What are they saying about Semiramide?
“In a revival long overdue, Gioachino Rossini’s Semiramide, his Babylonian tale of love, murder, and incest, will return to the Metropolitan Opera….” So wrote Philip Gossett in the New York Times in 1990. Although that revival came after almost 100 years, it does seem like quite a while has passed since the current Semiramide last appeared at the Met.
Those 1990 performances were phenomenal mostly because, as Gossett put it “ In the cast are four of the world’s greatest Rossini singers: Lella Cuberil, Marilyn Horne, Chris Merritt and Samuel Ramey. “
Indeed, these artists became so associeted with those roles that it is hard to imagine anyone else assuming them at the Met. Read More
The Friends of the Rossini Opera Festival celebrates its 10th birthday
And what better way than with appearances of Daniela Barcelona and Juan Diego Florez, two members of the Honorary Board at ROF 2018
Barcelona will be appearing in a performance of Petite Messe Solennelle which closes the Festival, and Florez in three performances of Ricciardo e Zoraide. It is not too late to join the Friends for the 2018 season and obtain the opportunity to order tickets before the general public.
Semiramide returns to the Metropolitan Opera
From February 19th to March 17th, the iconic John Copley production production first seen in 1990 will return to the Metropolitain Opera. On March 10th it will be seen in cinemas throughout the US. For foreign screenings check your local theater.
Tributes to Philip Gossett
The passing of Professor Philip Gossett, earlier this year, brought tributes and acclamation in the numerous obituaries that were published shortly after his death. The loss of Gossett is particularly profound for the American Rossini Society which he supported from the start and served as honorary president.
We invited some of the many scholars, artists, and students who worked with Professor Gossett over the years to share some of their memories. We have assembled them below, and will be adding more over time as contributions are submitted. Read More
Be sure to get to the Barber in October!
Seattle Opera will bring “The Barber of Seville” on Oct 14,15,18,20,31,22,25 & 28. Check out Seattleopera.org for details.
Hurry, there are no Barbers during the month of November ANYWHERE in the US!
So, now is the time to pay a visit!
William Tell is coming to New Mexico for the first time ever!
In anticipation of the event, we invited the artists responsible for this, Anthony Barrese to share some thoughts about this masterpiece. Information about the performances (Oct 22, 25, 27, 29 in Albuquerque) can be found on the Opera Southwest website.
Hope you enjoy the Q and A with Maestro Barrese!
Q. To repeat the anecdote of Rossini being met in the street with the news that the Paris Opera would be giving Act Two of Guillaum Tell, May we ask of your performances, as Rossini did, “What the whole of it?” Or to put it another way, what cuts (assuming there are some), are you making and what influenced your to make the specific cuts you have?
Read More
Tributes to Alberto Zedda
The passing of Alberto Zedda earlier this year was an incredible loss to the international Rossini community. Many are still in denial and the loss won’t seem real until this year’s edition of the Rossini Opera Festival his presence will greatly be missed. Those who did not have the chance to know or work with Maestro Zedda may get an idea of the magnitude of the loss from the following tributes and recollections which we have gathered here.
Everyone who was approached about making contributions kindly agreed; No doubt there are many more who would have contributed had we been able to contact them. Our apologies to those who are not included. Some contributions are in Italian and in some cases difficult to translate. We include the Italian text with a few highlights translated to English. Read More
A chance to hear a discussion with Larry Wolff at ROF2017
Among the “Incontri” offered this year is a “conversation” with Larry Wolff, featured in our recent interview.
It will be held on the 21st of August at 11 AM in the Sala Della Repubblica of the Teatro Rossini. This is a unique opportunity to hear Professor Wolff discuss issues in his book “The Singing Turk”. Admission is free.
Understanding the Siege of Corinth: What Rossini’s (and Mozart’s) Turkish operas say about Western Relations with the Middle East
The Rossini Opera Festival will be featuring Le Siège de Corinthe this summer in Pesaro. It will be quite a historic event because in addition to the ROF debut of Luca Pisaroni it will feature “new” music not heard before in performance.
In anticipation of this performance we invited Professor Larry Wolff, Professor of History and Director of the Center for European and Mediterranean Studies at New York University and author of the recently published “The Singing Turk: Ottoman Power and Operatic Emotions on the European Stage from the Siege of Vienna to the Age of Napoleon“, to give us some insight into why composers have been drawn to Turkish characters and settings. What he says may change your understanding and appreciation of both Mozart’s and Rossini’s “Turkish” operas.
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Q. Your recently published book “The Singing Turk”, has arrived at quite an interesting time! With ROF’s performance of Turco last summer, to their performances of Siege and Pietra this coming summer. And of course the Met’s L’Italiana last fall! What do you think continues to fascinate audiences with these themes today? Read More
Luca Pisaroni will perform the role of Mahomet at ROF this summer!
The Rossini Opera festival announced today, May 11th, that Luca Pisaroni will be Mahomet in this summer’s Siege. This will be Pisaroni’s first Mahomet (although he has sung Maometto to great acclaim). There is extra good news for his fans in that his recital in Pesaro will not be canceled, but simply postponed. We will share more details as we get them. Be sure to read our interview with him here!