Chivalrous. Respected. Erudite. Wise.

Elizabeth Zharoff on the Radio


Earlier this month COMMANDOpera designated three American soprano’s as the singular artists to watch for in 2012 as they continue their ascent to the top ranks of the art form globally. Miss Elizabeth Zharoff is spoken of by impresario’s across America with great delight. The artist will be featured on a radio broadcast today with Performance Today which COMMANDOpera will be looking into. Global readers may likely be able to download the half hour spot if they are not available to hear it live. Miss Zharoff will perform excerpts which are not to be missed.

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Mr. Gregory Dahl Debuts di Luna


Photo Credit: Mr. Yves Renaud courtesy of the Opera de Montreal

The sensational Canadian baritone with the physique of Atlas and the platinum vocal instrument which recalls early Renato Bruson, will debut the role of Count di Luna in Il Trovatore this evening (exclusive final dress photograph above… codpiece intact). The performance tonight at the Opera de Montreal where Mr. Gregory Dahl makes his role debut, is sold out. The following three performances have only scattered tickets available. COMMANDOpera does not believe the huge interest is in either the soprano who is essaying Leonora, or the tenor who stepped in only last week to replace the announced artist. No. The pandemonium which will take place at curtain tonight will be when Mr. Dahl takes to the stage.

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Chicago Aida Final Dress

The AIDA prima will be live streamed globally  from the Lyric Opera of Chicago tomorrow evening on http://www.wfmt.com/ courtesy of the Matthew Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Live Broadcast series. COMMANDOpera reveals the Final Dress photographs in sequence (Amneris judgement scene is not included) for those who are following the broadcast. All photo credits Mr. Dan Rest courtesy of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.


















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The Baritone George Gagnidze


Photo Credit: Mr. Ken Howard courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

COMMANDOpera has known of the Georgian Baritone George Gagnidze for some time. He is most recently heard at the Metropolitan essaying his typically vicious Scarpia to great acclaim (to such a degree it would seem he was the actual drawing card beyond the excellent company he kept in that Tosca). COMMANDOpera will commence negotiations with his people to undertake a formal interview for global readers to more fully acquaint themselves with this exceptional global talent. For now, here is Mr. Gagnidze essaying the te deum in a must watch Tosca extract.

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When in Rome…..

COMMANDOpera obviously passes a great length of time at theatres attending prima’s. Critics however, are rarely invited to the theatre for rehearsals. With good reason, for it is similar to a figure skating competition where judges actually consider the three minute advance warm up, though they should not. COMMANDOpera once attended a final dress of a Norma where the Adalgisa obviously suffered brutally from a lack of clear technique, and though her actual performance on stage was decent, the rehearsal was so sensationally awful in its revelation, one could not help but be coloured by it and the truth.

The above video arrives from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma for the upcoming Candide, and captures wholly the atmosphere found in the theatre during rehearsals which culminate to an opening night. The camaraderie artists speak of is palpable and there can be no question of the family units which evolve through each production. If global readers are inclined to know this unique world, then enjoy this video. What is the deal with the fork?

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La Boheme Prima in Oslo





Photo Credits: Mr. Eric Berg courtesy of Den Norske Opera

La boheme will open this evening in a new production at Den Norske Opera in Oslo. The production has been set in a modern period with Mimi dying of cancer as opposed to tuberculosis (much more relevant and real in today’s society in the opinion of COMMANDOpera). Miss Marita Solberg and Miss Mariann Fjeld Olsen alternate as Mimi, Messrs Diego Torre and Daniel Johansson alternate as Rodolfo, Messrs Vasily Ladyuk and Yngve A. Solberg alternate as Marcello, hile Miss Jennifer Rowley and Miss Nina Gravok alternate as Musetta. The February 4th performance will be simulcast throughout Norway: a first for the company. COMMANDOpera would looks forward to the day when Den Norske Opera works are globally broadcast given their exceptionally high standards. The Theatre writes in their press release:  La Bohème is the most performed opera production ever in Norway. Director Stefan Herheim grew up with the Norwegian National Opera’s old production from 1963, which was performed up until the move to Norway’s new Opera House in 2008. In this new, contemporary interpretation of La Bohème, Stefan Herheim and his scenographer and designer Heike Scheele incorporate the old production. Here the principal female character Mimi does not die of tuberculosis as in Puccini’s original 19th century work, but of cancer. “In bringing La Bohème into a present-day setting with this new production, we hope to revive the immediate power of suggestion and importance that this work at one time revelled in,” says Stefan Herheim. Stefan Herheim is one of the most sought-after opera directors in Europe right now. He has worked in leading opera venues around the world including in Bayreuth, the Salzburg Festival and Deutsche Staatsoper, and is behind some of the biggest successes staged by the Norwegian National Opera such as Julius Caesar, Tannhäuser and Lulu. This new production of La Bohème pairs him with another international star, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Chief conductor of NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, in what is their first collaboration together.

