Ann Patchett Talks Benefits of Friendship with Renée Fleming

Party pals: Fleming (l) & Patchett (r)

"Patchett divides her career into two distinct phases: before and after Bel Canto. Before her fourth novel became a paperback bestseller, Patchett struggled. Her second novel Taft could not live up to the passionately personal promise of her debut, and the fact that it is so little read still rankles. She calls it her 'neglected child . . . it's as if it smells or it's sticky or something.' But Bel Canto, a stylish and theatrical kidnapping fantasy set in an unnamed South American capital, was a game-changer. 'I sort of jumped into a different kind of bracket," she says bluntly. 'I've met so many interesting people because of it. I've become very close friends with Renée Fleming [the American soprano] because of that book, it's like I'm invited to better parties now, ha ha.'" [Source]

Nadine Loren Infuses Opera Training Into 1980s Style

"Swiss born, Kiwi singer-songwriter Nadine Loren is set to release her sophomore album on July 4th. The album features 11 covers of classic songs from the 80’s as well as two original tracks written by Loren herself. Naked ‘80’s celebrates some of the decade's best songs, but gives them a modern twist, completely stripping them of all their synthesized elements. The bare songs are then reinvented to have a fresh sound with all real instrumentation. What makes these remakes even more unique is that many are hauntingly infused with opera - it's a must listen. Naked ‘80’s is produced by the legendary hit-maker Peter Asher who has produced 12 Grammy Award Winning albums and has twice been voted 'Producer of the Year' by the Grammy's. Peter was the Head of A&R for the Beatles' Apple label and former VP of Music Entertainment at Sony. Nadine Loren does not fit

ENO Invites Writer Will Self to Discuss Internet Dangers

Two Boys
"A teenage boy is stabbed. An older boy is caught on CCTV leaving the scene. An open-and-shut case, it would seem. But, as Detective Inspector Anne Strawson investigates the older boy's story, she uncovers a bizarre nexus of chatroom meetings, mysterious internet identities, supposed spy rings and disturbing cybersex, leading to a stunning conclusion. Loosely inspired by actual events that occured in an English industrial city, Nico Muhly's new opera is a cautionary tale of the dark side of the internet. With a libretto by Craig Lucas, screenwriter of Prelude to a Kiss and Reckless and video design by Fifty Nine Productions, whose work has been a key feature of such recent ENO triumphs as Doctor Atomic and Satyagraha, this new co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, New York, is directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher, making his UK opera debut. Some elements of this production may be unsuitable for those under 16 years of age." [Source]

Performances: June 24, 27, 29; July 1, 4, 6, 8 at 7:30pm. The cast includes Susan Bickley, Nicky Spence, Mary Bevan and Madeleine Shaw.

As a bonus, watch the composer discuss the work by clicking here.

Brevard Music Center Celebrates 75th Season This Month

"The Brevard Music Center, known widely for its lively summer festival and educational institute that features a distinguished artist faculty, will begin its anniversary season on June 24....Eighteen different orchestra programs, five opera productions, wind ensemble, chamber music, recitals, pre-performance lectures, as well as a number of free events will make up the packed season of festival performances...'As we approach our 75th Anniversary Season, I have been touched with the strong sense of tradition coupled with the commitment to continue to teach and inspire talented students in new and innovative ways,' says Margaret Ryan, President and CEO of Brevard Music Center. 'I’m really looking forward to seeing Brevard Music Center move into the future,' says Ryan, who took the helm as President and CEO in February. Ryan adds that BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart and some of the artist faculty often compare Brevard Music Center to the fictional village of Brigadoon. 'It’s that ‘magical place’ in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that comes to life as students and faculty study, learn, and perform great music together,' she says....For more than 40 years, opera has been a major part of the Brevard Music Center, and the 75th Anniversary festival is no different. Brevard Music Center’s Janiec Opera Company will have performances at the Porter Center at Brevard College for this season." [Source]

Brevard Music Center will present La Traviata, Threepenny Opera, Alcina, L'Elisir d'Amore and an evening of opera's greatest hits. For more information and tickets, visit the Brevard Music Center website by clicking here.

