Opera and Choral Events

WINNER of 2012 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY'S BEST OF RHODE ISLAND AWARDS: Website for La Boheme Junkies

Your source for classical voice, opera, and choral events

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Week of May 30 - June 6, 2013

 *All links below are live*

This week on Rhode Island Public television,
WSBE:  (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109, 
and Verizon 478)

Le comte ory

Episode Information
Program Information
When To Watch

Great Performances at the Met
Saturday, June 1 -- 8:00pm; Sunday, June 2 -- 3:00am; Monday, June 3-- 12:00am
Le Comte Ory
Rossini's vocally dazzling comedy stars bel canto sensation Juan Diego Florez in the title role of this Met premiere production. He vies with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, in the trouser role of Isolier, for the love of the lonely Countess Adele, sung by soprano Diana Damrau. Bartlett Sher, director of the Met's hit productions of The Barber of Seville and Les Contes D'Hoffmann, describes the world of the opera as, "a place where love is dangerous. People get hurt. That can be very funny and very painful. Rossini captures both-with the most beautiful love music Rossini ever wrote." 
DURATION: 150 MIN
DETAILS: [CC] [STEREO]
GENRE: PARENTS PICKS


MEETING BRYN TERFEL - BBC


BBC Four broadcast 8/09/2012 -  Presenter: Matthew Stadlen- The bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is one of the top opera singers in the world. Matthew Stadlen wanted to get a sense of his musical life and what makes him tick, so he went to meet him and watch him perform at the Royal Festival Hall on the final day of the Bryn Fest - a festival in his name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=bNxHR1EVrLA

And here is another complementary two-part interview with Mr. Terfel on Classic Talk with Bing and Dennis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm2BUrTJ3fU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEN5qJlIvME

This just in: sad news about his impending divorce.

£8m divorce of UK's top opera star Bryn Terfel revealed as love rival is 'glassed' in nightclub

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276257/8m-divorce-UKs-opera-star-Bryn-Terfel-revealed-love-rival-glassed-nightclub.html

Opera Lovers of RI
Third anniversary!



June 25, 2010, I published my first blog entry. It has been great fun and a tremendous learning experience for me, truly a labor of love. I hope it has been fruitful for you as well. In celebration of this anniversary, three years without missing a single week, I am inviting you to join us for a "Dutch treat" lunch at Asian Palace. 
(I wish I could offer to give a free banquet but I don't make any money from the blog and my day job can't subsidize it.)
Come and meet other local opera lovers. I bet we can get the restaurant to play some opera in the background!


Save the date:
Noon, SATURday, June 22, 2013.
Please send me an RSVP; if we get enough people,
we'll reserve the banquet room.

RSVP to me: drpegueros@gmail.com

 Asian Palace is very reasonable and has a huge menu that includes Chinese, Thai, and Japanese selections, including a full sushi bar. Keep in mind that they only have the regular menu on weekends, not the lunch menu. The website includes directions:  http://www.asianpalacedining.com/



Now playing  in Boston!


THE BOSTON GLOBE, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013

Movie review

‘Becoming Traviata’ 
is becoming to Verdi
                                     

By Jeffrey Gantz


        BECOMING TRAVIATA (TRAVIATA ET NOUS)  - 3 out of 4 stars
          Language:   French, Italian, and English, with subtitles
          Running time:   108 minutes
          Cast:   Natalie Dessay, Jean-François Sivadier, Louis Langrée, Charles Castronovo,                                                              Ludovic Tézier
          Director:   Philippe Béziat
          Playing at:   Museum of Fine Arts,
          Opening date:   Wednesday and various dates through June 6

Philippe Béziat’s “Becoming Traviata” isn’t just a documentary about the staging of Verdi’s “La traviata” at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in France in summer 2011. Like Wim Wenders’s Pina Bausch tribute, “Pina,” it’s a work of art. Stage director Jean-François Sivadier, conductor Louis Langrée, and renowned coloratura soprano Natalie Dessay — none of them identified till the closing credits — don’t explain what they’re doing, they simply do it. But because we see the opera being rehearsed from beginning to end, and because we hear the famous arias, you can follow the story even if you’re unfamiliar with the opera — though a five-minute brush-up on the plot wouldn’t hurt.


