Listening Back, Listening Forward
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Sometimes we hear a singer and immediately think of future roles for which they'd be suited. Then memory of past singers comes into play. Blogger Fred Plotkin explains.
Protesters Greet Valery Gergiev on First Night of U.S. Tour
Thursday, January 15, 2015
The Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg kicked off a month-long, 12-city U.S. tour on Wednesday night at BAM—and was greeted by protesters chanting "out, out, out.”
New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center To Co-Produce Modern Operas
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic said Wednesday they plan to co-produce three modern opera productions, starting this August and continuing in 2016 and 2017.
Russian Mezzo-Soprano Elena Obraztsova Dies at 75
Monday, January 12, 2015
The mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova, a leading opera singer of Moscow's Bolshoi Opera for more than two decades, died Monday in Germany.
Video: Natalie Dessay and Michel Legrand Sing a Chanson for Charlie Hebdo
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The operatic soprano – and more recently, cabaret singer – joined the veteran film composer Michel Legrand as part of an evening-length tribute event.
Requiem Aeterna
Friday, January 09, 2015
It is likely that Verdi was not religious and had a healthy skepticism for many institutions, including church and state, writes Fred Plotkin. But his Requiem makes a powerful impact.
Singer Interrupted During Tech Glitch at Met Opera
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Broadway singer Kelli O'Hara may made it through NBC's technically-complex broadcast of ''Peter Pan Live" last month with no major snafus. But opera is inevitably a different story.
An Opera Lover's Resolutions
Monday, January 05, 2015
Read a synopsis before attending an opera, arrive early and don't wear noisy bracelets on your arms. These are a few of Fred Plotkin's New Year's suggestions for operagoers.
Review: A Less than Merry Widow at the Metropolitan Opera
Thursday, January 01, 2015
"The Merry Widow" was more sleepy than bubbly when its splashy new production opened New Year’s Eve at the Metropolitan Opera, writes David Patrick Stearns.
Francis of Assisi, in Brooklyn and in Music
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
As a new exhibition of documents tied to St. Francis of Assisi comes to Brooklyn, blogger Fred Plotkin considers the ways in which he influenced classical music and opera.
Greek Soprano Rescued from Stricken Ferry
Monday, December 29, 2014
Among the more than 450 passengers rescued from the ferry that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea on Sunday was the Greek soprano Dimitra Theodossiou.
Soprano Renée Fleming Set to Make Broadway Debut
Monday, December 22, 2014
Soprano Renée Fleming — who has triumphed in the worlds of opera, recording and even the sports arena — is moving on to the Great White Way.
The Second Annual Excellence in Opera ('Freddie') Awards
Friday, December 19, 2014
In 2014, blogger Fred Plotkin heard 76 opera performances by 28 companies. "I am happy to report that there is a lot of wonderful, innovative work being done everywhere," he reports.
Top Five Serial Operas
Thursday, December 18, 2014
"Serial," a series about a little-known murder case from 1999, has been called podcasting's first breakout hit. Opera composers have also been drawn to episodic series.
When Opera Singers Groove to the Motown Sound
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
A surprising number of opera singers take an interest in the music of 1960s Motown, Fred Plotkin writes. Which Motown song do you think could work in a recital repertoire?
Searching for Messiah, in Dublin and New York
Friday, December 12, 2014
New Yorkers is home to various annual Messiah performances but Dublin is where it all got started. Blogger Fred Plotkin visits the site of the premiere.
Anna Netrebko Supports Theater in Ukrainian Separatist Region
Tuesday, December 09, 2014
Anna Netrebko is responding to critics of a controversial donation she gave to a theater in Ukraine's breakaway Donetsk region, asserting that the gift was "not a political act."
Review: With Luxury Casting, Turin Opera Rehabilitates William Tell at Carnegie Hall
Monday, December 08, 2014
Sunday's four-hour performance by the Teatro Regio Torino at Carnegie Hall offered many rewards, writes David Patrick Stearns.
For Irish Opera, Funding Troubles and Signs of Revival
Monday, December 08, 2014
Surveying Ireland's opera scene, Fred Plotkin writes, "I have found many reasons to hope for an operatic revival and a couple of causes for concern."
Barenboim Bids La Scala Farewell Amid Violent Protests
Sunday, December 07, 2014
The gala mood for "Fidelio" contrasted with protests outside that turned violent as the curtain rose on one of the most glittering events on Europe's culture calendar.
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About Operavore
LISTEN TO THE OPERAVORE 24/7 STREAM
Operavore is WQXR's digital 24/7 audio stream, blog and weekly radio show devoted to Opera. The Operavore blog features breaking news, expert commentary and reviews by writers Fred Plotkin, David Patrick Stearns and Amanda Angel. The stream features a continuous, carefully programmed mix of classic and contemporary opera recordings. The Operavore radio show on WQXR, features opera news bulletins from the around the globe, previews of new recordings, and interviews with the players and personalities on the scene.
