Mar 17th, 2010 · The jazz pianist has improvised around Beatles songs. He's written works for operatic soprano Renee Fleming. And now, with his new double album, Highway Rider, he's created a large-scale work for chamber orchestra and jazz ensemble, produced by pop artist Jon Brion.
Mar 16th, 2010 · One opera singer's illness is another's opportunity. Marlis Petersen jumped in at the last minute to take on a leading role at the Met, in New York, when the star soprano pulled out. The only catch was that she had to learn and rehearse the rarely performed opera in just 48 hours.
Mar 12th, 2010 · The world premiere of Anna Nicole will be presented by London's Royal Opera next February. It will star Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek as the late model and Playboy playmate. Smith died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007. She was 39.
Feb 26th, 2010 · On this edition of World of Opera, host Lisa Simeone presents Jules Massenet's Manon in a production from the Vienna State Opera. It features a brilliant performance by soprano Diana Damrau as Manon, with tenor Ramon Vargas as Des Grieux.
Feb 17th, 2010 · The young British soprano Kate Royal grew up in a pop-music household with a singer-songwriter as a father. But she found her way to classical music and now has a blossoming career. Hear her sing Mahler in concert with the L.A. Philharmonic.
Jan 23rd, 2010 · The 25-year-old won the prestigious Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2007. When American soprano Renee Fleming heard him perform in Shanghai, she was floored — so she encouraged him to go to Juilliard in New York. This past year, Shenyang made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera, and he'll soon appear in La Boheme.
Dec 4th, 2009 · The striking Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri stars as Marguerite in Houston Grand Opera's production of Gounod's Faust, alongside celebrated bass Samuel Ramey in one of his trademark roles as Mephistopheles, and tenor William Burden in the title role.
Oct 20th, 2009 · Inspired by the emotionally charged and virtuosic music of the Baroque era, the adventurous mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli's new CD is devoted to the dazzling music associated with the age of the castrati. Hear the album in its entirety for the week leading up to its Oct. 27 release.