2 Comments

Beyond NY: Caramoor Summer Season Finale with Orchestra of St. Luke’s and Susan Graham

Baroque selections at 2018 Caramoor Summer Season Finale in Katonah, NY with Susan Graham, Orchestra of St. Lukes, and Nicolas McGegan on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 4 pm

Caramoor Summer Festival Katonah NY Susan Graham — Susan Graham; photo credit ©Dario Acosta / Image courtesy of Caramoor

This year the Summer Season program at Caramoor in Katonah, NY features a splendid roster of distinguished artists. Each week the Center brings about a delicious musical experience with classical and modern compositions and artistic approaches masterfully complementing each other. For the season Finale, Caramoor is presenting American treasure mezzo Susan Graham and Orchestra of St. Luke’s with Nicolas McGegan conducting.

Graham, hailed by the Playbill as “powerhouse mezzo” who “dazzled the Metropolitan Opera audiences with performances” of a wide range of repertoire, will be singing selections from Handel’s Ariodante and Alicia in the first part of the program. It will be followed by Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and La Clemenza di Tito. For tickets click here.

Beyond NY: Opera Demon at Bard SummerScape

July 10, 2018October 12, 2018 contact@arts-ny.com

Beyond NY: Opera Demon at Bard SummerScape

Rarely performed in the US opera by Anton Rubinstein is part of the SummerScape 2018 program on July 27 – August 5 at Bard College

Opera Demon Bard SummerScape Upstate NY — Bard SummerScape presents Anton Rubinstein’s Demon / Photo by Maria Baranova

Bard SummerScape is well known for its daring and adventurous streak offering to its audiences a delicious yet rarely performed music. Last year the program included A. Dvorak’s Dimitrij. This year it presents Anton Rubinstein’s opera Demon. Rubinstein’s work will complement the rest of the SummerScape program lineup celebrating the music of the The Mighty Five, the Russian composers of the late 19th century whose ambition was to write compositions rooted in Russian folk songs and traditional tonalities. The resulting trove of music literature enriched the sound palette and expanded the music language.

As for The Demon, with an all-Russian cast directed by Thaddeus Strassberger and accompanied by the American Symphony Orchestra with Mr. Botstein, current president of Bard College, conducting the opera will surely delight and amuse by its vibrant music and opulent choral arrangements. The performance are taking place at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

Category: Opera