Anna Netrekbo In Dramatic Photos From Opernhaus Zürich "Bolena"

Stunning images have emerged from Anna Netrebko's performances of Giancarlo del Monaco's production of Anna Bolena at Opernhaus Zürich. The cast includes Ismael Jordi, Luca Pisaroni, and Veronica Simeoni. The opening night performance took place March 20, 2015. For ticket information, click here. Full cast list and more photos, after the jump.

You've Got To Know When To Hold 'Em: MET Playing Cards

Purchase the playing cards here.

"Kevin Rawlings has been a professional make-up artist and photographer for nearly three decades. Combining these skills with his knowledge and love of opera, Mr. Rawlings has created a collection of operatic images like no other in 'Stars of the Opera.' The product is composed of a double-deck of 'face-cards' featuring 108 famous opera singers from around the world. This one of a kind, High Quality set of cards was printed by USPlaying Card Co. on bicycle card stock and air cushion platic coating. Surprise your opera loving friends with these Special Edition playing cards! Included in the Deck: Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, James Morris, Dolora Zajick, Ben Heppner, Rene Pape and many, many more!!!" [Source] Find out more information by clicking here.

Red Ribbon Celebration Concert Performances At Life Ball 2014

Jennifer O'Loughlin

"Schon früh am Morgen herrschte auf dem Wiener Flughafen hellste Aufregung, denn das Flugzeug mit den hochkarätigen Stargästen wurde erwartet - die Ankunft wurde natürlich, wie könnte es anders sein, spannend gemacht, denn bis zum Schluss war nicht klar, wann der Flieger wirklich landen würde. 'Ich freue mich schon,' zeigte sich Life Ball-Organisator Gerry Keszler aufgeregt, seine Gäste bald begrüßen zu dürfen. Um 9.40 Uhr war es dann endlich so weit: der Life Ball-Jet landete in Wien." [Source] More photos after the jump.

Ildar Abdrazakov

Luca Pisaroni and Thomas Hampson

Austria's "Life Ball" To Host A Galaxy Of (Opera) Stars Tonight

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.

Operatic Selfie For The Ages At Opera News Awards

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, Kristīne Opolais, Ailyn Perez and Joyce DiDonato. (Photo: Facebook)

Joyce DiDonato Markets New Album With Famous Friends

LOC "Rinaldo" Reviews Are In and Better Than Ever

Read the reviews here, here and here.

Luca Pisaroni Interviews David Daniels in Chicago

MET Sirius XM Radio Tonight: "Siegfried"

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera perform Wagner's Siegfried live tonight at 6:00 PM EST on Sirius XM radio. Intermission guests: Luca Pisaroni , Ekaterina Gubanova and Barbara Frittoli.

Pisaroni, Meade & Costanzo in 9/11 Anniversary Concert

"The Trinity Church at Wall Street presents Remember to Love: Let Us Love One Another With a Sincere Heart which will take place Friday, September 9, 8:30pm-10:30pm . The Trinity Wall Street Choir, NYC Master Chorale, Young People's Chorus of NYC, The Washington Chorus, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and Copley Singers will unite for a final, stirring performance under the direction of the participating choirs' conductors. Part of Trinity Wall Street's observance of the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. The event will be webcast, click here for more information."

Repertoire and Participants:
Requiem (Fauré)
Last Words of King David (Thompson)
"Soon ah Will Be Done" (Spiritual)
Psalm 23 (Foss)
"Amazing Grace" (Furnivall)
Windhover Fantasy (Merryman)
Ein Deutsches Requiem excerpts (Brahms)
Chichester Psalms (Bernstein)
"Dona nobis pacem" from Mass in B minor (Bach)

Special Guest Artists:
Gil Shaham, violin
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor
Angela Meade, soprano
Luca Pisaroni, baritone

Trinity Choir, Julian Wachner, Conductor
NYC Master Chorale, Thea Kano, Artistic Director
Francisco J. Nunez, Founder, Artistic Director,
Young People’s Chorus of New York City
The Washington Chorus, Julian Wachner, Conductor
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Greg Funfgeld, Conductor
The Copley Singers, Brian Jones, Conductor
NOVUS NY

Trinity Soloists:
Jolle Greenleaf, soprano
Dashon Burton, baritone
[Source]

"Le Nozze di Figaro" Wiener Staatsoper Production Photos!

Erwin Schrott as the womanizing Count Almaviva

As this evening's premiere of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Wiener Staatsoper approaches, check out some of the photographs taken by Michael Pöhn. More images after the jump. [Source]

Erwin Schrott
Count Almaviva
Dorothea Röschmann
Countess Almaviva
Sylvia Schwartz
Susanna
Luca Pisaroni
Figaro
Anna Bonitatibus
Cherubino
Franz Welser-Möst

Conductor

Jean-Louis Martinoty

Director

Luca Pisaroni Makes Vienna State Opera Debut As Figaro

Luca with wife Catherine and dog Tristan

Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni is making his Wiener Staatsoper debut this evening in the title role of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. The cast will also include Sylvia Schwartz (Susanna), Erwin Schrott (Graf Almaviva), Dorothea Röschmann (Gräfin Almaviva) and Anna Bonitatibus (Cherubino). In a sweet and charming interview with Kurier he discusses growing up in Busseto, why his dog is named Tristan, what makes him happy, singing more in Vienna and how being an opera singer is comparable to a dog:

Und was macht Sie persönlich glücklich? Natürlich meine Frau, meine Familie und auch mein Hund. Als Hundehalter hat man nämlich Pflichten. Da muss man bei jedem Wetter mit dem Tier hinausgehen. Da gibt es selbst als Sänger keine Ausreden. Egal, ob es regnet oder schneit: Ich gehe mit Tristan spazieren. Dieses Getue nach dem Motto "Kein Windhauch darf meiner Stimme zu nahe kommen" ist Unfug. Wer sich dem Leben stellt, wird dafür auch belohnt. [Source]