Take A Tour Of Spain Based On Birthplaces Of Great Sopranos

Deciding where to travel in a foreign country can become a daunting task with all the landscapes, museums, architecture, restaurants, and concert halls. It seems natural to put an operatic twist on the itinerary when looking for adventure. Why not let the birthplaces of famous sopranos (and some mezzo-sopranos) dictate the destination? Let's start in the country of Spain. With all the flamenco dancing, bullfights, and beaches, this culture is muy caliente! "Spain has an extraordinary artistic heritage. The dominant figures of the Golden Age were the Toledo-based artists El Greco and Diego Velázquez. Francisco de Goya emerged in the 18th century as Spain's most prolific painter and he produced some wonderfully unflattering portraits of royalty. The art world in the early 20th century was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí, ambassadors of the artistic culture in Spain. Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric monuments in Minorca in the Balearic Islands, to the Roman ruins of Merida and Tarragona, the decorative Lonja in Seville, Mudéjar buildings, Gothic cathedrals, castles, fantastic modernist monuments and Gaudí's intricate fabulist sculptures in Barcelona. They are all representative of the culture of Spain. Another example of culture in Spain is the invention of the Spanish guitar, which was invented in Andalusia in the 1790's when a sixth string was added to the Moorish lute. It gained its modern shape in the 1870's. Spanish musicians have taken the humble guitar to dizzying heights of virtuosity and none more so than Andrés Segovia (1893-1997), who established classical guitar as a genre. Flamenco, music rooted in the cante jondo (deep song) of the gitanos (gypsies) of Andalusia, is experiencing a revival. Paco de Lucia is the best known flamenco guitarist internationally. His friend Camarón de la Isla was, until his death in 1992, the leading light of contemporary cante jondo. In the 1980s flamenco-rock fusion (a.k.a. 'gypsy rock') was developed by the likes of Pata Negra and Ketama, and in the 1990s Radio Tarifa emerged with a mesmerizing mix of flamenco and medieval sounds. Bakalao, the Spanish contribution to the world of techno, emerged from Valencia." [Source] So why not add opera to the highest cultural contributions in Spain? Time to see the country as the famous opera singers would have experienced it while growing up. The tour begins after the jump.

Happy Birthday: Aïnhoa Arteta

"Goizeko eguzki argiak"
Mirentxu (Guridi)

Aïnhoa Arteta Ibarrolaburu, born 24 September 1964 in Tolosa (Guipúzcoa), Spain, is a Spanish soprano. After studying in Tolosa and Italy, she later studied under Ruth Falcon. After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1993, her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in October 1994 was as Mimì in La Bohème. She has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera with Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni and in Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tirésias directed by James Levine. She was accompanied by Plácido Domingo for her debut at London's Covent Garden. For her Carnegie Hall debut she was accompanied by Dolora Zajick and Plácido Domingo, with whom she

"Sola perduta abbandonata"
Manon Lescaut (Puccini)

has toured several countries. She has also performed at Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Amsterdam Opera, Bonn Opera, Teatro Bellas Artes in México, Teatro di San Carlo, Washington Opera (La Rondine), San Francisco Opera, Arena di Verona, among others. She has performed Faust at the Bayrische Staatsoper and Münchner Opern-Festspiele with Rolando Villazón, directed by Friedrich Haider. She has sung with the Orquesta de Cadaqués conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed and recorded with her former husband Dwayne Croft. Among other awards, she has the Concours International de Voix d'Opera Plácido Domingo (Paris). In December 2008 she gave a series of recitals accompanied by Malcolm Martineau. [Source]

Click here to purchase the recital disc of Ainhoa Arteta on Deutsche Grammophon.

Plácido Domingo: Birthday Gala For A Titan

Domingo with Queen Sofía and musical guests Conlon, Berganza, Terfel,  Arteta and Martínez 

A gala blowout beyond compare took place at the Teatro Real for tenor Plácido Domingo's 70th birthday. The program, performers and guest list are after the jump.

Birds of a Feather Flock to the Canary Islands

Some of the world's most exotic opera canaries will be landing on the archipelago, from January 7th to February 12th, to celebrate the 27th year of the music festival. A wonderful way to spend the first winter months of 2011. Artist line-up after the jump.

Ainhoa Arteta Breaks Open the Bubbly

(Photo: © Thierry Martinez)

"The Spanish opera singer Ainhoa Arteta christened the new monohull Mirabaud aboard which Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret will be taking part in the Barcelona World Race. Two years after being forced to retire from the 2008 Vendée Globe, Dominique Wavre will set sail on 31st December in the non-stop double-handed race around the world. The boat’s godmother, Ainhoa Arteta, was trained at the San Sebastian Conservatory. She studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York then began her career at the Palm Beach Opera House in Florida, before becoming one of the leading opera singers in the Iberian Peninsula. 'My career has enabled me to enjoy some exceptional experiences and to meet some incredible people like Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret,' she declared. 'I wish Mirabaud good luck in the amazing adventure.'"