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One Of Sarah Jessica Parker's Surprisingly Operatic Favorite Words

March 12, 2014, 2:04 pm
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Natalie Dessay Promotes Popular Brazilian Music For Erato

April 10, 2014, 6:10 pm
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Soprano Natalie Dessay has a forthcoming release on Erato celebrating the music of famous Brazilian composers. The main works of classical composer Villa-Lobos are represented and popular music of Antônio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell, João Gilberto, and more. She is joined by singers Agnès Jaoui and Helena Noguerra, as well as guitarist Liat Cohen.

Pre-order your copy here. Watch the EPK video after the jump. 

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Celebrate Montserrat Caballé's Birthday At Her Hotel Suite

April 12, 2014, 2:11 pm
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Soprano María de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé i Folch was born in Barcelona, Spain, on this day 81 years ago. As you listen to recordings and watch videos to commemorate the occasion, you might want to step it up and spring for a night at Hôtel Le Negresco in the suite named for the diva. Located in Nice on the French Riviera, the Montserrat Caballé Suite N° 121-122 houses, among other treasures, a Louis XV secretaire, two Sèvres porcelain lamps and a Louis XVI bed adorned with two gold-plated bronzes. Accommodating up to three guests, the 861 square luxury room boasts views of the Mediterranean Sea. Make your reservations by clicking here. See more pictures and read about the amenities after the jump.

Key features :
. free parking
. wake up service & alarm clock / concierge / valet service / porters
. room service
In your room :
. non-smoking
. air conditioning
. work desk
. large dressing
. private lounge
. telephone / free high speed, wireless internet access
. flat screen TV / pay TV / radio
. minibar
. safety box
. terrace with sunbed, table and chairs
In your bathroom :
. bathtub
. separate toilet
. hair dryer / bathroom scale
. bathroom amenities / bathrobe and sleepers




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Pre-Order Anna Netrebko Performance Of Verdi's "Giovanna D'Arco"

April 13, 2014, 9:13 pm
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Click here to pre-order the live performance from the Salzburg Festival.
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Operatic Selfie For The Ages At Opera News Awards

April 13, 2014, 9:59 pm
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Luca Pisaroni posted the operatic equivalent of the infamous Ellen Degeneres selfie from the Academy Awards. Some pretty big names in this photo, including: Stephen Costello, Susan Graham, Kristine Opolais, Ailyn Perez and Joyce DiDonato. (Photo: Facebook)

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Arthur Gelb, Father of Peter Gelb, Is Dead At Age 90

May 20, 2014, 11:20 pm
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Peter Gelb, left, with his parents Barbara and Arthur Gelb at the Metropolitan Opera in 2010.
"Arthur Gelb, who by sheer force of personality was a dominant figure at The New York Times for decades, lifting its metropolitan and arts coverage to new heights and helping to shape the paper in its modern era, died on Tuesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 90. His son Peter Gelb, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, said the cause was complications of a stroke. Hired as a copy boy in 1944, Mr. Gelb rose to become a singular Times figure in the second half of the 20th century, leaving a large stamp as critic, chief cultural correspondent, metropolitan editor, deputy managing editor and managing editor, the post he held when he retired at the end of 1989. Mr. Gelb, writing for the culture pages, discovered stars in an expanding Off Broadway universe. His reviews and news coverage helped propel the fledgling careers of, among others, Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand, Dick Gregory, Lenny Bruce, Jason Robards, Joseph Papp and Colleen Dewhurst." [Source]
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Tennis Player Ernests Gulbis Doesn't Like To Miss The Opera

May 21, 2014, 12:26 am
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Gulbis (above) displays a passion for opera that
we haven't seen since Novak Djokovic professed
his admiration for Natalie Dessay.
"When I [Sports Illustrated] caught up with Ernests Gulbis at the Italian Open last year, he was in the midst of a career resurgence after plunging to No. 136 and having his mom recommend that he retire. His renaissance has continued in 2014: The 25-year-old Latvian is 23-10 with one title (the Open 13 in Marseille, France) and two semifinal appearances, and last week he reached a career-high No. 17. He is ranked 19th entering the French Open, which begins on Sunday. The outspoken Gulbis — who has put his fans through the wringer with his erratic play and combustible temperament — sat down for another interview in Rome last week, before his third-round loss to David Ferrer. He talked about his newfound consistency on the court and his eclectic tastes off it."

