Christopher Macchio Slaughters Puccini In Political Propaganda Night

Opera suffered a major blow in the America's capital. Donald Trump ended the fourth evening of the Republican National Convention on the lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., with singer Christopher Macchio attempting to interpret Puccini's well-known "Nessun Dorma" from the portico balcony. Struggling through music that is beyond his faculties, even with a microphone, he followed the aria with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Schubert's "Ave Maria," Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," and ended with Katharine Lee Bates's "America the Beautiful." The entire spectacle was reminiscent of autocratic regimes in the world that flaunt crowds and wealth as political power. Remember in the context of the opera Turandot, from which the aria derives, the title character has threatened "This night, none shall sleep in Peking! The penalty for all will be death if the Prince's name is not discovered by morning." It's not clear whether the administration knew this in advance or perhaps that is why is was selected. 

According to various biographies, the entertainer attended the Manhattan School of Music in New York. Macchio came to the attention of Donald Trump after he performed at a New Year's Eve Party thrown at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Read more about his achievements here. "His exploits can be followed online though his website, www.christphermacchio.com, through social media, and experienced on his debut album, DocliMomenti, which showcases a stylistic range that can delicately draw an audience in, and
then build to a virtuoso climax that leaves
goosebumps on the arms and tears in the eyes."

Reviews have been less than favorable of the performance. Watch it here. A professional version of the famous aria can be found after the jump.

[Source]

Wagner On A Sousaphone Accompanies KKK Marchers To Rally

A man cleverly uses a sousaphone alongside marching members of the Klu Klux Klan. The choice of slumbering, almost cartoonish music, is perfection. He even slips in "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner! Check out the Vienna Philharmonic playing the full version as it was originally intended in the opera Die Walküre.

Ljuba Kazarnovskaya Gets Blacklisted By Azerbaijan Foreign Minister

"'Lyubov [sic] Kazarnovskaya has violated Azerbaijan’s law on 'State border' and illegally visited our country’s territories occupied by Armenia,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told APA-Economics while commenting on illegal visit of Russian opera-singer Lyubov Kzarnovskaya to Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. According to him, this person will be added into the list of “undesired persons” as a result of relevant investigation: 'Kazarnovskaya’s speeches in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories promote Armenia’s aggression and occupation against Azerbaijan, bloody ethnic cleansing committed against Azerbaijanis in the occupied territories and Armenia, while the art figures should serve peace and truce. Speaking about establishment of Music Center in the occupied territories, Kazarnovskaya must know that as a result of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and barbarism committed in the occupied territories, Azerbaijani people’s material and cultural heritage, as well as Karabakh music school underwent destruction and devastation.'" [Source] Read more about the soprano, watch a performance and interview, after the jump.

Renée Fleming Sings For Bill Clinton And Rahm Emanuel In Chicago

Soprano Renée Fleming, whose lucrative Creative Consultant position at the Lyric Opera of Chicago was recently renewed to 2017, performed this morning for the inauguration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. She sang "America the Beautiful." Also in attendance was President Bill Clinton. More photos, and a video, after the jump.

Rubin Singer Reaches Opera Pinacle With Anna Netrebko Couture

Russian Forces: Rubin Singer (r), whose grandfather dressed 
Joseph Stalin, stands in the Saks Fifth Avenue showroom with 
Anna Netrebko to discuss a gown he will custom make for 
the soprano. (Photo: Instagram)

Rubin Singer is known in the popular music world for design clients such as Beyoncé, Shakira, Fergie, and Alicia Keys. He was introduced into the realm of opera by creating gowns for soprano Ailyn Pérez. She has worn his works for such high-profile events such as The Richard Tucker Gala and her most recent debut in Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera. Now he has reached the everest by designing a couture gown for Anna Netrebko. The two met on Friday, February 20, 2015, at the Saks Fifth Avenue in New York to discuss he creation for the world-famous singer. "Coming from a family of couturiers, Rubin Singer was exposed from a young age to refined technique and elegant design. Rubin is a third-generation couturier, his father Alik created costumes for the Bolshoi Ballet and Stanislavski Theater. His grandfather, for whom he is named, was one of the most celebrated designers in the Soviet Union, dressing Russian royalty, Soviet political figures, and the social

Singer Extravaganza: (left to right) Rubin Singer, Ailyn Pérez, Isabel Leonard, and Susan Graham,
at The Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

elite. His family heritage in fashion shaped who he is today, not only in having the genetic makeup of precise touch and creativity, but there is a certain sensibility and level of refinement necessary in order to make beautiful clothing that he was in tune with from a young age. Steeped in this heritage, Rubin saw a stark yet beautiful contrast between traditional craftsmanship and