The best parts of this engrossing film are the exchanges between Sivadier and Dessay, who sings the title role of Violetta. He’s intellectual in his approach; he tells her to think about “È strano” (“It’s strange”) in the abstract, and when at one point he talks about different ways to sing “gioir” (“joy”), she answers, “What does that mean?” He moves her around like a choreographer with a prima ballerina; in the first act, after Charles Castronovo’s Alfredo has professed his love and left, Sivadier has Dessay raise her left hand as if to say, “No one’s here. I’m going to kiss him anyway.” At times it seems Dessay just wants to cut loose and do things her way, but she listens and incorporates Sivadier’s suggestions into her very detailed performance. There are lighthearted moments as well: In the last act, when she’s lying on the floor, he says, “Show me something — let’s see if we have the same idea,” whereupon she bursts out laughing.

What “Becoming Traviata” doesn’t provide is much sense of what this “Traviata” became, since we don’t see the finished product, and stage designer Alexandre de Dardel’s updated concept is only hinted at. There’s also nothing about how Dessay, who sang Violetta for Santa Fe Opera in 2009 and last year at the Metropolitan Opera, approached a role that many feel is too big for her voice. The film just goes from one illuminating detail to another: Langrée asking the London Symphony Orchestra strings to cry along with Alfredo’s father (Ludovic Tézier); Sivadier being invited to pick up the baton for a moment, something he’s obviously dying to do; Dessay practicing Violetta’s final collapse over the closing credits.

“Becoming Traviata” might make you feel you’ve seen Verdi’s opera, or it might make you want to see it. The Aix-en-Provence production, as it happens, is available on DVD.

Jeffrey Gantz can be reached at jeffreymgantz@gmail.com.






Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(28 May 1925 – 18 May 2012)

We missed the anniversary of the birthday of the great German baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau yesterday. If you are unfamiliar with him, he was the greatest of the interpreters of Schubert lieder. Elizabeth Schwartzkopf described him as "a born god who has it all." His accompanist was usually the great Gerald Moore. 
Here are three superb recordings:
My favorite is “Di Provenza” from La Traviata (as Germont père)

Ständchen "Serenade" – by Schubert (1958 recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKULM9s5iKg

Recital of Schubert Lieder with Jörg Demus, Piano
Recording, 30 July 1979 (1 hour, 17 minutes)
Kleines Festspielhaus, Salzburger Festspiele.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore

Masuko Ushioda
April 2, 1942 – May 28, 2013




from Classical New England
We're saddened to pass along the news that violinist Masuko Ushioda has died. Beloved violin professor at New England Conservatory, award-winning musician, humanitarian, and friend to many, Ms. Ushioda will be missed.

In her most recent visit to our studio, she played Debussy's "Danse sacree et profane" as part of a stunning ensemble. Hear it later this afternoon on the air, or here:


OPERA ON THE INTERNET 
WITH  
DAVE  D' AGUANNO


Broadcasts from the Lyric Opera of Chicago's past season continue on NPR this coming Saturday (June 1) with a performance of Donizetti's delightful comedy "Don Pasquale." The series of performances of this work originally took place in November & December of last year.

BBC Radio 3 is broadcasting a Royal Opera House performance of Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" (February 2013). The title role is sung by baritone Simon Keenlyside who appeared in the Met's HD-transmission this past season of "The Tempest" by Thomas Ades. The Tchaikovsky opera features the same cast that appeared in the video presentation that was shown recently at the Cable Car Cinema, and I can personally attest to the fact that it was, in my opinion, a terrific performance!

Puccini fans get to hear "La Fanciulla del West" on German Radio this Saturday. It's a performance that took place in Frankfurt on May 12, with soprano Eva-Maria Westbroeck singing the role of Minnie. Ms Westbroeck, as many of you know, recently performed the title role in the Met's HD-transmission of Zandonai's "Francesca da Rimini."