SI.com: What’s a piece of culture that’s impressed you lately?
Gulbis: Lately it’s been more music. I was really pissed off because I got sick in Vienna right before Madrid and I had two great tickets for the opera. One was for Nabucco and Placido Domingo coming to Vienna, and I missed it because I was in a doctor’s appointment. But what I like lately is classical minimalist music. Like Philip Glass, Pierre Boulez, Irmin Schmidt. Schmidt wrote a lot of good music for movies. There’s one really good soundtrack, from Wim Wenders’ film Palermo Shooting. That kind of music culturally touched me. It’s not easy to listen to it.

SI.com: You’re very into music.
Gulbis: My collection of music is pretty big. It’s around 4-5 terabytes. I keep it at home in a hard drive. We put all the CDs that we had in our houses — the country house and the city house — on one hard drive. All the music I downloaded and all the music my father downloaded is in one place. [Source]

It's not the first time we've seen opera and tennis come together. Watch the video after the jump for proof.
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Tara Erraught Is Having Her Adele Dazeem Moment In Opera

May 21, 2014, 10:22 am
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A picture of Tara Erraught as Sesto in
Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito at
Bayerische Staatsoper
in February 2014 (Photo: Facebook)
Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught has been in the news lately for British press fat-shaming her in a production of Der Rosenkavalier. Other opera singers, most notably Alice Coote's open letter lashing the critics, have voiced their opinions on the matter as well. Even the fashion magazine Elle is weighing in on the issue. Of course the greatest offense here is the critics NOT actually critiquing the singing of an opera, but trying to focus in on someone's appearance. Now, what universe do these men live in that they think Tara Erraught is overweight? It is with great hope that Ms. Erraught is quite aware of her vocal talents and takes pride in her gorgeous physical appearance. This might just be her succès de scandale. John Travolta famously butchered Idina Menzel's name into Adele Dazeem at the Academy Awards just before she sang "Let it go" from Disney's hit film Frozen. The Broadway star now says she was shaken for about 8 seconds before singing, but now in hindsight it was the greatest thing to happen in her career because now millions more people know her by name that may not otherwise have paid attention after her performance. Tara Erraught should soak up all the attention in this moment and ignore those silly men with their limp quills. Her exquisite figure and career will have the last laugh. A photo from the Glyndebourne Rosenkavalier production is after the jump.
Performers left to right: Marianne Leitmetzerin [Miranda Keys], Sophie [Theodora Gheorghiu] and Octavian [Tara Erraught]. Click to enlarge (Photo: Bill Cooper)
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Glyndebourne Opera Festival Celebrates Its Own Royal Couple

May 21, 2014, 10:43 am
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Love birds: Gus Christie and Danielle de Niese in the manor. (Photo: Dan Bum Forti/The Telegraph)
"They are stars in their own opera. A Donizetti, perhaps. Some sort of teasing pact seems to have been agreed between them: she won’t interrupt when he is trying to make a point. But expecting Danni de Niese to moderate her enthusiasm is like expecting water to run uphill. As a kittenish all-singing-all-dancing Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, she took Glyndebourne by storm in 2005. Then she laid siege to the affections of its owner as he watched her from the wings. After a courtship spanning several cities, wherever in the world she was singing, they married in 2009. Their love story has become as much a part of the Glyndebourne legend as that of his grandfather, John Christie, who built the first opera house in 1934 for his beautiful Canadian wife, the soprano Audrey Mildmay. England’s Taj Mahal, Danni calls it. The idea that another soprano might take up residence once seemed fanciful but 'history has repeated itself,' Danni says." [Source]
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Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky Take Selfie In L.A.