Wanna Buy President Abraham Lincoln's Opera Glasses?

"The story goes that the opera glasses were found in the middle of Tenth Street after the mortally wounded Abraham Lincoln was carried from Ford’s Theatre to his deathbed in the Petersen House that April evening in 1865. For generations, they were kept in the family of the Army officer who found them. In 1979, they sold at auction for $22,000, a record for a Lincoln artifact. In 2002, they sold again, for $424,000, another record. Next week, the black and gold theater glasses Lincoln is believed to have used the night before his death are going back on the auction block, where experts think they could fetch as much as $700,000." [Source]

"Turandot" To Take Hollywood Bowl By Storm Under Dudamel

"Turandot, Puccini’s extravagant portrayal of a legendary China, comes to the Hollywood Bowl in a concert production. Opera star Christine Brewer stars as the icy princess who challenges her suitors to a game of riddles to win her heart. Conducting his second opera at the Bowl, Music Director Gustavo Dudamel leads this story of love, featuring some of the most beloved arias of all time, such as 'Nessun dorma.'" [Source]

Sunday, July 17, 2011, 7:30PM

ARTISTS:
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Christine Brewer, Turandot
Francesco Hong, tenor, Calaf
Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano, Liù
Alexander Vinogradov, bass, Timur
Timothy Mix, baritone, Ping
Daniel Montenegro, tenor, Pang
Beau Gibson, tenor, Pong
Greg Fedderly, tenor, Emperor Altoum
Craig Verm, baritone, Mandarin
Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, music director
Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Anne Tomlinson, artistic director
(Photos of Christine Brewer by Christian Steiner)

Katherine Jenkins Suggests Classical Music May Be a Hard Job

She ought to know: Judge Jenkins

"Opera hopeful Joe McElderry can rest his vocal cords this week – even though he doesn’t want to. The 19-year-old from South Shields is currently taking part in singing contest Popstar to Operastar on ITV1. Joe sailed through last week’s contest when he took on three of the show’s contenders. Sunday will see the four remaining hopefuls sing for their supper. Joe told Twitter fans earlier this week: “Just had vocal coaching. 'I love my new song and it’s a fun one too. I want to sing this weekend but I’m not until weekend after.' Meanwhile, judge and mentor Katherine Jenkins

The favorite to win: Joe

said she thinks Joe has got exactly what it takes to make it in the opera world. The mezzo-soprano believes Joe, who won The X Factor in 2009, would do well in opera with the right coaching. She said: 'I think Joe could be an opera singer if he wanted to be, with training. I think Joe’s got a very good chance. He’s young, he’s really working hard.' Joe is the favourite to win the latest series, which airs on Sunday nights, but Katherine stressed he’ll need to work extra hard to make it. She said: 'To sing classical music is difficult.' [Source]

Well, thank goodness he has a world-famous pedagogist in Rolando Villazón:

Watch the video of Joe's coaching and performance after the jump.

Happy Birthday: Mimi Coertse

"The Lass with the Delicate Air"
(composed by Michael Arne)

Mimi Coertse (born 12 June 1932), is a South African soprano. Coertse, born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, matriculated at the Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg. She began vocal studies in South Africa in 1949. In July 1953 she married the broadcaster and composer Dawid Engela. She left South Africa in September 1953 for London, and then went via The Hague to Vienna. In January 1954 she started training with Maria Hittorff and Josef Witt. Coertse made her debut in January 1955 as the First Flower girl in Wagner's Parsifal at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Karl Böhm conducting. She also sang in Basle at the Teatro San Carlo. On 17 March 1956 she made her debut at the Vienna State Opera as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte by Mozart and remained with the Vienna State Opera until 1978. Her Covent Garden debut was in 1956, in the same role. Coertse sang

