Week of December 27 - January 3, 2019

Happy New Year!

We’ll see you next week!

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This week on Rhode Island Public television:

WSBE: (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109, and Verizon 478)

Saturday, December 29, 2018, 8:00pm

Sunday, December 30, 2018, 3:00am

Monday, December 31, 2018, 12:00am

Romeo et Juliette

Diana Damrau stars in Bartlett Sher's production of Gounod's opera based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Length: 180 minutes

Synopsis: https://www.metopera.org/user-information/synopses-archive/romeo-et-juliette

Week of December 20 - December 27, 2018

Happy Holidays!

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This week on Rhode Island Public television:

WSBE: (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109, and Verizon 478)

Saturday, December 22, 2018, 8:00pm

Sunday,  December 23, 2018, 3:00am 

Monday, December 24, 2018, 12:00am

Manon Lescaut

Puccini's adaptation of the classic novel about a free-spirited country girl features Kristine Opolais and Roberto Alagna.

150 minutes

Synopsis: https://www.metopera.org/user-information/synopses-archive/manon-lescaut

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WQXR

The Sixth Annual Excellence in Opera (aka The Freddie) Awards

Fred Plotkin honors and acknowledges many of the outstanding and memorable achievements in opera in 2018. Dec 18, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/sixth-annual-excellence-opera-freddie-awards-fred-plotkin/

3-Minute Opera: Verdi's 'La Traviata'

Short on time, but still want your "Traviata" fix? If you can find three minutes, Morning Host Jeff Spurgeon has got you covered. Dec 13, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/3-minute-opera-verdi-la-traviata/

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OPERA ON THE INTERNET

WITH 

DAVE D’AGUANNO

With the holidays upon us, many internet radio stations are filling up their schedules with works like Handel's "Messiah" and Berlioz's "L'Enfance du Christ" and Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" all of which are certainly masterpieces, of course, but such programming limits the number of opera broadcasts that are being offered at this time of year. And so, for the Met's Saturday afternoon matinee broadcast (Dec. 22), we're getting the audio-only from this past October's HD-transmission of Puccini's "Fanciulla del West" with soprano Eva-Marie Westbroek and tenor Jonas Kaufmann, to be heard on many internet radio stations.

(www.wrti.org/)

Also on Saturday, there's a LIVE broadcast from Munich of what is undoubtedly Smetana's most popular opera: "The Bartered Bride." Fans of this opera may also want to take note of the fact that there will be a LIVE video-stream of the work with these same performers on Sunday, January 6, 2019.

(https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/smetanas_the_bartered_bride_with_zanetti_breslik_groissbock_and_zwarg_from_munich/45357/)

In the meantime, the video of a recent performance from Naples of Janacek's "Katya Kabanova" can be found on OperaVision, beginning on Thursday (Dec. 20).

(https://operavision.eu/en/library/performances/operas/kata-kabanova)

Happy Holidays to you all !!!

DAVE

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 NEWS FROM AROUND THE 

WORLD OF MUSIC

Why Is Queen so Coverable?

Here’s the Story Behind That Viral Trombone Version of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Why do so many people enjoy covering an impossibly difficult song? Dec 18, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/why-queen-so-coverable-heres-story-behind-viral-trombone-version-bohemian-rhapsody/

19 of Our Favorite Internet Moments in 2018

The Internet often serves up some wonderful treats, and 2018 did not disappoint. Dec 17, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/19-our-favorite-internet-moments-2018/

10 Times Classical Music Was Refreshingly Relevant in 2018

Here are 10 moments from 2018 that showed us how classical music is becoming more accessible.  Dec 17, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/10-times-classical-music-was-refreshingly-relevant-2018/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: Bomsori Kim Bids Farewell to Winter with a Wonderful Ravel

The violinist joined WQXR for a “Midday Masterpieces” featuring the music of Maurice Ravel. Dec 15, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-bomsori-kim-bids-farewell-winter-wonderful-ravel/

Glenn Gould’s 1981 ‘Goldberg’ Manuscript Auctioned for 125K

For at least one Glenn Gould lover, Christmas came a few weeks early this year. Dec 14, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/glenn-goulds-1981-goldberg-manuscript-auctioned-125k/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: Basil Twist’s ‘Symphonie Fantastique’