May 23, 2014, 1:36 pm
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Ms. Fleming is in Los Angeles for Streetcar Named Desire and Mr. Hvorostovsky for a recital. (Photo: Facebook)

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Ex-opera CEO Kevin Smith Will Temporarily Lead Minnesota Orchestra

May 23, 2014, 1:59 pm
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Minnesota Non-Profit Hero: Kevin Smith
"Kevin Smith, who retired as CEO of Minnesota Opera in 2011, is becoming interim chief executive at the Minnesota Orchestra. The Star Tribune reports on the appointment, which will take effect in July as current Minnesota Orchestra CEO Michael Henson steps down. Henson exited after the end of the orchestra's long-running labor dispute. Smith led the Minnesota Opera for 24 years, a period of strong growth for the nonprofit. A search for a permanent replacement is expected to take up to six months; Smith isn't expected to be a permanent replacement." [Source]
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Prince Harry To Date, Or Just Dine With, Soprano Laura Wright?

May 23, 2014, 11:40 pm
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Laura Wright (center) is seen here with rugby players of England.
"Prince Harry has been separated from Cressida Bonas for nearly one month now, and both appear to be moving on with their lives. Harry actually has his first date next month with someone of high class and is a familiar face to the Royal Family. Harry will attend the Suffolk Show with opera singer and known soprano Laura Wright. The 23-year-old has performed for the Queen six times in one year and will accompany Harry to the show next month. 'I've been to it since I was a kid and I'll be having lunch with Harry and a few other people,' Wright told the Daily Mail. 'That's right – the newly-single Prince Harry who loves rugby. I was really chuffed when I got the invitation. Every little girl wants to be a princess at some point. Maybe he wouldn't want a princess that plays rugby, though. I don't want to be a rebound.' Harry has thrown himself into his work in the aftermath of his breakup with Bonas. He attended a wedding in the U.S. with brother William and several mutual friends but then returned home and got straight to work. He has made a few Royal appearances but largely remains behind-the-scenes in his work." [Source] More about Laura Wright, including performance videos, after the jump.
Laura Kathryn Wright (born June 17, 1990) is an English soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs classical and operatic music, popular songs, musical theatre and folk songs.Wright was born in Suffolk; her father is Paul Wright (a financial adviser) and her mother Caroline (an artist and lecturer). She has three older brothers; Seamus, Patrick and Liam. Her eldest brother Seamus works as a Marketing Director and also fronts his own alternative band Young Poets. Patrick is a teacher at St George's School (Windsor Castle) and Liam is currently working as an Architect. Wright and her family grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk. She won scholarships to attend the fee-paying Framlingham College along with her three brothers. In 2005, at the age of 15, Wright won the BBC Radio 2 Chorister of the Year award for female voice. She then soon became a member of quartet All Angels from its formation until June 2010 and thus performed on three of their albums while also still studying at school. (Her place in the quartet was