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Dallas Opera 2012 2013


The Dallas Opera has announced the 2012 2013 season which falls on the heels of the stunning new commission announcement. While a compact season, the stars are very much in evidence. Click on the photographs to be taken to the direct Dallas Opera page.


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GREAT SCOTT Jonathan Pell


LATE in the evening of the 17th, The Dallas Opera sensationally announced publicly through an exclusive event with Dallas Opera donors what had been buzzing around corridors throughout global theatres for the past month: a newly commissioned work pairing Composer Jake Heggie and Librettist Terrence McNally entitled GREAT SCOTT. The announcement virtually short circuited all else that occurred earlier that day announced by other theatres, given the breath taking scope of the talent assembled. COMMANDOpera had a suspicion a short while ago something was in the wind, yet regardless of standing with this theatre, there were zero leaks whatsoever. Unbeknownst to COMMANDOpera the announcement was received in the mail at precisely 9:40 P.M. that  evening, however it was not until 4 A.M. the following morning when this venue was awakened with the news. Suffice to say the day began at that moment with a volley of emails directed towards the Dallas Opera and commenced laying a veritable siege on those inner precincts. COMMANDOpera immediately went live with a breaking news story and was the first important venue to go globally live (AP excepted) with what little one had, enlarging the stunning announcement as the Dallas Opera began the task of feeding the ensuing media frenzy.

COMMANDOpera has just now concluded an exclusive interview with the famed Artistic Director of The Dallas Opera, Mr. Jonathan Pell to discuss GREAT SCOTT.

Mr. Pell explained he first spoke to composer Jake Heggie for a commitment to do another new commission for The Dallas Opera while Moby Dick was preparing for its premiere. No one at that time could have predicted the huge success the work has now become. Mr. Heggie agreed in principal but requested time to more thoroughly revolve the the idea in his mind given the real time requirements of Moby Dick at that moment. As it happened, The Dallas Opera had for years been looking for a suitable vehicle for Miss Joyce DiDonato to make her debut at the theatre. Mr. Pell had known the artist long before she was a student at the AVA, and it was the perfect storm given Mr. Heggie and Miss DiDonato are great friends. Mr. Heggie and Mr. McNally had already collaborated in Dead Man Walking, so when Miss DiDonato (who is also a great friend with Mr. MacNally) suggested the playwright, the deal was done. Mr. Pell then looked at suitable dates to offer the premiere which would give sufficient time to conclude the writing of the work, and one where both Miss DiDonato and Maestro Evan Rogister were available: the world premiere was set as the 2015 2016 season opener. Mr. Pell refused to be drawn in to answer who would be directing GREAT SCOTT, although he would allow the individual considered is prominently known in both theatrical and operatic circles.

The Artistic Director does not micro manage affairs from this moment forward, however Mr. Pell and everyone else was most thrilled when Mr. McNally determined this would literally be a new  story drawn specifically for the commission. Although not written the sketch for GREAT SCOTT is as follows: ‘A famous American singer who has been the subject of a 60 MINUTES profile goes back home to star in a production of a forgotten masterpiece of the bel canto repertory. Arden Scott belongs to the world now but she is a hometown girl at heart.  She has never looked back until now. ROSA DOLOROSA, FIGLIA DI POMPEI is her occasion to do so’. There will be an erupting volcano (note picture above), two mad scenes, and a ballet among other devices. This will be an Opera within an Opera similar to Ariadne auf Naxos it would seem, however global readers will have to wait to find out where this all goes for our poor heroine Arden Scott.