For one of this year’s Classical Beer Jams, MacArthur Genius Basil Twist gave attendees a look at how he uses a Berlioz classic in his puppeteering. Dec 14, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-basil-twists-symphonie-fantastique/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: Lawrence Brownlee Previews a Song Cycle

The tenor treated us to an excerpt of a new song cycle shortly before its Carnegie Hall premiere. Dec 14, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-lawrence-brownlee-previews-song-cycle/

20 Artists We Lost in 2018

As the year comes to a close, we're taking some time to remember the legacies of many talents who impacted our musical lives. Dec 12, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/20-artists-we-lost-2018/

Oper Graz Names New Principal Conductor

http://operawire.com/oper-graz-names-new-principal-conductor/

Jonas Kaufmann Scores Big Prize In Munich

http://operawire.com/jonas-kaufmann-scores-big-prize-in-munich/

How an Underground Queer Zine Became the Best Blog in Opera

Parterre Box started 25 years ago, smuggled into bathrooms at Lincoln Center. Now it is an essential, respected voice in the opera world.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/arts/music/parterre-box-25th-anniversary.html

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THE

MET SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 1:00PM

 RADIO BROADCAST, VERDI'S OTELLO

   

GO TO 
 HTTP://WWW.WQXR.ORG/STREAMS
 THEN CLICK ON WQXR 105.9 FM

🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕

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NO OPERA ON 

WGBH THIS WEEK!

Angry James Clapper,  the former Director of National Intelligence

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Week of December 13 - December 20, 2018

This Saturday, December 15, 2018

LIVE in Met HD, 1:00pm
For tickets: https://www.metopera.org/season/in-cinemas/

La Traviata

https://www.metopera.org/globalassets/season/in-cinemas/hd-cast-sheets/traviata_us-global-pr.pdf?performanceNumber=15367

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This week on Rhode Island Public television:

WSBE: (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109, and Verizon 478)

Saturday, December 15, 2018, 8:00pm

Sunday,  December 16, 2018, 3:00am 

Monday, December 17, 2018, 12:00am

Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino) and Pretty Yende (Adina)

L'Elisir d'Amore

Pretty Yende and Matthew Polenzani star in Bartlett Sher's production of Gaetano Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore," a comic opera in two acts about a charming landowner and the hapless peasant who falls in love with her 

Length: 150 minutes

Synopsis: https://www.metopera.org/user-information/synopses-archive/lelisir-damore

Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino

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WQXR

Is There a Mozart Gene?

https://www.wqxr.org/story/there-mozart-gene/

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OPERA ON THE INTERNET

WITH 

DAVE D’AGUANNO

Beginning on Friday (Dec. 14), those of you with a particular fondness for Verdi's "La Traviata" will be totally enraptured, as 3 separate LIVE broadcasts of this ever-popular opera will be broadcast. First off, on Friday, Radio 3 (RAI) is bringing us a performance of the work from Turin. Then on Saturday, as many of you already know, there's the LIVE HD-transmission from the Met, featuring soprano Diana Damrau as Violetta and tenor Juan Diego Florez as Alfredo -- a performance that can also be heard on several internet radio stations.Then on Sunday, French Radio will be broadcasting a LIVE performance from Paris of this same opera.

(Turin: www.radio3.rai.it/)

(Met: www.wrti.org/)

(Paris: www.francemusique.fr/)

Czech composer Leos Janacek, however, comes in 2nd, with only 2 of his operas being broadcast, both on Saturday afternoon. His final opera -- "From the House of the Dead" (based on Dostoyevsky) -- can be heard on the Belgian station Klara in a performance from Brussels, while the earlier "Katya Kabanova" appears on Radio 3 (RAI), as performed in Naples. If you happen to be a Janacek fan(atic), you might want to choose "From the House of the Dead" since "Katya" will be given a FREE video-stream on Thursday of next week (Dec. 20), via OperaVision. Interestingly enough, while "From the House of the Dead" sounds rather ominous and depressing, it DOES end on a note of hope -- which is more than can be said for "Katya" which ends in complete and total despair! (You might want to have a handkerchief ready for that one.)

("From the House of the Dead" -- http://radio.klara.be/radio/10_home.php)

("Katya Kabanova" -- www.radio3.rai.it/)

Also on Saturday, there's the comparatively upbeat (=happy ending) "Euryanthe" (1823) by Weber which can be heard on ORF (Austria) in a LIVE performance from Vienna.