then taken — in July 2010 — by Rachel Fabri.) With over a million cumulative album sales under her belt, Wright is one of the biggest selling classical artists this decade. She is best known for her debut solo album of folk (and folk style) songs, The Last Rose, released in 2011. It reached the #1 album position on the Classical Compilation Albums Chart of Official Charts. The Last Rose was also was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2012. Her inspiration for the album, which was her own idea, was a Christmas gift in 2010 of a book of traditional songs of the British Isles. In April 2013, Wright sold out her first Headline show's at The Royal Albert Hall's 'Elgar Rooms'. She was also a guest artist on the 2011/2012 UK tour of English tenor Alfie Boe and the Queens's Jubilee tour with Russell Watson. She became the first soprano to perform at the Olympic Stadium as well as giving a critically acclaimed performance of Ravel’s Bolero with Noah Stewart on the ITV Dancing On Ice 2012 final. She opened the iTunes Festival for Andrea Bocelli in the Autumn and performed Faure’s Requiem at the Royal Opera House for the Royal Ballet. She was selected to record the new Diamond Jubilee song, "Stronger As One," which HM The Queen mentioned in her Commonwealth Day Message at Westminster Abbey in March 2012 where the song was premiered. The song is featured as a track on the number one single Sing by Gary Barlow, as well as her rendition of God Save the Queen. Wright received the PPL Classical Award at the Nordoff Robbins 02 Silver Clef Awards. Following her work with Nordoff Robbins, she was asked to be an Ambassador of Arthritis Research UK, having battled her own debilitating condition at a young age. She appeared as a competitor in the Blue Peter Olympic Challenge in June and July 2012, finishing with a bronze medal. In June 2012 she received the PPL Classical Award and in August 2012 sang at the Rugby League 2012 Challenge Cup Final. In November 2012, the RFU announced that Wright as their first official anthem singer, supporting the England Rugby team at their international and 6 Nations rugby matches, most recently the 2013 QBE Autumn Internationals. In February 2013 Laura sang the National Anthem live at all of the Six Nations Championship matches held at Twickenham. A firm sporting favorite, Laura has also sung at the FA Cup Final, Carling Cup Final, The Carnegie Challenge Cup Final, WSB Boxing, Polo in the Park and most recently the two NFL games held at Wembley in 2013. A dedicated follower of fashion, Laura opened the London Fashion Gala at Mansion House at the request of Fashion entrepreneur Sir Harold Tillman ahead of London Fashion Week in September 2013. On Friday 3 January 2014 BBC4 broadcast a special tribute programme to the lyricist Don Black, "Diamonds are Forever: A tribute to Don Black". Wright sang "Amigos Paras Siempre," a song composed by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics written by Black. Wright was accompanied by the male choir Only Men Aloud with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Outside of singing, she is a keen runner and cyclist. She took part in the 2011 London Marathon and 2011 Venice marathon. She also plays full-back for Rosslyn Park Ladies rugby team. She recently completed her studies at the Royal College of Music in London, gaining a first class degree. [Source]
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Barbara Hendricks Biography Finally Reaches American Shores