"Nun's Chorus" Casanova
(J. Strauss)

the soprano part in Bach's Matthäus-Passion at Fritz Wunderlich's first appearance in Vienna in 1958, when he performed the tenor arias with Julius Patzak singing the Evangelist. In 1958, Coertse and Fritz Wunderlich again worked together at the Aix-en-Provence festival in Die Zauberflöte. In 1965, she sang Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Vienna State Opera which also featured Fritz Wunderlich as Belmonte. Coertse has sung in theatres at Aix-en-Provence, Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Covent Garden, Düsseldorf, Glyndebourne, Graz, Hamburg, Linz, London, Melk, Naples, Palermo, Salzburg, Stuttgart, The Hague, Turin and Wiesbaden and with conductors like Karl Böhm, Vittorio Gui, Alberto Erede, Heinrich Hollreiser, Herbert von Karajan, Joseph Keilberth, Jascha Horenstein, Rudolf Kempe, Josef

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott Will Make History

"For the first time in the history of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, a New Year’s concert will be presented in addition to a New Year’s Eve concert, featuring performers no less renowned than those singing in the final show of the year. Latvian mezzosoprano Elina Garanča and German tenor Jonas Kaufmann will take to the stage together for the concert on 31st December 2011 at 5pm, then Anna Netrebko and her husband Erwin Schrott will launch the New Year with arias and duets at the first ever New Year’s Concert, which will be presented on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 at 8pm." [Source]

Appreciating the Artistry of Soprano Anja Harteros

"Laudate Dominum" Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (Mozart)
"Come Scoglio" Così fan tutte (Mozart)
"È strano...Sempre libera" La Traviata (Verdi)
"Ebben, ne andrò lontana" La Wally (Catalani)
"D'Oreste ,d' Ajace" Idomeneo (Mozart)
"Pace, pace mio Dio" La Forza del Destino (Verdi)
"Tacea la notte placida" Il Trovatore (Verdi)
"Salce, salce" Otello (Verdi)
"Ave Maria" Otello (Verdi)
"Poveri fiori" Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea)
"Vissi d'arte" Tosca (Puccini)
"Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen" Lohengrin (Wagner)
"Ah! Mio cor" Alcina (Händel)
"Come in quest'ora bruna" Simon Boccanegra (Verdi)
"Dove sono" Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart)
"O mio babbino caro" Gianni Schicchi (Puccini)
"Abends, will ich schlafen geh'n" Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck) w/Elīna Garanča
"Quia respexit humilitatem" Magnificat (Bach)
"Frühling" Vier letzte lieder (R. Strauss)
"September" Vier letzte lieder (R. Strauss)
"Beim Sclafengehen" Vier letzte lieder (R. Strauss)
"Im Abendrot" Vier letzte lieder (R. Strauss)


BONUS:
Te Deum (Bruckner)
 

Bartione David Wannen as the Pirate King in Columbus

"Singer and actor David Wannen contends every child should be exposed to Scripture, Shakespeare and the works of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Wannen learned about all three during his years at the Sheridan School in Washington, D.C., and the lessons stuck with him. He now performs with and serves as managing director of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players.That troupe, based in New York City, will bring The Pirates of Penzance to the Southern Theatre in Columbus June 10-12 in conjunction with Opera Columbus and CAPA....'The comic operetta combines contemporary performance values with topical humor for today's audience,' Wannen said....'When you go to see a Gilbert and Sullivan show, you can't leave without being in a better mood,' Wannen said. 'Your spirits will be lifted.' Wannen portrays the Pirate King in this production. He previously

played the Sergeant of Police in a 2007 version of Pirates that also visited Columbus. Originally from D.C., he now lives in New York City. His credits include television work on The Guiding Light and a tour of Camelot with the late Robert Goulet. Wannen spent four consecutive summers, from 2000-03, with the Ohio Light Opera Company in Wooster. He portrayed more than 20 different roles in 180 performances, including Tommy in Brigadoon and the Boatswain in HMS Pinafore." [Source]

Read more about the production here and here. Ticket information after the jump.

