Opera and Choral Events

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Your source for classical voice, opera, and choral events

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Week of January 26 - February 2, 2017

This week on Rhode Island Public television,
WSBE:  (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109, and Verizon 478)  
Now broadcasting two or three operas every weekend!

Saturday, January 28, 2017, 8:00 PM




Il Barbiere di Siviglia


"Il Barbiere di Siviglia," Rossini's classic comic opera, stars Lawrence Brownlee as Count Almaviva, whose pursuit of the lovely Rosina (Isabel Leonard) is aided by the wily barber Figaro (Christopher Maltman). Standing in his way is her guardian (Maurizio Muraro), who wants to marry her himself.
Length: 180



Sunday, January 29, 2017, 3:00 AM

Falstaff



A production of Verdi's "Falstaff," updated to take place in 1950s-era London. The boorish Sir John Falstaff (Ambrogio Maestri) schemes to seduce the wives of two wealthy men in order to pay off his debts, but the women-after comparing the similar love letters he sent them-turn his plan upside down.
Length: 150


Monday, January 30, 2017, 12:00 AM

Il Trovatore



Season 10 opens with Verdi's "Il Trovatore," in which long-lost brothers (Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Yonghoon Lee) compete for the affections of the same woman (Anna Netrebko). Dolora Zajick costars as Azucena, the gypsy with a dark secret.
Length: 180








News from Around the World of Music


Step Inside the Life of LA Phil Pianist Joanne Pearce Martin

Wednesday, January 25, 2017
By James Bennett, II
In this short video, part of Mashable's "How She Works" series, we get a glimpse into the daily routine of pianist Joanne Pearce Martin.



7 Stories that Show Mozart's Weird Genius

Monday, January 23, 2017
By James Bennett, II
Mozart may have been a genius, but he was also a bit of a strange guy. Check out the stories behind these seven incredible compositions.



Damine Chazelle's 'La La Land' has been nominated for 14 Academy Awards, including Best Original Score
Unpacking the 2017 Oscar Nominees for Best Original Score

Tuesday, January 24, 2017
By James Bennett, II
The 2017 Oscar nominations have arrived. Naturally, we couldn't wait to see what was in the running for best original score.



Joseph Feingold, Brianna Perez and filmmaker Kahane Cooperman at a screening of 'Joe's Violin.'
Touching Documentary 'Joe's Violin' Nominated for Academy Award

Tuesday, January 24, 2017
By James Bennett, II
"Joe's Violin," the touching story that played out over the course of WQXR's first instrument drive, has been nominated for the Academy Award for best documentary short subject.



 Zander takes to the TED stage with Chopin's Prelude No. 4
Benjamin Zander Uses Chopin to Illustrate Classical's Emotional Impact
Monday, January 23, 2017
By James Bennett, II

In this popular TED Talk, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conductor Benjamin Zander uses his humor, piano and Chopin to show us how emotional classical music can be.


George O'Brien and Douglas P. Cooper interviewing  Roberta Peters.
Remembering Roberta Peters, in Her Own Words

Friday, January 20, 2017
By James Bennett, II
After the death of Roberta Peters at 86 on Thursday, we reflect on her legacy with a number of illuminating interviews from the archives.
Milan Řehák plays the accordion in a special outdoors performance of 'Winter.'


http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/remembering-roberta-peters-her-own-words/






Roberta Peters, Soprano With a Dramatic Entrance, Dies at 86
The New York Times
By MARGALIT FOX    JAN. 19, 2017









Roberta Peters, Jack Benny and concert violinist Isaac Stern at rehearsal for a benefit appearence in 1961 (John Lindsay / Associated Press)



Opera Stars in Public and in Private
Monday, January 23, 2017
By Fred Plotkin
Fred Plotkin remembers his conversations with Roberta Peters and how the private lives of singers serve to fuel their public performances in surprising ways.






OPERA ON THE INTERNET 
WITH  
DAVE D' AGUANNO


LIVE from the Met on this coming Saturday afternoon (January 28), it's Rossini's ever-popular "Barber of Seville" which can be heard on several internet radio stations.

Also LIVE from the Met, tomorrow evening at 7:25 pm, you can access the Met's free audio-stream for a performance of Verdi's "Rigoletto."

For those with more adventurous operatic tastes, Radio 3 (BBC) has a performance on Saturday of Harrison Birtwistle's "The Last Supper" which was originally written in 1998/1999 & which is now being given by the BBC Singers + additional soloists who often perform in operas throughout the UK.

Often considered to be the link in German operas between Weber and Wagner, the music of Heinrich Marschner occasionally gets performed, and in Geneva (on November 29, 2016), his 1828 opera "Der Vampyr" ("The Vampire") received a performance which can be heard this Saturday on German Radio.

A couple of repeat broadcasts are worth mentioning, especially for opera fans who prefer those works which are off-the-beaten-path. One of these works -- Enescu's "Oedipe" -- was recently performed in London's Royal Opera House, & Swedish Radio is offering interested listeners another chance to listen in.

Also, aside from "Samson & Dalila," the operas of Camille Saint-Saens are hardly familiar items; yet a performance of his 1887 4-act opera "Proserpine" was given just last year, and ORF (Austria) has it on its Saturday line-up for our listening enjoyment.

Enjoy!

DAVE









The Met Saturday afternoon
 radio broadcast  
1 PM

Il Barbiere di Siviglia
ROSSINI
Benini; Yende, Korchak, Mattei, Muraro, Petrenko














NO OPERA ON
WGBH THIS WEEK!
Denzel Washington in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3