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Wagner: the man and his music. Joe Giannino explores the man and the myth with John Pohanka, Dir. Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. You might be surprised what you learn.
Book Reviews
"Interrupted Aria": Mystery. Murder in the opera house and everyone is a suspect.
"Molto Agitato" Johanna Fiedler's look inside the day to day intrigues of the New York Met.
Pavarotti, "The King & I"
Herbert Breslin/Anne Midgette
Redeemer Reborn: Parsifal as the 5th opera in Wagner's Ring cycle. Paul Schofield.
There's murder afoot in Venice Italy, circa mid-eighteenth century, and everyone is a suspect - or so we are led to believe in Beverle Graves Myers, first and surprisingly accomplished and thoroughly delightful novel, "Interrupted Aria. . . "
Whether you’re a fan of the Met or not, what Fiedler offers is a rare inside glimpse into the larger-than-life dealings of a major opera house – offering the reader a personal and moving glimpse into the lives and careers of some of the world’s greatest opera talents . . .
I have read many books, articles and internet sites dedicated to the man and have developed a close connection with Wagner and a better understanding of his genius, his music, his motivations and his life. . .
Herbert Breslin, with the assist of New York Times critic Anne Midgette, has written an interesting, amusing and informative book about the meteoric rise of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti that is blunt in the manner of its telling, spiced with plenty of earthy flourishes and inside details of who said what to whom, and lucid enough in its direct easy prose, such that “The King and I” yada, yada, yada, is going to sell a heck of a lot of books. . .
"There is a reason why Cecelia Bartoli is one of the top female recording artists of classical music around the world, over 8 million CD’s sold, and growing, her work is consistently superb and her selection of arias is exactly what her audience loves and has come to expect in new recordings. This latest collection of arias, 'Sospiri' from various composers. . ."
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Opera Boston's closing: We can't say it surprised us.
New York Met
Madama Butterfly
The plight of the American costume designer.
Costume designer Patricia Hibbert has seen much success in her life but like many others in opera she laments the impact of a bad economy on her chosen profession.
Special Feature:
Read her story inside:
Details Inside
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Follies
Lyric Opera Chicago
Lucia
The latest in a long line of
opera companies to close
their doors is Opera Boston. The company with a $2.5 Million annual budget faced
a $500,000 deficit which
left everyone stunned

Carole Charnow its
founding general
director expressed dismay

at the news amidst reports of turmoil among directors
a third of whom did not even attend the vote to disband.
Lesley Koenig, its new director called it a "tragedy for Boston."

Not all agree the company
had to take such drastic action. When questioned about finances, by a Boston Globe reporter, one of the Founders hung up abruptly. Hints that a Foundation was in the wings may hold out some, but very little hope.

See our commentary.
Read it here.
Lyric Opera Chicago
Aida