Ailyn Pérez wearing one of Rubin Singer's gowns in concert

contemporary aesthetics. Rubin’s career reached new heights after moving to New York, as he became an Associate Designer at Oscar de la Renta. It was during his tenure at Oscar that brand identity became real and powerful to him, and he began to understand the integrity and unique character required to be the head of an iconic fashion brand. He would move on from Oscar to become Head Designer of three Bill Blass licensees, and later the Head Designer of Kai Milla, a company started by and named for Stevie Wonder’s wife Kai. All the while, the creative direction for his personal collection was blossoming. The

Vienna Opera Ball 2015 Shows No Political Bias To Sopranos

Dominique Meyer, Director of the Vienna State
Opera, flanked by Olga Bezsmertna (left)
 and Aida Garifullina (right)

Two sopranos from political hotbed countries performed for the 2015 Wiener Opernball: Ukranian Olga Bezsmertna (singing "Dove sono" from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro) and Russian Aida Garifullina (singing "Je veux vivre" from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette). "The Crimean crisis was an international crisis in 2014 that instigated the ongoing dispute involving Russia and Ukraine over the control of the Crimean Peninsula, culminating in its annexation by the Russian Federation and incorporation as two separate federal subjects. The crisis was part of the wider 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine which also includes the Donbass region of Ukraine. The current international status of Crimea and Sevastopol as federal subjects of the Russian Federation is only explicitly recognized by five UN member states, other than Russia. All other countries recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine....On 17 April 2014 Russian president Vladimir Putin confirmed Russian involvement in Crimea, remarking that 'of course, Russian servicemen backed the Crimean self-defense forces.' In an interview on 22 January 2015 Igor Girkin, one of the major 'Russian self-defence' commanders in Crimea at that time, explained that the 'overwhelming national support for

Aida Garifullina singing Juliette's Waltz

the self-defence' as portrayed by the Russian media was fiction, and they actually had to 'forcibly drive the deputies to vote [to join Russia].' Majority of the law enforcement, administration and army did not support the 'self-defence' (one notable exception being Berkut) and only the presence of regular Russian army in Crimea 'made the whole thing work.'" [Source] Politically-neutral Spanish baritone Carlos Álvarez also sang, "Fin ch'han dal vino" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, at the Opera Ball. See more photos of the performances, as well as other opera attendees including Angelika Kirschlager, Isabel Leonard and Naomi Campbell, after the jump.

Kiri Te Kanawa Acknowledged By Australian House of Representatives

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa bows as she is acknowledged
while attending question time in the House
of Representatives at the Australian Parliament
in Canberra. (Photo: Rick Rycroft/AP)

"New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, touring Australia to celebrate her 70th birthday, makes a rule of never discussing retirement. In keeping with the philosophy she says she borrowed from her own theatric hero, Dame Judi Dench, Te Kanawa won't rule out returning to Australia for an 80th or even 90th birthday tour. 'You never know,' she told The Associated Press on Thursday at a Parliament House reception where she was a guest of House of Representatives Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, an opera fan. 'Never say never, but 90th - they'd be wheeling me in in a chair,' she quipped. Te Kanawa later bowed to the House of Representatives to the applause of Australian lawmakers, an experience she humbly described as 'pretty special.' She no longer performs in operas, shifting her focus to recitals and concerts. Her work schedule is less hectic than it has been, but she continues globe-trotting at a frenetic pace. Her current 11-concert tour will end in her native New Zealand in early June. She then flies to London to learn new music to premiere at Chicago's Martin Theater on Aug. 12 as part of the Ravinia Festival." [Source] Read more about the tour and her retirement activities by clicking here.

Opera World Filled With Perverts According To Russian Official

Politician and mezzo-soprano fights for gay rights

"Opera diva Maria Maksakova, an MP for the ruling United Russia party, says the controversial ban on propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors, dubbed the 'anti-gay' law in the West, must be revised as it damages the investment climate...Maksakova specifically drew attention to the negative impact of this initiative on Russian artists working in the West, who are now facing 'discrimination' because of the so-called 'anti-gay' law. A mezzo soprano soloist with St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater, she said her colleagues 'are being kicked out from plays and orchestras' in Europe...Meanwhile, the author of the law, St Petersburg municipal deputy Vitaly Milonov hit back saying he is 'totally opposed' to the singer’s proposal. In his words, Maksakova is an artistic person coming from the world where 'perverts' are not uncommon." [Source]