May 24, 2014, 12:17 am
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In November 2010, Barbara Hendricks released her memoirs in France under the title Ma voie - Mémoires. Now for the first time in America, an English translation has been released called Lifting My Voice. Information about the book: "Growing up African American in segregated Arkansas in the 1950s, Barbara Hendricks witnessed firsthand the painful struggle for civil rights. After graduation from the Juilliard School of Music, Hendricks immediately won a number of important international prizes, and began performing in recitals and operas throughout the world. A Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, she is as devoted to humanitarian work as she is to her music. Always the anti-diva, Hendricks is a down-to-earth and straightforward woman, whether singing Mozart or black spirituals. She challenges stereotypes and puts the music first and presents a warm, engaging, and honest self-portrait of one of the great women of music." [Source] The Wall Street Journal offers a review of the Lifting My Voice, along with Jessye Norman's new bookStand Up Straight and Sing!, here. A beautiful photo of Barbara Hendricks at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and a musical selection are after the jump.


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CastaDiva Resort & Spa At Lago Di Como Is Calling Your Name

May 24, 2014, 9:04 am
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"CastaDiva is a 5 star luxury resort located in Blevio in the province of Como, Italy. The heart of the resort consists of the Roccabruna Villa, which was once the home of soprano Giuditta Pasta and where the composer Vincenzo Bellini wrote his two most famous works: La Sonnambula and Norma. The resort is named after the most famous aria from Norma: 'Casta Diva.' Roccabruna Villa was built in the eighteenth century on the shores of Lake Como in the village of Blevio and was later restored by the opera singer Giuditta Pasta. The renovations were carried out between 1827 and 1829 by architect Philip Ferranti. The house was a meeting place for many artists, composers and singers. A frequent visitor was Vincenzo Bellini who, aided by the lake landscape of Moltrasio and Blevio, gave life to his work Norma, which was first performed by Giuditta Pasta. That opera featured the aria 'Casta Diva,' which became one of the most famous arias of the nineteenth century. The chronicles report that in 1829 Gaetano Donizetti spent a month in the villa while composing the Opera Anna Bolena. Today, the villa has been newly renovated and houses the CastaDiva Resort & Spa, which has 75 rooms, 2 restaurants, 4 conference rooms and a spa of 1,330 square metres (14,300 sq ft). [Source]
"CastaDiva Resort & Spa is a five-star luxury resort located on the east side of Lake Como, in the lovely village of Blevio, only 5 km from Como and 65 km from Milano Malpensa International Airport. The Resort consists of seven villas for a total of 73 rooms plus 2 private Villas and it is surrounded by a luxuriant botanic park over an area of approximately 26,000 sqm. A place of excellence and exclusivity, perfect for a romantic weekend or a week of vacation on the lake." [Source] The "Fiordiligi Suite" comes highly recommended with its 6,133 square foot terrace and private swimming pool. If you really want to drop some coin, go for either the private Villa Amina or Villa Norma. Visit nearby 200-year old Teatro Sociale di Como for your evening entertainment. More information and a video of the property amenities can be found after the jump.



Location: Situated in Blevio, CastaDiva Resort & Spa is on a lake and close to Volta Lighthouse, Cathedral of Como, and Volta Temple. Also nearby are Villa Olmo and Funicular.

Hotel Features: CastaDiva Resort & Spa has a full-service spa, an indoor pool, and a health club. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is available in public areas. This 5-star hotel features business amenities including a meeting/conference room and limo/town car service. Dining options at this luxury hotel include a restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a poolside bar. The hotel offers a complimentary evening social on select days. The staff can provide concierge services, tour/ticket assistance, and wedding services. Additional amenities at this Beaux Arts hotel include a seasonal outdoor pool, spa services, and a steam room. For a surcharge, guests receive transportation including a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request), an area shuttle, and a theme park shuttle. Complimentary valet parking is available onsite for guests. The property has designated areas for smoking.



Guestrooms: The 75 air-conditioned guestrooms at CastaDiva Resort & Spa include minibars and safes. Pillow menus are available. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is provided. Rooms are equipped with LCD TVs with digital channels. All accommodations provide desks, complimentary newspapers, and phones. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations, bathrobes, designer toiletries, and bidets. Additional amenities include slippers and complimentary bottled water. In addition, amenities available on request include in-room massages, irons/ironing boards, and hypo-allergenic bedding. Turndown service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily.
[Source]
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Singer, Dancer, Poetess: Maya Angelou Dead At Age 86

May 28, 2014, 5:51 pm
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Maya Angelou seen here with President Obama in 2011 when she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"After graduation, she and her brother rejoined their mother, who had moved to San Francisco. She attended George Washington High School and won a scholarship to study drama and dance at the California Labor School. To earn pocket money, she worked as a streetcar conductor and was, by her account, the first African American woman to hold the job. At 16, after a clumsy sexual encounter with a neighborhood boy, she became pregnant and gave birth to her son, Clyde Bailey Johnson, nicknamed Guy. She graduated from San Francisco's Mission High School and struggled to raise her son on her own through a succession of jobs, including 'a shake dancer in nightclubs, fry cook in hamburger joints, dinner cook in a Creole restaurant and once had a job in a mechanic's shop, taking the paint off cars with my hands.' In San Diego, she was a madam who managed a couple of prostitutes. For a period of time, she was addicted to drugs. In 1949, she married a white ex-sailor, Tosh Angelos, but they divorced after three years. Commandingly tall at 6 feet, with a deep voice and theatrical manner, she moved to New York to study dance, then returned to San Francisco, sharing billing as a singer at the Purple Onion cabaret with comedian Phyllis Diller, who would become a close friend. Riffing off her ex-husband's last name and her brother's nicknames for her, she began performing as Maya Angelou. She won a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess and performed in 22 countries from 1954 to 1955." [Source] Rare photos after the jump of this wonderful human.



