Opera
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The Life You Give: Virgil Thomson *1896
Virgil Thomson, (born November 25, 1896, Kansas City, Missouri, USA ), American composer, conductor, and music critic whose forward-looking ideas stimulated new lines of thought among contemporary musicians. Thomson studied at Harvard University and later in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, a noted teacher of musical composition. There he was influenced by early 20th-century French composers,…
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Alfredo Kraus, in Massenet’s opera “Werther” in 1976
Join us today at 1:55pm EST, as we listen to Alfredo Kraus, in Werther, by Jules Massenet, at the Opera, Blood, and Tears Club, on Clubhouse. One of the most stylistic, professional and refined tenors of the century, Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus passed away recently in Madrid after a long and outstanding career in the…
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Happy Birthday, Manuel de Falla! 1876
Manuel María de los Dolores Falla y Matheu was born November 23, 1876, in Cádiz, Spain, and is the most distinguished Spanish composer of the early 20th century. In his music he achieved a fusion of poetry, asceticism, and ardour that represents the spirit of Spain at its purest. Falla took piano lessons from his…
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The Devils of Loudon — Opera by Krzysztof Penderecki, based in Aldous Huxley’s nonfiction book.
One of Huxley’s most important later works is The Devils of Loudun (1952), a detailed psychological study of a historical incident in which a group of 17th-century French nuns were allegedly the victims of demonic possession. (Encyclopedia Britannica) Penderecki writes the music and libretto based on this book. It is a historical narrative of supposed demonic possession, religious fanaticism, sexual…
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Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” premiered today in 1862
Listen in at the Opera, Blood and Tears Club, on Clubhouse, at 7:30 pm EST Il Marchese di Calatrava – Kurt MollDonna Leonora – Leontyne PriceDon Carlo di Vargas – Sherrill MilnesDon Alvaro – Plácido DomingoPreziosilla – Fiorenza CossottoPadre Guardiano – Bonaldo GiaiottiFra Melitone – Gabriel BacquierCurra – Gillian KnightTrabuco – Michel SénéchalUn Alcalde –…
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“Peter Grimes” by Benjamin Britten
Join us in listening to this opera, in celebration of Benjamin Britten’s birthday today, at 1pm EST, at the Opera, Blood and Tears Club, on Clubhouse. Music: Benjamin BrittenLibretto: Montague Slater Musicians:Benjamin Britten – conductorPeter Pears – peter grimesClaire Watson – ellen orfordJames Pease – capitän balstrodeJean Watson – auntieDavid Kelly – hobsonOwen Brannigan -…
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René Kollo, in Tannhäuser (1972)
Libretto: Richard Wagner Music: Richard Wagner World premiere: Court Opera, Dresden, 1845Premiere of revised version: Opéra, Paris, 1861René Kollo — Tannhäuser Helga Dernesch — ElisabethWolfgang Brendel — WolframChrista Ludwig — VenusGeorg SoltiVienna Philharmonic Join us, listening at 8:40pm EST, at the Opera, Blood and Tears Club, on Clubhouse. Started: 8:45 / Duration: 3:07 ACT I…
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“Fidelio”, Ludwig van Beethoven’s only Opera, premiered on this day in 1805
Celebrate with us, listening to this masterpiece on November 20 at 11pm EST in the Opera, Blood, and Tears Club, on Clubhouse. CHARACTERS FLORESTAN, a Spanish Nobleman……………………………TenorLEONORE, his wife, in male attire as FIDELIO…….………….SopranoDON FERNANDO, Prime Minister of Spain…………………….BassPIZARRO, Governor of the prison and enemy to FLORESTAN….BassROCCO, chief jailer……………………………………………….BassMARCELLINA, daughter of ROCCO…………………………….SopranoJACQUINO, assistant to ROCCO…………………………………TenorSoldiers,…
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“Oberon” by Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber was born on November 18 1786. In celebration of his life and contributions to music, we will be playing one of his operas on Clubhouse. Please, join us — November 18 at 1 pm EST, at the Opera, Blood, and Tears Club. “Weber’s final opera, and one of his most impressive…
Sila Blume 