There is No Stopping Nicola Martinucci

The tenor, born in 1941, will star in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci this February at the Romanian National Theater.

Martinucci has sung most of the standard Italian repertoire roles, especially Verdi (Radames in Aida) and Puccini (Calaf in Turandot, Luigi in Il Tabarro). His lyrico-dramatic Italianate sound, coupled with his similar repertory, dark Mediterranean looks, and bearded appearance, have led many into seeing him as a possible successor to the late Luciano Pavarotti. In addition to the roles mentioned above, his repertoire also includes the roles of Cavaradossi, Pinkerton and Marat in Mascagni's Il piccolo Marat.

Happy Birthday: Grace Bumbry

Grace Bumbry (born January 4, 1937) is an American opera singer, and is considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano for many years. She was a member of an extraordinary and pioneering generation of singers who followed Marian Anderson (including Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett and Reri Grist) in the world of classical music and paved the way for future African-American opera and classical singers. 

Bumbry's voice was rich and sizable, possessing a wide range, and was capable of producing a very distinctive plangent tone. In her prime, she also possessed good agility and bel canto technique (see for example her renditions of the "Veil Song" from Verdi's Don Carlo in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as her Ernani from the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1984). 

TV Ratings War of Operatic Magnitude

As we near the final wrap-up of musical festivities over the holidays, result have rolled in with news of the winners (and losers) of the European telelvision sweeps event. Head over to Intermezzo for the tally.

MET Sirius XM Radio Tonight: "La Fanciulla del West"

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera perform Puccini's La Fanciulla del West live tonight at 8:00 PM EST on Sirius XM radio. Intermission guests: Morris Robinson, Marco Armiliato and Carl Tanner (see video).

Le Fils De Cadix: Ismael Jordi

In 1973 tenor Ismael Jordi was born in Jerez de la Frontera, a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southwestern Spain situated midway between the sea and the mountains. His great-grandmother was the only one with musical abilities in his family. He was a semi-professional soccer player, but was always interested in singing. He took voice lessons with Argentinian tenor Daniel Munoz.

He attended Madrid's Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía starting in 1998. He studied voice with Alfredo Kraus for two years. He went on to take lessons with Suso Mariategui, Edelmiro Arnaltes, Teresa Berganza and Manuel Cid. He currently studies voice with Angelo Capobianco in Verona.

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.

Roberto Alagna Loves Luis Mariano

The French-born tenor of Sicilian descent talks about his first memories as a child of his mother putting a tape recorder up to the television to capture the soundtrack of a certain singer named Luis Mariano. Once the music played, it was perfectly clear this was going to be his new hero. In 2005 he finally got a chance to pay tribute to his favorite singer by recording an album for Deutsche Grammophon titled C'est magnifique! His schedule only now allows for him to do concerts that correspond to the music on the album.

Homecoming For Mariusz Kwiecień

Baritone Mariusz Kwiecień is currently in his hometown of Kraków, Poland for upcoming performances of Eugene Onegin in January 2011. In a current interview, he discusses living in New York (his favorite Polish restaurant in Brooklyn), trying to convince Peter Gelb to do Polish operas (like King Roger by Szymanowski), why he won't do crossover recordings (but loves techno and dance music), wanting to sing Verdi roles (Don Carlos is on the horizon) and politics. He also talks ifferences between him and his predecessors Teresa Żylis-Gara, Wiesław Ochman and Stefania Toczyska. Read the full article here.

Photo Flashback: Juliane Banse

Juliane Banse as Agathe for the 2009 Robert Wilson production of Weber's Der Freischütz in Baden-Baden. (Photo: DPA)

Purple Reign For Commodore Angela Gheorghiu

(Photo: angelagheorghiu.blogspot.com)

The end of year has been a busy time for Angela Gheorghiu who is back in her homeland of Romania for award ceremonies and gala concerts. There are amateur videos shot of the concert and can be found on YouTube. 

A diva not to be outdone, Miss Gheorghiu sang in one of the most sparkly purple gowns one could hope to find south of Bistriţa-Năsăud. Absolutely gorgeous. 

Head over to http://angelagheorghiu.blogspot.com/ for more information and a ton of pictures.

Airlines Deliver Renée Fleming to Dresden

After much discussion about snow in New York and Dresden, as well as last minute scrambling for replacements for one of the Silvesterkonzert performances, Renée Fleming appeared as promised on New Year's Eve. She sang highlights from Die Lustige Witwe with the Staatskapelle under conductor Christian Thielemann. 

English baritone Christopher Maltman joined the soprano in excerpts from Léhar's operetta. She also sang "I Feel Pretty" from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. 

 There are more pictures and video links after the jump.

"La Voix" Music Video Featuring Anna Netrebko

In 2010, Russia's pop star Philipp Kirkorov and opera singer Anna Netrebko recorded a cover of the song "La Voix" with Kirkorov singing verses and Netrebko singing chorus. They did two versions of the song, one with original French and English lyrics and the other sung exclusively in Russian.

The couple went on several television shows to promote the single (appearances can all be found on YouTube). In the process the two have become good friends. Visit the websites for both artists:

http://www.kirkorov.ru/ 

http://annanetrebko.com/

Watch the video and see many more photos of the two together after the jump. As an added bonus, there is also a clip about the making of the video which features backstage scenes, hair & make-up and sets for the video.

The Villainous Thomas Hampson

Baritone Thomas Hampson discusses his role in Verdi's I Masnadieri at the Opernhaus Zürich, what he thinks of critics, the difference between his Violettas, working with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and doing master classes at the Heidelberg Academy. Read the full interview with Basel Zeitung.

The last performance of the production takes place tomorrow. More photos after the jump.

Opera Index Honors George Shirley

Opera Index will presents its 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award to tenor George Shirley at their 27th annual black-tie winter gala on Sunday, January 16. The event will take place at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York City and Spiro Malas will present the award. They will also posthumously award the late mezzo-soprano Shirley Verrett.

The Opera Index is a non-profit organization that has boosted the careers of more than 250 young singers through its annual vocal competition since its inception in 1984. 

Pictures and biography of George Shirley after the jump.

Elīna Garanča Celebrates in Berlin

(Photo: DAVIDS)

The mezzo-soprano sang the New Year's Eve concert with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. Singing selections from Carmen, Samson et Dalila, La Damnation de Faust and "Las hijas del Zebedeo" from Ruperto Chapì's Spanish operetta Al Pensar. Although Frasquita and Mercédès are missing from the "Les tringles des sistres tintaient" number, there is the added extra bonus of Emmanuel Pahud's flute playing in the prelude! Watch the video after the jump.

Reflections With Bryn Terfel

"At 16 I was interested mainly in soccer, and following Manchester United. And I loved my rock groups, Pink Floyd, Queen, Dire Straits. I had a wonderful combination of farm life and city life. Our closest city was Carnarvon, so we’d go there and then all my friends would come and visit me and we could fish, play football in the fields, climb trees. It was a very very happy time."

Get more fun facts here.