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Joyce DiDonato Shares Touching Story In 2014 Juilliard Speech

May 29, 2014, 1:59 pm
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"I want to share with you a quick email from a soldier on the front lines of our Arts: an elementary/middle school teacher from Salt Lake City, Ms. Audrey Hill, who is fighting the great fight! She brought her students to the recent HD telecast of La Cenerentola, and wrote the following note to me: 'One of my boys...a 5th grader...wrote in his review this morning that one of his favorite parts (besides the spaghetti food-fight scene) was where at the end you were singing about getting revenge, and how he really liked that your revenge was going to be forgiveness. This boy was new to our school this year, has a beautiful singing voice, and has been teased a lot. I have seen him getting more and more angry as the year was coming to a close and today it seemed like all that had disappeared. It was very moving for me to experience.'" [Source] The Juilliard School’s 109th Commencement Speech by Joyce DiDonato can be read here in its entirety or watch the video after the jump.
2014 Honorees: front row - Lar Lubovitch, Viola Davis, Frank Owen Gehry, Philip Glass; back row: Marcus Roberts, Bruce Kovner, Suzanne F. Kovner, Joyce DiDonato, Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi
(Photo: Nan Melville/Facebook)
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Hei-Kyung Hong Eyes Madama Butterfly As Next Career Challenge

May 29, 2014, 3:25 pm
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Opera Veteran: Hei-Kyung Hong (Photo: J. Henry Fair)
"Prima donna Hei-kyung Hong beamed at reporters of the JoongAng Ilbo’s bureau in New York after learning she was the winner of the 2014 Ho-Am Prize for her contribution to the arts. 'I am so glad that I’ve achieved my goal,' said Hong, who has been an established international opera star for the past three decades. 'When I went to New York to study in the Juilliard School back in the 1970s, I was the only Korean kid in the entire class. Asians were still marginalized in U.S. society at that time, and explicit discrimination was all around,' recalled the virtuoso. 'At that time, I had this feeling I was representing Asian society as a whole; so I wanted to become a formidable soprano who would gain everyone’s respect, regardless of the color of their skin.' Hong is known as a pioneer in Korea because she paved the way for musicians junior to her. After she made her astounding debut in 1984 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, many young, aspiring musicians in her home nation dreamed of following her. Though she has become a national icon for opera music in 21st-century Korea, her path wasn’t initially rosy. Having a remarkable debut was not enough to beat competitors. 'I didn’t win a big title as soon I first started my career in New York. It did not come immediately,' Hong said. 'I guess practicing self-control definitely helped me. Some young vocalists merely accept all the requests of international producers, hoping to become big stars in the opera world,” she continued. “But if you are not ready for the stage, you should be brave enough to say no to the offer.' After having performed on stage more than 350 times at the Met, Hong, who will celebrate her 55th birthday in July, notes that it has been tough to maintain the quality of her voice. 'In Juilliard, I saw so many talented vocalists losing their gifted talents due to overstraining their voice,' said Hong, adding that she has done her best to preserve her vocal chords. A female soprano’s voice reaches its peak between the mid-40s to 55 years old, according to Hong. 'As she becomes 55, she needs to step down from the throne,' she said. But Hong still wants to take on other operatic roles, such as Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. 'When I was younger, I deliberately avoided Madama Butterfly’s character because I did not want to conform to the rigid stereotype that Asians should play Asian roles,' the prize laureate said. 'But now, I dream to show the best version of Butterfly, or Cio-cio san, as a veteran soprano.'” [Source] Watch a stunning video of Hei-Kyung Hong's artistry by clicking here.
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Maestro Ramón Tebar Named Music Director At Opera Naples