Chinese Soprano Song Zuying Promoted To Leadership Position

"Song Zuying, the most famous soprano in China, was promoted to become the new leader of the Song and Dance Troupe of China's Naval Political Department in early August for her outstanding performance serving as the deputy leader of the troupe....In recent years, Song has visited Europe, Australia, United States, Canada and Southeast Asia as part of Chinese art delegations. During the World Cup held in South Korea in 2002, Song was invited to represent China in a large -scale vocal concert. In December 2002, as the cultural ambassador for the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia, she held a concert in Sydney. In November 2003, she held a concert in the Golden Hall in Vienna. In 2006, her album The Diva Goes to the Movies: A Centennial Celebration of Chinese Film Song was nominated for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Classical Crossover Album. Song also performed a duet with tenor Plácido Domingo at the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing. She also performs regularly on the Chinese Spring Festival Gala. In 2009, in addition to her own song, she sang a duet with Jay Chou. On May 1, 2010, the day following the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Expo 2010, Song joined tenor Andrea Bocelli, singer Jay Chou, and concert pianist Lang Lang in a concert titled Charming China at Shanghai Stadium, in front of an audience of 80,000 people. On June 5, 2012, Song once again performed with Bocelli, Yu Long and Lang Lang in the East Meets West concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. On February 9, 2013, Chinese New Year's Eve, Song Zuying sang the traditional Chinese song Jasmine Flower as a duet with Canadian pop star Celine Dion at the CCTV New Year's Gala." [Source] Watch performances of the soprano after the jump.

Azerbaiyán Declares Montserrat Caballé Persona Non Grata

"Las autoridades de Azerbaiyán han incluido a la soprano española Montserrat Caballé en una lista negra de personas 'non grata' por haber visitado la disputada región de Nagorno Karabaj, dijo a Efe un portavoz del Ministerio de Exteriores azerí. El portavoz Elmán Abduláyev señaló que la cantante es una de las 335 personalidades extranjeras que aparecen en la lista, que hoy publicó el Ministerio, y que incluye a políticos y artistas que han estado en el enclave separatista armenio cuya soberanía enfrenta desde 1988 a Azerbaiyán con la vecina Armenia. En la lista figuran, además de Caballé, otros artistas como el cantante italiano Al Bano. Entre los políticos y diplomáticos aparecen el antiguo representante especial de la UE para el Cáucaso Sur, Peter Semneby, o la exvicepresidenta de la Cámara de los Lores británica Caroline Cox. Montserrat Caballé, embajadora de buena voluntad de la Unesco, visitó el pasado junio los territorios de Nagorno Karabaj, que Bakú considera 'ilegalmente ocupados' por las tropas armenias. Caballé, que cumplió recientemente 80 años, fue recibida oficialmente en la capital regional, Stepanakert, por Bako Saakián, dirigente armenio del enclave." [Source]

Anti-Gay Laws In Russia Prompt Anna Netrebko Statement On FB

(Photo: Kristian Schuller/DG)

"As an artist, it is my great joy to collaborate with all of my wonderful colleagues—regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. I have never and will never discriminate against anyone." -Anna Netrebko

[Source]

Renée Fleming Receives National Medal of Arts From President Obama

Seems as though the soprano cracks up the commander-in-chief while receiving her honor. For a complete list of honorees go to the official White House website by clicking here. Look at more pictures of the ceremony and watch the video (Ms. Fleming comes on at 14:09...) after the jump.

San Francisco Opera Turns On Rainbow Lights In Honor Of Equality

Cite as: 570 U. S. ____ (2013)
Opinion of the Court
The power the Constitution grants it also restrains. And though Congress has great authority to design laws to fit its own conception of sound national policy, it cannot deny the liberty protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. What has been explained to this point should more than suffice to establish that the principal purpose and the necessary effect of this law are to demean those persons who are in a lawful same-sex marriage. This requires the Court to hold, as it now does, that DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the liberty of the person protected by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. The liberty protected by the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause contains within it the prohibition against denying to any

Anna Netrebko Has Major Presidential Contact

With President Vladimir Putin on May 2, 2013, at the opening of the new Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

With former President Bill Clinton at the AIDS Solidarity Gala on May 25, 2013, in Vienna, Austria.