(http://oe1.orf.at/)

Also of interest: Frederick Delius's "A Village Romeo & Juliet" (premiered in 1907) can be heard on Radio 4 (the Netherlands), as performed in Amsterdam.

(www.radio4.nl/)

Then on Sunday, how about some opera from Switzerland? Othmar Schoeck's "Das Schloss Durande" (premiered in 1943) can be heard in a rare performance from Bern that took place earlier this year on May 31.

(https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/schoecks_das_schloss_durande_with_stickert_gordeladze_adams_and_cloete_from_bern/45231/)

And if that's not enough opera to whet one's appetite, on Friday evening at 7:55, the Met's FREE live audio-stream features Verdi's "Otello" with soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Desdemona.

Enjoy!

DAVE

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 NEWS FROM AROUND THE 

WORLD OF MUSIC

McVicar's Traviata is still darkly impressive

https://bachtrack.com/es_ES/review-traviata-mcvicar-hovhannisyan-welsh-national-opera-southampton-november-2018

Review: Confetti Showers on The Met’s New ‘Traviata’ — and Deservedly So

Is this the start of a great new era at the Met Opera? Dec 5, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/review-la-traviata/

All aboard the operatic Sleigh Ride: Christmas carols with our favourite opera stars

https://bachtrack.com/playlist-opera-christmas-carols-rydl-hampson-alagna-caballe-terfel-garanca-december-2018

The future of opera in a world of technology: Barrie Kosky

https://bachtrack.com/interview-barrie-kosky-part-2-opera-and-its-audiences-december-2018

Opera’s digital revolution may be the key to increasing the art form’s appeal

https://theconversation.com/operas-digital-revolution-may-be-the-key-to-increasing-the-artforms-appeal-100459

Melancholia artfully brings the end of the world to the stage

https://theconversation.com/melancholia-artfully-brings-the-end-of-the-world-to-the-stage-100094

Decoding the music masterpieces: Rossini’s William Tell, and its famous overture

https://theconversation.com/decoding-the-music-masterpieces-rossinis-william-tell-and-its-famous-overture-99854

Life, death, gravity, sex and string theory in The Mathematics of Longing

https://theconversation.com/life-death-gravity-sex-and-string-theory-in-the-mathematics-of-longing-98147

Frost, Snowflakes and Snow Maidens: a journey through a Russian winter

https://bachtrack.com/es_ES/feature-tchaikovsky-glazunov-rimsky-korsakov-snow-maiden-winter-december-2018

Ferruccio Furlanetto: top ten Verdi bass arias

https://bachtrack.com/playlist-ferruccio-furlanetto-verdi-bass-november-2018

20 Artists We Lost in 2018

As the year comes to a close, we're taking some time to remember the legacies of many talents who impacted our musical lives. Dec 12, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/20-artists-we-lost-2018/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: Apollo’s Fire Brings Vivaldi ‘Madness’

How would you spend the afternoon before your Carnegie Hall debut? Dec 7, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/apollos-fire-brings-vivaldi-madness/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: This Villa-Lobos Song Means a Lot to Nadine Sierra

During an evening of “Classical Up Close,” Nadine Sierra shared a Villa-Lobos piece that she has loved since her teenage years. Dec 7, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-villa-lobos-song-means-lot-nadine-sierra/

WQXR Best in Studio 2018: The Percussion Collective Goes ‘Seaborne’

The experimental percussion-centric group performed a multimedia musical experience. Dec 7, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-percussion-collective-goes-seaborne/

New York’s Most Memorable Concerts of 2018

WQXR's David Patrick Stearns rounds up the most memorable concerts of 2018. Dec 2, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/new-york-most-memorable-concerts-2018-david-patrick-stearns-classical/

WQXR’s Best in Studio 2018: Leah Crocetto Sings from the Songbook

When the soprano dropped by WQXR, she demonstrated how she embraces programmatic freedom by closing with “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” Dec 1, 2018

https://www.wqxr.org/story/wqxr-best-studio-2018-leah-crocetto-sings-songbook/

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THE

MET SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 1:00pm

 RADIO BROADCAST, DECEMBER 15, 2018

Verdi's

La Traviata

   

GO TO 
 HTTP://WWW.WQXR.ORG/STREAMS
 THEN CLICK ON WQXR 105.9 FM

🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

NO OPERA ON 

WGBH THIS WEEK!

John Lewis
U.S. Representative from Georgia
and

Civil Rights Leader