May 29, 2014, 3:36 pm
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"Opera Naples announces the appointment of Maestro Ramón Tebar as music director, effective immediately. He also serves as music director of the Florida Grand Opera, artistic director of the Palm Beach Symphony and music director of the Dominican Republic’s biannual Santo Domingo Festival. When he was named to his position with the Florida Grand Opera in 2011, he became the first Spanish conductor appointed to an American opera company. Mr. Tebar began working as a pianist and assistant conductor in his hometown of Valencia in Spain when he was 15 years old. He went on to become assistant conductor with the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España, while at the same time graduating with honors in piano and chamber music. Since his arrival in the U.S. in 2005, he has been part of the musical staff of Palm Beach Opera and Cincinnati Opera, producing more than 40 different operas, while maintaining a full schedule in Europe, the Caribbean and South America. He has served as a guest conductor for organizations including Italy’s Orchestra Teatro Regio di Torino and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Spain’s Festival de Opera de a Coruna, Germany’s Kolner Philharmonie, the Netherlands’ Het Concertgebouw, Russia’s St. Petersburg Symphony and Orchestra de Rouen Haute- Normandie, to name a few. He has conducted many internationally renowned artists, including tenor Ben Heppner, violinist Joshua Bell, soprano Maria Guleghina and cellist Gautier Capuçon. In addition, he remains in collaboration with many of the world’s most famous vocal artists — among them Montserrat Caballé, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna and Joseph Calleja, performing with them from Buenos Aires to Amsterdam, San Juan to Moscow. Orchestral conducting occupies a good part of his annual activities in his native Spain as well as the Netherlands. He will make his Vienna State Opera debut in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia in winter 2016. Mr. Tebar currently lives with his family in Miami." [Source] For more information about the conductor, click here.
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Gabby Young Cites Maria Callas As Vocal Idol To Inspire Emotion

May 29, 2014, 4:01 pm
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Her band, Gabby Young and Other Animals,
are launching their third album, One Foot
In Front Of The Other, on Tuesday, June 3.
"The theatrical side of music has always appealed to Young since an early age. Five years ago, she moved to Kentish Town with her boyfriend, but as a child she grew up Wiltshire, where her operatic voice saw her become the youngest member of the National Youth Choir at the age of 12. Idolising soprano Maria Callas, she longed to become a performer capable of inspiring great emotion; one who could make people laugh, smile and cry. However, one day a friend handed her a tape of Jeff Buckley and she realised this could be done with her own songs. 'I was told to listen to it because my friend saw resemblances between the two of us, which I thought was strange seeing as he was a guy. It did completely change my life though because it showed you can be really operatic, emotional and theatrical but also write your own music.' Young’s latest album is undoubtedly her most personal yet – a self-described 'grower' that flits between moments of jazz, opera, folk and cabaret with natural ease. It marks a mature step for the musician, and it is one that she owes to her fans, who impressively funded the entire project through a Kickstarter funding campaign." [Source] An acoustic video of Gabby Young is after the jump.
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Austria's "Life Ball" To Host A Galaxy Of (Opera) Stars Tonight

May 29, 2014, 11:59 pm
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Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczała perform at last year's gala concert for Life Ball.
"Tickets for the Red Ribbon Celebration Concert 2014 presented by Novomatic available on www.burgtheater.at or www.culturall.com! Stars of the opera like Anna Netrebko, Vesselina Kasarova, Jennifer O'Loughlin, Juan Diego Flórez, Piotr Beczała, Yusif Eyvazov, Luca Pisaroni, Ambrogio Maestri and Ildar Abdrazakov lend their voices to the good cause. The soloists are accompanied by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Cornelius Meister. Fashion icon Vivienne Westwood will create the stage design of the concert. Red Ribbon Celebration Concert 2014 - May 30, 2014, concert beginning: 8 p.m. at Burgtheater, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna." More information about the star power attending the event, as well as photos from this year's theme Garten der Lüste [including the NSFW David LaChapelle posters....], after the jump.

