Rigoletto The background Plot Things to look out for About the opera The opera that made Verdi change path… He was 37 years of age, and he had already written 16 great operas. These had made him a celebrity. He was regarded as the nr.1 Opera-composer in Italy. Titles such as Nabucco, Ernani, Attila, and … Read more
Madama Butterfly A background Plot Things to look out for Different versions Giacomo Puccini himself said many times that of all his tragic female protagonists, Madama Butterfly is the one closest to his heart. Maybe that is why Madama Butterfly is the most tear-jerking of all of Puccini’s operas. Her tragic destiny, her youth, and … Read more
Il Barbiere di Sevilla – The Barber of Seville Plot Things to look out for About the composer The voice of Rosina The background In 1772 Pierre Beaumarchais wrote a comedy called Le Barbier de Séville ou la Précaution inutile (The Barber of Seville or The useless precaution). The play immediately, or almost immediately (Beaumarchais had … Read more
Le Nozze di Figaro – The Marriage of Figaro Plot Things to look out for About The Marriage of Figaro Le Nozze di Figaro started out in the spring of 1786, and it was an immediate success. But before that, it was very uncertain if it ever could have been written. The play it is … Read more
Tosca Plot Things to look out for About the opera Fun facts Tosca is the most veristic of Puccini’s operas. It is probable that he didn’t aim to write in a particular way or to add verismo attributes. He probably just wrote the best music he could. The subject is such that it somehow turned … Read more
La Traviata The Background Plot Things to look out for About La Traviata The Voice of Violetta https://youtu.be/iIYTMuYoBTs?feature=shared Premiere – March 6, 1853, Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy Premiere of the revised version – May 6, 1854, Teatro San Benedetto, Venice, Italy Composer – Giuseppe Verdi Librettist – Francesco Maria Piave Running Time – ca. … Read more
Die Zauberflöte – The Magic Flute Plot Things to look out for About the opera About the composer The magic flute was Mozart’s last completed opera. When finishing the score he was ill, under severe economic stress, and possibly quite depressed. His La Clemenza di Tito, written for the coronation of Leopold II in Prague, … Read more
Fidelio Plot Things to look out for The long process of writing an opera Ludwig van Beethoven is not a particularly good vocal composer. Somebody may object to that, but having sung Fidelio and many other vocal compositions by the Maestro, I can definitely say that his incredible knowledge of symphonic and instrumental music, didn’t carry … Read more
La Bohème Plot Things to look out for About the opera La Bohème is the most or at least one of the three most-played operas in the world. It has an incredible impact on anyone watching it and its astonishingly beautiful music has made it a must for every opera house of importance. It is … Read more
Carmen Plot Things to look out for About the performance tradition Bizet’s most famous Opera. Carmen was the last of Bizet’s Operas, and the last work he completed Even though it was repeated 44 times after the premier, until June, Bizet was convinced it was a flop. He actually wasn’t at all that famous as … Read more