Opera Interviews
The latest interviews about live + streaming theatre in Opera.
Michael Chioldi of TOSCA at St. Paul's Cathedralby Erica Miner - June 11, 2021
The New York City-based award-winning baritone and Pittsburgh, PA, native specializes in dramatic roles of Verdi, Puccini, and Strauss...
Artistic Director Marcus Desando on Presenting Second Edition of CANTIAMO - MZANSI OPERA CELEBRATIONby Lindsay Kruger - April 13, 2021
After a highly successful debut hailed as 'an operatic musical extravaganza', CANTIAMO - MZANSI OPERA CELEBRATION returns to the Mandela Theatre this month. Directed by acclaimed artistic producer and director Marcus Desando, he discusses with BroadwayWorld his role as director in this celebratory s...
Candace Johnson of CJ'S FITNESSING on MarshStream Combines Singing & Exercise to Help You Find Your True Voiceby Jim Munson - April 09, 2021
You may not be aware of World Voice Day, but it’s celebrated every April 16th to demonstrate the enormous importance of the voice in the daily lives of all people. I can’t imagine a better person to observe it with than Candace Johnson, who leads CJ’s FitnesSing!™ on the MarshStream platform every F...
Emily Fons of San Diego Opera's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE at Pechanga Arenaby Ron Bierman - March 31, 2021
As I write this, mezzo soprano Emily Fons is driving from her home in Milwaukee to San Diego to rehearse the role of Rosina, the wife of roving-eyed count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville by Rossini. Three years ago Fons sang Cherubino here in the related comic opera The Marriage of Figaro by Mozar...
Beth Morrison of "The PROTOTYPE FESTIVAL Opera-Theatre-NOW"by Erica Miner - February 04, 2021
One of the world’s foremost, most adventurous, female producers of contemporary opera, and a tireless champion of diverse voices, Beth Morrison unequivocally embraces her seemingly limitless drive....
John Riesen Talks Upcoming Christmas Album CHRISTMAS AT HOME!by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2020
John Riesen made headlines earlier this year when in the early days of the health crisis, he helped bring income to artists by creating the COVID-19 Artist Support - Pure Voice Spotify playlist, Now, Riesen is continuing to bring beautiful music into the world, this time through the release of his ...
BWW Feature: Bring on the PAGLIACCI, as Tomer Zvulun and The Atlanta Opera Still Connect with Live Audiences, Starting Oct. 22by Richard Sasanow - October 19, 2020, Opera
When the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus folded its tent for the last time, I’m not sure whether they held on to its title of “the Greatest Show on Earth.” But Atlanta is showing that there’s still a big tent around with some great shows to be seen. It’s the Atlanta Opera, headed by General...
Theatre Life with Renée Flemingby Elliot Lanes - September 26, 2020, Opera
Renée Fleming's long and distinguished career includes performing in some of the world's most famous opera houses, performing on Broadway, and being heard on many recordings singing everything from arias to showtunes. Tonight Ms. Fleming will add another honor to her canon as she and Vanessa Will...
Richard Stilwell of THE ASPERN PAPERS at Dallas Operaby Erica Miner - August 14, 2020, Opera
A lot of repertoire you do over and over, while finding new things within those pieces, but something totally new is interesting...
Richard Stilwell of PELLEAS ET MELISANDE at New York City Operaby Erica Miner - August 14, 2020, Opera
the exquisite voice, dramatic stage presence and winning personality of this Grammy-nominated artist have garnered kudos throughout the opera world...
Josh Shaw of MADAMA BUTTERFLY at Home Computer Screensby Maria Nockin - July 06, 2020, Opera
Named as one of Musical America's Top 30 Innovators in Classical Music, Josh Shaw is the Executive and Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Project (POP), one of L.A.'s most exciting opera companies. During the past nine seasons, Shaw has directed over 35 productions at POP. Since 2011, Shaw has dire...
BWW Exclusive: 107 Opera Singers, a Conductor plus Tech Magic Bring Some LIGHT from Moravec, Campbell and OPERA Americaby Richard Sasanow - May 13, 2020, Opera
Here's a look at how 'Light Shall Lift Us; Singers Unite in Song' (for OPERA America), a video project featuring 107 opera singers in “a song of hope and solidarity” by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell, came together to help raise up the spirits of their communities as we deal with COVID-19. It went '...
