Lawrence Tibbett

Though the reach of Gershwin's classic tunes has proved vast, no other song from his canon has quite matched the monumental success of Porgy and Bess' opening aria, 'Summertime.'

Saturday night, I heard soprano Lisette Oropesa deliver an alternatingly delicious and desperately dramatic Violetta in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA at the Met. Less than a day later, she was the emcee at the GRAND FINALS CONCERT of the Met's National Council Auditions--where she was a winner herself in 2005 and “it changed my life,” she recalled--delivering the latest batch of opera babies into the big time.

San Francisco Opera unveils a new production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca on Wednesday, October 3, with a cast led by Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio in her Company and role debuts as Tosca, tenor Brian Jagde as Cavaradossi and baritone Scott Hendricks as Baron Scarpia with conductor Leo Hussain leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in his first performances with the Company. Puccini's monumental work, which has a distinguished history at San Francisco Opera, will be staged by American director Shawna Lucey with new sets and costumes designed by Robert Innes Hopkins and built entirely in San Francisco Opera's scenic and costume shops.

Mit „Viel Larm um Liebe" („The Firebrand of Florence") hebt die Staatsoperette Dresden einen Schatz aus der amerikanischen Schaffensperiode von Kurt Weill. Als Vorlage fur diese 1945 am Broadway uraufgefuhrte Operette diente das 1924 entstandene Schauspiel „The Firebrand" von Edwin Justus Mayer uber die amourosen Eskapaden des Bildhauers und Goldschmieds Benvenuto Cellini:

New Zealand actor Peter Land is to dedicate his new London show, NOW OR NEVER, as a fundraiser for the victims of the devastating Christchurch earthquake.

Peter Land, currently appearing in OperaUpClose's acclaimed production of 'Madam?Butterfly (or Bangkok Butterfly)' at London's?Little?Opera House at the King's?Head Theatre, is going solo at the venue for four Sundays of cabaret titled 'NOW?OR?NEVER'

New Zealand actor Peter Land is to dedicate his new London show, NOW OR NEVER, as a fundraiser for the victims of the devastating Christchurch earthquake.

Peter Land, currently appearing in OperaUpClose's acclaimed production of 'Madam?Butterfly (or Bangkok Butterfly)' at London's?Little?Opera House at the King's?Head Theatre, is going solo at the venue for four Sundays of cabaret titled 'NOW?OR?NEVER'

Paulo Szot is off this week, so it's 'America's Baritone's' turn to shine.