Culturekiosque Opera: News

Must-know news from the world of opera.

Most recent features:

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925 - 2012)

Remembrances and recommended lieder and opera CDs by the legendary German baritone who died last Friday 10 days short of his 87th birthday.

21 May 2012

Dame Joan Sutherland: 7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010

Joel Kasow remembers the Australian soprano the Italians called "La Stupenda".

In Memoriam: Giulietta Simionato, Cesare Siepi, Sir Charles Mackerras

Operanet editor Joel Kasow on the performance and recording legacies of two great Italian opera stars and the leading conductor of Janacek's operas.

In Memoriam: Hildegard Behrens (1937 - 2009)

A latecomer to Opera, Behrens threw herself into demanding roles with bravado, intensity and true, raw talent.

Brokeback Mountain as Opera

New York's City Opera has commissioned American composer Charles Wuorinen to compose an opera based on Annie Proulx's short story 'Brokeback Mountain.'

Nicolas Joël Named Director of the Paris Opera

"The sit-com surrounding the nomination of a successor to Gérard Mortier as Director of the Opéra National de Paris was finally resolved at the beginning of December," writes Joel Kasow from Paris.

San Francisco Opera and MobileCast Media Launch Podcasting Partnership

Will this bring new, and especially young, audiences to the opera?

The Legacy of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf dies at 90. Joel Kasow reflects on her career and selects the German soprano's best recordings available on CD.

Older editorial, sorted alphabetically:

Birgit Nilsson Dead at the Age of 87

Opera critic Joel Kasow gives an overview of the legendary Swedish soprano's career, roles, performances and best recordings available on CD.

Gran Teatro La Fenice: A Virtual Visit on CD-ROM

The Gran Teatro la Fenice needs all the help it can get to rise from its ashes, and the new CD-ROM, "La Fenice: visite virtuelle d'un Opéra à Venise", is a more than worthwhile contribution, as proceeds from its sale will benefit the reconstruction.

La Fête de la Musique

Launched in 1982 by then socialist Minister of Culture Jack Lang, the French fête is by far, the most sympbolic manifestation of the inextricable link between the arts and politics in France. Launched in 1982 by then socialist Minister of Culture Jack Lang, the French fête is by far, the most sympbolic manifestation of the inextricable link between the arts and politics in France.

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