Salazar Family Opera Circle celebrates its one year anniversary

Last year on May 30, 2011 the first article for our opera blog was published. That was the first annual HD awards. Now after one year 235 articles have been written with over 50 comments published by the fans. Our facebook page has 38 fans and our twitter has 9 followers. Finally the page has received over 38,000 hits.

Thank you so much to the audience because without you we would have an empty blog. We hope that you continue to enjoy this blog over the next year. Finally if you still have not joined our facebook page here is our link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salazar-Opera-Family-Circle-Blog/131589273593801.

HERE'S TO ANOTHER YEAR OF GREAT BLOGGING!

Kaufmann's illness continues

After canceling the Met's Walkure and Zurich's Kaufmann Gala, news has arrived that Jonas Kaufmann has withdrawn from the anticipated Les Troyens production at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and from the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore recitals.

Speculations are now arising of whether he will sing in Ariadne Auf Naxos and Carmen in Salzburg this summer. As for the Les Troyens, Bryan Hymel will takeover the role of Enee and the Royal Albert Hall concert will take place with Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott. The Wigmore recital has been cancelled. 

Barbara Frittoli will sing Don Carlo at the Met

After major casting changes announced last week, the Met has just announced that Barbara Frittoli will sing the role of Elisabetta in Don Carlo replacing Sondra Radvanovsky who will be singing Un Ballo in Maschera.

Democracy prevails!

Earlier today I published an article about Peter Gelb not allowing Opera News to publish reviews about the Metropolitan Opera Performances. Now the Press Office releases this "In view of the outpouring of reaction from opera fans about the recent decision to discontinue Met performance reviews in Opera News, the Met has decided to reverse this new editorial policy. From their postings on the internet, it is abundantly clear that opera fans would miss reading reviews about the Met in Opera News. Ultimately, the Met is here to serve the opera-loving public and has changed its decision because of the passionate response of the fans.

The Met and the Met Opera Guild, the publisher of Opera News, have been in discussions about the role of the Guild and how its programs and activities can best fulfill its mission of supporting the Metropolitan Opera. These discussions have included the role of reviews in Opera News, and whether they served that mission.  While the Met believed it did not make sense for a house organ that is published by the Guild and financed by the Met to continue to review Met productions, it has become clear that the reviews generate tremendous excitement and interest and will continue to have a place in Opera News."

I guess Mr. Gelb isn't the dictator we all thought.  

Gelb: The Dictator

Yesterday it was announced that after 76 years, Opera News, one of the leading classical music magazines in the country, would stop reviewing the Metropolitan Opera, a policy prompted by the Met’s dissatisfaction over negative critiques.” The decision came after negative reviews for the Ring Cycle, Gelb's most ambitious project to date. The decision however is  is troubling as it shows Gelb's lack of confidence in his product and his lack his sensitivity toward criticism. The Magazine run by the members of the Guild stopped reviewing Met productions in 2012. This announcement comes a few months after Gelb protested the WQXR blogger's comments on the Ring. For more information click here


The fact that this is occurring will put discord to many who read the magazine as it will be censored. I for one always enjoyed reading about the Met's production whether they were negative or positive. What do you think about this topic and do you believe Gelb is censoring by not allowing people to have their opinions written? 

BREAKING NEWS: Natalie Dessay cancels June Manon and Netrebko comes to the rescue

Natalie Dessay who has been suffering from health issues since her Met Traviata has canceled the new production premiere of Manon at La Scala. Anna Netrebko who is currently singing Giuletta in I Capuleti e Montecchi will step in for the premiere on June 19 and 22. The Diva premiered Laurent Pelly's production in the Royal Opera House in 2010 and in the Metropolitan Opera this past April 2012.  Ermonela Jaho will step in on the 25, 29 of June and 2, 5, 7 of July. 


Update: Anna Netrebko has cancelled the final two performances of I Capuleti e Montecchi

I Capuleti e Montecchi videos

For those who missed the live stream from Saturday evening, here are some videos of the  superb transmission.
update: The following videos have been taken down by the user