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Metropolitan Opera
Lights, Camera...Maestro?
Though my grandfather would vehemently disagree with me, there is more to Opera than music. Listening to the show on the radio is nice, but seeing it is just so much better. Now, all cities have Opera houses, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to see productions from such legendary houses as the Metropolitan Opera in New York or the San Francisco Opera?New Production: Peter Grimes
The words “new” and “Opera” don’t tend to go together in our minds. I know they don’t in mine. However, there are new Operas being written.2008 Metropolitan Opera Production: La Fille du Regiment
Wow. Wow, wow. Wow, wow, wow.
Conductor Downes, wife die in Swiss suicide clinic
LONDON (AP) — British maestro Edward Downes, who conducted the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Opera but struggled in recent years as his hearing and sight failed, has died with his wife at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. He was 85 and she was 74. The couple's children said Tuesday that the couple died "peacefully and under circumstances of their own choosing" on Friday at a Zurich clinic run by the group Dignitas.In the Spotlight: Renee Fleming
Renée Fleming (b. February 14, 1959), is an American soprano who sings principally opera and lieder. Fleming possesses a flexible, full lyric soprano voice that's supported by a formidable and solid technique complete with ease and ringing freedom at the extreme top of its range.
In the Spotlight: Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay (born Nathalie Dessaix, 19 April 1965, in Lyon) is a French soprano. She dropped the "h" in her first name in honor of Natalie Wood when she was in grade school and subsequently simplified the spelling of her surname.
In her youth, Dessay had intended to be a ballet dancer, and then an actress.
In the Spotlight: Renata Scotto
Renata Scotto was born in Savona, Italy. She made her operatic debut in her home town on Christmas Eve of 1952 at the age of 18 in front of a sold-out house as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata. The next day, she made her 'official' opera debut at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan as Violetta.
Spotlight: Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The opera was based in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Luther Long—which was turned into a play by David Belasco—and also on the novel Madame Chrysanthème (1887) by Pierre Loti. The two-act version of the opera premiered on February 17, 1904 at La Scala in Milan.New MET: Live in HD season announced
After going to two of these, I can highly recommend attending. It's an Opera without the intimitading expirience of the Opera house and it's the perfect way to introduce yourself to Opera. The MET has decided to expand it's Live in HD series next year, upping the count from 8 performances to 11.Hatshepsut, the Queen that ruled Egypt as a man
Source: National Geographic magazine Visit the National Geographic Photo Gallery to see the amazing images that accompanied this article. ~~~~~~~~~~ The King Herself What motivated Hatshepsut to rule ancient Egypt as a man while her stepson stood in the shadows? Her mummy, and her true story, have come to light.
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