Tag Archives: Opera

Ben Heppner–Recollections

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Canadian tenor Ben Heppner has announced his retirement from the opera and recital stage, at the age of 58. Heppner found his calling as a heldentenor, specializing in German repertory, specifically Wagner. He won the Metropolitan Opera’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged ben heppner, canada, jake heggie, Ludwig van Beethoven, Opera, richard wagner, tenor | 3 Comments

Fritz Wunderlich, Five Ways

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Don’t get me started on the subject of tenors. I have so many favorites it’s ridiculous. Some days it’s the peerless elegance and linguistic versatility of Nicolai Gedda. Some days it’s the ringing heroism and pure Italian … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged classical music, five ways, fritz wunderlich, funiculi funicula, la boheme, lieder, mozart, Opera, schubert, The Magic Flute | 10 Comments

Brünnhilde Du Jour: An Interview with Christine Goerke

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Few opera singers nowadays are making quite as many waves as American soprano Christine Goerke. Music critics are outdoing themselves with superlatives to describe her: “powerful and assertive” (Washington Post), “a beacon of brilliance” (New York, “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged christine goerke, interview, Opera | 3 Comments

Aria Du Jour

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: This glorious clip comes from a rare, never-aired 1974 Metropolitan Opera telecast of Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann. The late and great Joan Sutherland makes an absolute meal of this infamously difficult aria(“Les oiseaux dans la charmille”). She … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged can can, joan sutherland, metropolitan opera, offenbach, olympia, Opera, placido domingo, singing doll, tales of hoffmann | 1 Comment

“Eugene Onegin”, Five Ways

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Alexander Pushkin’s 1833 novel-poem is one one the acknowledged masterpieces of Russian literature. Its moodiness, beauty, and sheer Russianness, as well as its themes of irrepressible young love and opportunities missed, have made it popular for adaptations … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Movies, Music | Tagged anna netrebko, Ballet, bolshoi, diana vishneva, eugene onegin, five ways, john cranko, liv tyler, marcelo gomes, mariusz kwiecen, onegin, Opera, pushkin, ralph fiennes, Stephen Fry, tchaikovsky | 3 Comments

“The Magic Flute” (2006)

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Kenneth Branagh’s film of Mozart’s opera is the first filmed directly for the screen (Ingmar Bergman’s classic version was initially made for Swedish TV). Branagh made several decisions as a filmmaker that would drastically affect the outcome … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music | Tagged Amy Carson, freemasonry, Joseph Kaiser, Kenneth Branagh, Opera, Rene Pape, Stephen Fry, The Magic Flute | 7 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The Semperoper, Dresden, Germany Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture, Music | Tagged Germany, Gottfried Semper, Neo-Renaissance, Opera | 1 Comment

Rossini Aria Five Ways

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Gioachino Rossini was not only one of the opera genre’s most notable composers, wits, bon vivants, and gourmands (steak grilled in butter, topped with foie gras, and finished with truffles and Madeira? Yes, please); he was a thief. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Music | Tagged Barber of Seville, five ways, foie gras, Frank Lopardo, Gioachino Rossini, La Cenerentola, Opera, steak, tournedos rossini, truffles | 2 Comments

The Camera Loves…

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: …Maria Callas, on what would have been her 90th birthday. (and oh yeah, she could sing, too) Related Google Doodle Pays Tribute to Opera Singer Maria Callas (theloveoftech.wordpress.com)