MET in Japan: More Photos (Yes, Even Cuter)

Did you miss the first images posted of the Metropolitan Opera's tour of Japan? Well, now you can check out the second gallery just launched. This time around more production photos and backstage events are captured. (Photos: Photo: Koichi Miura/Met Opera)

Tenor Rolando Villazón serenades the crowd after a performance in Japan.

Villazón with the adorable Alexander, son of soprano Diana Damrau.

Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson Talk Opera

Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson and Christian Thielemann in conversation with Sarah Willis, horn player with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Recorded in the Berlin Philharmonie, 7 May 2011.

Broadway Star Revisits Her Operatic Roots in Oklahoma

"Kelli O'Hara is 'kind of schizophrenic' when it comes to music. A Tony Award-nominated actress, she trained as a opera singer at Oklahoma City University. And as an Elk City, Okla., native, some country influences are just natural. Those varying styles come to a boil in 'They Don't Let You in the Opera (If You're a Country Star),' a track on O'Hara's latest album, Always. 'I grew up on a farm and got an opera degree,' O'Hara said. '... This shows where I come from and show what's ahead of me.' O'Hara will perform the song Saturday in a special fundraising concert at Amarillo Little Theatre, 2019 Civic Circle. The rest of the album is centered more specifically on jazzy interpretations of standards and show tunes, like 'This Nearly Was Mine' (from South Pacific) and 'The Party's Over' (from Bells Are Ringing)." [Source]

"Guillaume Tell" Returns to the NY Region After 70 years

Julianna Di Giacomo will sing the role
of Mathilde in Rossini's Guillaume Tell

"Bel Canto at Caramoor opens its 15th season at the Caramoor International Festival in Katonah, N.Y., with a concert performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore on the evening of June 25, followed in mid-July by two concert performances of Gioachino Rossini's rarely heard masterpiece Guillaume Tell (William Tell). Bel Canto at Caramoor is under the direction of its founder, maestro Will Crutchfield. The Overture to Rossini's William Tell is of course familiar to all music lovers; Mathilde's aria 'Sombre forêt' from Act 2 sometimes appears on recital discs, as do Tell's 'Sois immobile' from Act 3 and Arnold's 'Asile hereditaire' from Act 4. The New York area last saw an actual staging of William Tell at the Metropolitan Opera in 1931. 'We're very excited to be presenting `Guillaume Tell' in a version that is as nearly complete as feasible,' says Will Crutchfield in an electronic interview. Crutchfield was in Poland at the time conducting Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda' and Verdi's 'La Traviata.'" [Source]

Olga Peretyatko Debut CD on Sony Set For Summer Release

"Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko comes from St. Petersburg, where she began her musical career at the age of 15 in the children's choir of the Mariinsky Theatre. She completed a course of training as a choirmaster before enrolling to study voice at the Hanns Eisler-Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. Olga Peretyatko has already been among the prizewinners in several competitions, e.g. the international Operalia competition in Paris, where she was awarded second prize. From 2005-2007 she was a member of the opera studio at the Hamburg State Opera. There followed engagements at the Deutschen Oper Berlin, the Berlin and Munich state operas, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, La Fenice in Venice and at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and the Festival La Folle journée de Nantes. Ms Peretyatko attracted international attention as Rossignol in the acclaimed production of the opera of the same name that was put on at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2010. She will be making guest appearances with this part in the forthcoming season in Amsterdam, New York and Canada. Future commitments will take her to Vienna, Palermo and Paris. Olga Peretyatko has worked with such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Renato Palumbo, Marc Minkovsky and Alberto Zedda. She has an exclusive recording contract with Sony Classical." [Source]

See complete contents of the new disc and upcoming engagements for the soprano after the jump.