Designer Dick Bird Talks NIXON IN CHINAby Marianka Swain - April 21, 2020, Opera
During the shutdown, we're taking the opportunity to look back at some memorable productions. Here, Dick Bird discusses his career with BroadwayWorld, and gives us some fantastic insights into designing the Royal Danish Theatre, Teatro Real Madrid and Scottish Opera's co-production of a modern class...
Best of BWW Interviews: In RUSALKA or RIGOLETTO, ADRIANA or an Almost-WERTHER at the Met, Piotr Beczala's a Tenor with Styleby Richard Sasanow - April 14, 2020, Opera
It's a busy week for Piotr Beczala, at least on the Met on Demand. It started with Monday's free broadcast of 2014's RUSALKA, opposite Renée Fleming (when the interview that follows was conducted) to Saturday night's free ADRIANA LECOUVREUR performance opposite Anna Netrebko, from January 2019. You ...
Preview/Interview: To FRAU or Not to FRAU in 2021? Stemme's the Met's Dyer's Wife, with Some Words from Birgit Nilssonby Richard Sasanow - April 09, 2020, Opera
Some people dream of a White Christmas--or at least an end to the horrors of COVID-19 and a semblance of life returned to normal. I'll drink to that. But high on my list of events I'm hoping to hear in a world turned back on its feet, is the return of Richard Strauss's DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN to the ...
Vocal and dialect coach Vanessa Dinning talks about what she does and how she is bringing her talents onlineby E.H. Reiter - April 03, 2020, Opera
Vocal and dialect coach Vanessa Dinning talks about what she does and how she is bringing her talents online...
Best of BWW Interviews: Tenor Javier Camarena - High Cs and 'High Fives' at the Metby Richard Sasanow - March 18, 2020, Opera
The Met's first cancellation due to coronavirus concerns was the revival of Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA, the opera retelling of the Cinderella story, set to star mezzo Tara Erraught in the title role and one of its biggest tenor stars, Javier Camarena as Don Ramiro, her prince. The opera holds a partic...
Lisette Oropesa, the Met's Courtesan of the Moment, Brings Her TRAVIATA to Townby Richard Sasanow - February 25, 2020, Opera
It's been a big year for soprano Lisette Oropesa, with starring roles at major European houses. But in this country, it's something else entirely: She won the Richard Tucker Award and the Met's Beverly Sills Award. That was followed by a pair of name-above-the-title roles, her first at the Met: her ...
Brian Jagde of MADAME BUTTERFLY at Lyric Opera of Chicagoby Erica Miner - February 10, 2020, Opera
The first thing to know about Brian Jagde is that his name is pronounced a?oeJade,a?? like the jewel...
Director Brenna Corner of San Diego Opera's HANSEL AND GRETELby Ron Bierman - January 29, 2020, Opera
Brenna Corner started out with dreams of Broadway. It wouldn't be a big surprise if the versatile young director's dreams came true, but not in the way she'd originally pictured. I met with her to learn more about that and the San Diego Opera's upcoming production of Hansel and Gretel. 'Broadway ...
Sarah Ruhl Re-Creates Her EURYDICE Into A World Premiere Operaby Gil Kaan - January 20, 2020, Opera
The LA Opera and the Metropolitan Opera join forces to co-produce the world premiere of EURYDICE from the creative minds of composer/conductor Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl; beginning February 1, 2020 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Based on Sarah's 2003 play EURYDICE, this Greek myth u...
On Site Opera Talks Location Specific DAS BARBECÜby David Clarke - January 17, 2020, Opera
Are you lamenting that you can't get more cornbread and chili while taking in a performance of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA? Well, On Site Opera's site specific production of the family friendly musical DAS BARBECÜ, written by Jim Luigs and featuring music by Scott Warrender, is ...
Ari Pelto of San Diego's HANSEL AND GRETEL at the Civic Centerby Erica Miner - January 16, 2020, Opera
Pelto will make his much-anticipated San Diego Opera debut on Feb. 8, 2020, in their highly imaginative production...
To Hell and Back with Cerise Jacobs and REV. 23 at Prototype 2020by Richard Sasanow - January 14, 2020, Opera
'The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.' And so ends the Book of Revelation, with Chapter 22, in the New Testament...or does it? In speaking with creator-librettist Cerise Lim Jacobs, I find someone who clearly believes that too much is never enough. Thus, she decided that there was...