COMMANDOpera was curious about funding such a monumental production in these economic times and asked Mr. Pell accordingly. The Dallas Opera has a great number of supportive patrons, and among those, ones who particularly enjoy funding new works. In this case, The Eugene McDermott Foundation and the Hoblitzelle Foundation. These are significant underwriters who COMMANDOpera must thank on behalf of global readers for their extreme generosity. At this moment in time the phone is ringing from other theatres in regards to collaborating on this work. COMMANDOpera suspects this production is going to be box office gold for any theatre who is in.

This article marks the first in a series of exclusive ‘GREAT SCOTT’ interviews.

COMMANDOpera would like to thank The Dallas Opera for their kind assistance in bringing this series to readers across the globe.

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COMMANDOpera is Anti SOPA


COMMANDOpera opposes the American SOPA legislation alongside other global websites.

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GREAT SCOTT Dallas Opera


THE DALLAS OPERA  ANNOUNCES A MAJOR AND SENSATIONAL NEW COMMISSION: Composer Jake Heggie and Librettist Terrence McNally team to create A TDO World Premiere Opera.

GREAT SCOTT TO OPEN THE DALLAS OPERA’S 2015 – 2016 SEASON STARRING MEZZO-SOPRANO JOYCE DIDONATO with MAESTRO EVAN ROGISTER on the podium.

COMMANDOpera has opened negotiations with The Dallas Opera to undertake a series of exclusive interviews with the principals involved in this landmark announcement at the soonest possible juncture for global readers, including: Dallas Opera Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Composer Jake Heggie, Librettist Terrence McNally, and Maestro Evan Rogister.


Composer Jake Heggie          Photo Credit: Miss Ellen Appel

Mr. Heggie offered: “In the remarkable wake of Moby-Dick, I am over the moon to return to The Dallas Opera for my next grand opera. And a brave project it is: a big, new American opera based on an original libretto by one of our most honored and beloved playwrights, the great Terrence McNally. This is our first major collaboration since Dead Man Walking back in 2000, and we are ecstatic to work together again. GREAT SCOTT promises to challenge, inspire and delight us all, especially as it is being created for one of the most beloved and brilliant opera stars of our time, Joyce DiDonato. The musical and dramatic possibilities have my imagination bubbling over! And once again, I am deeply impressed by the vision, courage, leadership and commitment to bold, new work by the entire Dallas Opera family and community. The creation of a new opera takes the support, participation and enthusiasm of an entire community –and Dallas rallies like no other city I know.”


Librettist Terrence McNally

Mr. McNally describes the plot of the new commission: “What happens when a famous American singer who has been the subject of a 60 MINUTES profile goes back home to star in a production of a forgotten masterpiece of the bel canto repertory?  Arden Scott belongs to the world now but she is a hometown girl at heart.  She has never looked back until now.  ROSA DOLOROSA, FIGLIA DI POMPEI  (COMMANDOpera feels the opera within the opera is going to be worth the ticket price) is her occasion to do so. “ROSA is a grand opera complete with two mad scenes, an erupting volcano, a children’s chorus and corps de ballet……. every conceivable disaster awaits them.  Will mere human resources be equal to the opera’s inhuman demands?  The rehearsals and performance of ROSA will mirror the upheaval of Arden Scott’s own life”.


Maestro Evan Rogister          Photo Credit: Dario Costa

The legendary Artistic Director of the Dallas Opera, Mr. Jonathan Pell advised: “We began talking with Jake about the next possible collaboration during the tremendously successful opening of Moby-Dick… It’s very exciting to know that we will be working with Jake again on a major, new project and, in the process, have an opportunity to work with one of America’s greatest playwrights.  Terrence McNally has written many of the most important and influential stage works of the past quarter-century and I can’t wait to see where he—and Jake—take us next.”

COMMANDOpera will attend the prima.

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