Cairo Opera House Protest Causes Cancelled Aida Performance

"Disgruntled artists staged a protest on Tuesday outside the Cairo Opera House in Zamalek, condemning the culture minister's decision earlier in the day to sack head of the opera house, Ines Abdel-Dayem. With car-drivers honking in support, the artists chanted against the ministerial decision, as well as against the minister himself. Alaa Abdel-Aziz was appointed culture minister earlier this month as part of the cabinet reshuffle, and artists responded with concerns about the Brotherhood-affiliated minister. Later in the evening, the audience in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, expecting to watch Verdi's Aida on its closing night, were taken by surprise when the curtains opened to reveal not a performance, but a protest. The

Russian Opera Singer Maria Maksakova About to Get Political

"While lacking any representatives of the liberal opposition, Russia's new parliament which met for the first time on Wednesday is packed with celebrities ranging from a Playboy cover girl to a tennis legend. The four factions with seats in the State Duma, especially the United Russia part of Vladimir Putin, have stepped up a tradition of encouraging household names to take seats in an apparent bid to give the chamber more appeal. How much impact they will have on political life remains to be seen, given celebrity MPs in the previous State Duma were criticised for showing little interest in policy and rarely showing up for debates....Opera singer Maria Maksakova is also taking a seat but there is no longer a place for Svetlana Zakharova, one of the world's most sought after ballerinas who in the last years juggled her political engagement with dancing commitments and giving birth." [Source] To learn more about Maria Maksakova, click here.

Daniel Auber Still Shocks Brussels With "La Muette de Portici"

"Nearly everyone in Belgium has heard of The Mute Girl of Portici, the opera that, in 1830, sparked the Belgian revolution. But few have ever seen it performed. That could change, however, because the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie is staging a new performance for the upcoming opera season. Except that it won’t be produced in Brussels but in Paris as a co-production with the Opéra Comique. 'We did it knowingly,' says the director of La Monnaie, Peter De Caluwe. Staging the opera now, in Brussels, would not only be an artistic act but it would also be a political manifesto and interpreted as an argument in favour of Belgian unity at a moment when the political situation is precarious. 'It isn’t the right time,' says Peter De Caluwe, 'because it would raise the question of whether or not we need Belgium. I want to withdraw opera from the debate.' Writer Geert Van Istendael, who had to learn excerpts of The Mute Girl of Portici by heart in primary school, agrees with Peter De Caluwe. 'Staging the opera in Brussels today, in the political swamp in which we are wading would be a crushing blow,' he said. On August 16, discussions resumed over the formation of a Belgian government. Mistrust between the Flemish and the Walloons runs so high, that negotiations have been on-going for fourteen months. King Albert, one of the last symbols of unity left, last month blasted politicians for failing to find a compromise and warned against Poujadisme – an allusion to the French populist movement of the 1950s. In such a climate, staging The Mute Girl of Portici is considered dynamite on the political front." Find out more about this opera's politically charged history by reading the whole story here. [Source]

Listen to June Anderson sing "Arbitre d'une vie" by clicking here.

Listen to Alfredo Kraus and Jean-Philippe Lafont sing "Amour sacré de la Patrie" by clicking here.

Listen to Frieda Hempel sing "O Moment enchanté" by clicking here.

Lise Noblet as Fenella in La Muette de Portici 

Information about the artwork on the right: Color lithograph by Achille Devéria, Paris, [184-]. First performed at the Paris Opéra in 1828, La Muette de Portici was an opera-ballet with music by Daniel Auber, choreography by Jean-Louis Aumer, a singing hero (the fisherman Masaniello), and a dancing heroine (the mute Fenella). The work, set in Naples during a seventeenth-century revolt against the Spaniards, capitalized on the Romantic era's fascination with local color, evident in the treatment of Fenella's costume. Many French works of the Romantic period had Italian settings and featured classicized versions of Italian folk dances. Cia Fornaroli Collection, Jerome Robbins Dance Division. [Source]

More information about the opera, original cast list and a detailed synopsis after the jump.

Making Mozart Politically Correct?

(Photo: Art Media/Heritage-Images)

"The recent bowdlerization of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn' -- one of the most 'liberal' novels ever penned, and widely deemed (before the advent of that fascism of the mind known as political correctness) to be the Great American Novel -- is just the freshest example of this juvenile cultural self-loathing. There are productions of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' that have edited out all references to the Moor Monostatos' blackness, lest it cause offense -- even though the opera's principal theme of the struggle of good against evil, day against night and light against darkness has nothing whatsoever to do with slavery or African-Americans." [Source]

Political Theater Compliments of the Dust Bowl

At least the last responders in the Capitol finally came through and passed the Zadroga bill, providing help to the 9/11 first responders, help that should have been there as automatically as our cops and firefighters respond to 911 calls. One senator, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, made rumblings about living up to his nickname, "Dr. No," and single-handedly blocking the bill. Coburn really is a doctor, an obstetrician who delivered 4,000 babies. His opera singer daughter, Sarah, often performs in New York. He has never encountered a military allocation too large for him to support.