"Neben der Botschaft des Life Balls stehen alle Jahre wieder die prominenten Gäste aus der Modewelt im Mittelpunkt des Events. Auch heuer machen zahlreiche Chefdesigner und Kreativ-Köpfe der renommiertesten Modehäuser am 31. Mai in Wien halt, um sich das schillerndste Ball-Ereignis der Welt nicht entgehen zu lassen. Für den Life Ball konnten unter anderem Givenchy-Designer Riccardo Tisci, aus dessen Feder auch das Hochzeitskleid von Kim Kardashian stammt, und Jean Paul Gaultier als Gäste gewonnen werden. Mit von der Partie wird natürlich auch Life Ball Wegbegleiterin Vivienne Westwood mit ihrem Austro-Gatten Andreas Kronthaler sein. Doch das Organisations-Team rund um "Mr. Life Ball" Gery Keszler hat in diesem Jahr noch weitere modische Trümpfe im Ärmel: Neben Missoni-Erbin Margherita Missoni freut man sich mit Kean Etro und seiner Frau Constanza Cavalli Etro über weitere Vertreter der internationalen Mode-Elite. Auf dem Laufsteg werden sich am 31. Mai zu den männlichen Profi-Models wie Werner Schreyer, Patrick Kafka, Rob Evans, Shaun Ross, Henrik Fallenius oder Charlie France auch bekannte österreichische Gesichter gesellen. So werden Schauspieler Ben Becker, Fernsehjournalist Christoph Feurstein, Fotograf Stefan Armbruster oder TV-Moderator Alexander Mazza ihre Model-Qualitäten unter Beweis stellen. Den extravagenten Modellen von Givenchy, Viktor&Rolf, Lanvin, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Etro und Dsquared2 werden Diven aus Fashion, Musik und Schauspiel leben einhauchen. Courtney Love, Lindsay Lohan, Tereza Maxová und Carmen Carrera werden sich dabei in Haute-Couture-Teilen der sieben Designer zeigen."

"Red Ribbon Celebration Concert: Kunstgenuss vom Feinsten erwartet die Besucher am Vorabend des Life Balls, wenn im Burgtheater Sänger und Schauspieler für den guten Zweck auftreten. Mit dabei: Anna Netrebko. Unter den Künstlern sind außerdem Vesselina Kasarova, Jennifer O’Loughlin, Juan Diego Florez, Yusif Eyvazov und Luca Pisaroni. Im Rahmen des Konzerts gibt es Lesungen unter anderen mit Marcia Cross, Andrea Jonasson, Elisabeth Orth, Ben Becker und Cornelius Obonya. Sie präsentieren Denkanstöße zu Themen wie Solidarität, Humanität und gesellschaftliche Toleranz. Die Solisten des Gala-Konzerts werden vom ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester unter Cornelius Meister begleitet."
"Das Life Ball-Wochenende ist eröffnet. Im Vorfeld des größten Charity-Events Europas Samstagabend strömen am Freitag die ersten Gäste nach Wien. Für den Kampf gegen HIV/Aids setzen sich u.a. Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Love, Ricky Martin, Kesha, Bill Clinton, Leona Lewis und nicht zuletzt Conchita Wurst ein. Freitag früh befinden sich die ersten Promi-Gäste im Landeanflug, die mit einem Life Ball-Flieger aus New York am Flughafen Wien-Schwechat ankommen werden. An Bord sollen unter anderen die Schauspieler Marcia Cross und Billy Zane, die Sängerin Kesha sowie das Transgender-Model Carmen Carrera befinden." [Source, Source, Source, Source]







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