Contents
FRONT OF HOUSE 5 EDITORIAL Opera should be proud of its international credentials 6 LETTERS Your thoughts and suggestions 8 THE ESSAY As travel restrictions increase around the world, can opera continue to transcend borders as a truly global art form? 10 NEWS & NOTES Remembering Elijah Moshinsky, Iford Opera appoints a CEO with fresh vision, Lise Davidsen’s new album
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46-55 LIVE REVIEWS Belisario, Marino Faliero and Le nozzze in villa at the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo (46), Zaide at Rome Opera (50), Pagliacci at The Grange (52), St Francoise d’Assise at Theatre Basel (54) 56-62 RECORDING Ludovic Tézier shows why he is the consummate Verdi baritone of our time. Three sopranos on their best form on new solo albums. A superb Fidelio directed by Christoph Waltz on DVD from the Theater an der Wien. An ‘unmissable’ recording of Eccles’ Semele from the Acadamy of Ancient Music. Christoph Rousset’s enthusiasm for Antonio Salieri’s operas continues with his new Armida and more… 63-67 BOOKS Our round-up of recent music titles to pique the interest of opera lovers, including biographies of Mozart, Beethoven, Barber, Poulenc and Humperdinck
77-80 SPOTLIGHT A guide to international opera in a changing world
COVER PHOTO: LEA SCHNEIDER
‘If you dream big, what you want comes a little closer. If you don’t dream at all you never make it’
CONTENTS
14 LETTER FROM Florida – where you’ll find live opera in the sun 18 FROM THE HEART Our cover artist Korean soprano Hera Hyesang Park brings a thoughtful, positive energy to her exquisite mastery of the art of bel canto. She discusses the launch of her first solo album for Deutsche Grammophon 25 THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP While regular political diplomatic channels can be strained, the KT Wong Foundation has been developing opera projects that bring China and the wider world closer together
29 HOME AND AWAY Looking back at a fading generation of great singers who had pioneering careers on the world stage… or found success nearer home
68-75 UK SUMMER FESTIVALS GUIDE
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34 ARTIST PROFILE How soprano Mary Bevan has been keeping singers and musicians busy during lockdown 38 FUTURE OPERA Continuing our series examining how opera is adapting and changing as a result of the pandemic. Part 3: The composer 43 TRAVELS FROM MY ARMCHAIR Grounded at home during the pandemic, Professor Anthony Ogus explores the world of opera on stream 82 QUIZ Put your operatic knowledge to the test
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OperaNow March/April 2021 3