And what weekend of opera would be complete without yet another broadcast of Bizet's "Carmen"? This time around, it's ORF broadcasting this past Sunday's performance of the work from the Vienna State Opera. Those of you who may have seen the Met's HD-transmission of this opera a few years back will be pleased to know that the current performance features both Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in the leading roles once again!


Enjoy!

DAVE


♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫
2013 Summer encores of 
Live in HD Broadcasts



2013-14 Live in HD 
Season Preview



Some interesting articles

 
Singing opera with someone else’s lungs



Renee Fleming E-Newsletter

Survival Economics: Small Opera Companies Drive Change

A disease called Richard? Wagner as mental health menace

Cleveland Orchestra plays in bars to reach new audiences

Judge Allows Composer to Sue Brooklyn Philharmonic for Breach of Contract

What does a £2,500 record sound like?
Audiophile Pete Hutchison has gone to extraordinary lengths to reissue golden era classical recordings in their purest form. He talks to Killian Fox about the price of perfection, the 'digital con', and the sound of a truly analogue recording

How to Entice People to Buy Symphony Tickets

L.A. Philharmonic concerned about potential subway noise

The Day the Music Died in Mali

Spanish opera protests austerity

Florida Grand Opera delays ‘Tristan and Isolde,’ replaces with ‘Thaïs’

Composer John Adams Talks Hollywood, Social Media, and His Sensitivity to Coughing

Titanic violin real, hospital CT scan suggests

Can you learn to love music you hate?

'Moonstruck' paralegal was lovestruck with her boss, famed defense lawyer Chuck Peruto

Russian choir of 4,335 performs in St. Petersburg

Music review: Chamber Chorus chants (and harmonizes) paradisically

Opera Is Not Dead: The rich history—and rich present—of a unique art form

Felicity Kendal’s Drunk Love, Glyndebourne Gets Bombed

Scene Last Night: Joe Torre, Neubauers at Bat on Met Opera Gala
At a benefit for the Metropolitan Opera last night, Joe Torre noted the connection between opera and baseball.

Leaving the Met, but Not for Valhalla

L.A. Opera gives impressive 'Tosca'
Review: Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky shines in the title role.

Roving Downtown, From Opera to Folk
Nico Muhly Previews His ‘Two Boys’ at Le Poisson Rouge

Music Review: For Richard Wagner's 200th birthday, Met Opera compiles 25-disc, 9-opera set


Mobile Company Turns Adorable Pets Into Moving WiFi Hotspots


http://designtaxi.com/news/357975/Mobile-Company-Turns-Adorable-Pets-Into-Moving-WiFi-Hotspots/



Concert and Event Calendar


2012-2013 Season

Friday, June 14, 2013 — 8:00pm

Saturday, June 15, 2013 — 8:00pm

Friday, June 21, 2013 — 8:00pm

Sunday, June 23, 2013 — 3:00pm




"Pirates of Penzance

— Featuring —

Samuel - Devon Morin, The Pirate King - Ryne Cherry, Fredric - Joshua Collier,

Ruth - Ana Maria Ugarte, Kate - Arielle Rogers, Edith - Kristen Charpentier,

Mabel - Julianne Gearhart, Major General Stanley - Andy Papas, The Sergeant - Jason Shealy

Stage Director and Choreographer - Nathaniel Merchants • Artistic Director - Rene de la Garza



The Columbus Theatre

Broadway

Providence, RI



Tickets: $35 and $60 per person

For tickets please call the Opera Providence Office at 401-331-6060

July & August 2013
Summer production of
"Elixir of Love"



Exact dates to be determined.


For additional information on our exciting opera season,
to purchase tickets, or to contribute to the Annual Appeal, contact:

Opera Providence
585 Elmgrove Avenue
Providence RI 02906
401-331-6060
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The Met radio broadcast season is
over for now...
check this space the first week
of December. 

NO OPERA ON WGBH TV 
THIS WEEK! 





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