Life Ball Stars: Opolais, Netrebko, Eyvazov, Beczala, Flórez, Quasthoff, Pape

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

 

More photos after the jump of Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Flórez, Kristīne Opolais, Piotr Beczała, René Pape, Thomas Quasthoff, and Yusif Eyvazov.

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.

Marilyn Horne Celebrates 80th Birthday With Song

Marilyn Horne Song Celebration

Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 7:30 PM

Zankel Hall

"Marilyn Horne, founder and guiding voice of The Song Continues series, has long demonstrated a commitment to nurturing gifted young vocal talent. The legendary songstress is honored on her 80th birthday in a festive evening of songs performed by an all-star lineup of special guest artists." Performers
Samuel Ramey, Host
Frederica von Stade, Host
Barbara Cook, Vocalist
Renée Fleming, Soprano
Brenda Rae, Soprano
Jamie Barton, Mezzo-Soprano
Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-Soprano
David Daniels, Countertenor
Piotr Beczala, Tenor
Lester Lynch, Baritone
Martin Katz, Piano
Warren Jones, Piano
Lee Musiker, Piano
[Source]

Watch Diana Damrau As Violetta In "La Traviata" From La Scala

Soprano Diana Damrau (Violetta) with director Dmitri Tcherniakov discussing the opera

Piotr Beczała Pays Tribute to Richard Tauber in New Recording

Salzburg Festival Rehearsal Tickets Raise Money for Japan

Piotr Beczała and Anna Netrebko sing the open rehearsal for Iolanta.

"Salzburg (Dapd) Die Organisatoren der Salzburger Festspiele und die Stadt Salzburg spenden 200.000 Euro für den Wiederaufbau der Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan. Bei der Benefiz-Generalprobe von Peter Tschikowskys Oper Iolanta und Igor Strawinskys Oper Le Rossignol am Samstag, an der unter anderem Anna Netrebko mitwirkte, wurden über 158.000 Euro eingespielt, wie die Organisatoren mitteilten. Bürgermeister Heinz Schaden sagte zu, diese Summe auf 200.000 Euro aufzustocken. Kawasaki ist seit 1992 Partnerstadt von Salzburg. Die Konzerthalle war bei dem Erdbeben am 11. März 2011 nahezu vollständig zerstört worden." [Source]

Hei-Kyung Hong Has Her Moment in the Sun

The soprano has sung nearly 360 performances at the MET and covered countless other evenings
(Photo: Natalie Kessyar/Wall Street Journal)

A native of Seoul, South Korea, the soprano starting studying at the Juilliard School of Music at age 15. Now a highly successful opera singer of 51, she makes her home in Bayside, New York, with her husband. They have three children: two daughters, 30 and 31, and one son that is now 17. Read the Wall Street Journal article about her decisions to make the Metropolitan Opera the central focus of her career, even if that meant not being front-and-center of fame. She also discusses what helped her find the focus that created the longevity in her singing and why the voice maintains a wonderful gleam. You'll also find out if she is really kissing her Roméo et Juliette co-star Piotr Beczala during the performance! [Source]

Maija Kovalevska and Piotr Beczala To Appear at Petroushka Ball

"The Russian Children’s Welfare Society (RCWS) invites you to participate in the 46th Annual Petroushka Ball, one of New York’s most vibrant and glamorous Russian-American events, on Friday, February 11, 2011 at the exquisite Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom. This year we present to you an exiting entertainment program with a special guests stars Maija Kovalevska, soprano and Piotr Beczała, tenor. They are currently performing the leading roles of Mimi and Rodolfo in La Bohème of the Metropolitan Opera. Followed by musical performance by Lester Lanin Orchestra and Barynya Balalaika Orchestra." [Source]

For more information about entertainers from previous Petroushka Ball events, follow this link.

MET Sirius XM Radio Tonight: "Nixon in China"

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera perform John Adams's Nixon in China live tonight at 8:00 PM EST on Sirius XM radio. Intermission guests: Piotr Beczała and Orville Schell.

Is a High Note Like a Hole in One?

Bryn Terfel tees off at an exhibition match for the Ryder Cup in Wales.

Golf seems to be the chosen sport these days of many type-A opera singers. What is it that attracts these stage animals out into the subdued wilderness of the country club scene? I would guess the discipline that they so aptly apply to their craft is quite easily transferable to the links: skill,  precision and accuracy.