It was once again time to catch up with the deliciously busy Ermonela Jaho, described in The Economist as “the world’s most acclaimed soprano.” But was it more than that, Jaho is surely one of the most eloquent and outspoken

Greek National Opera’s revival of Katie Mitchell’s production for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is based around the idea of a split stage. This idea sometimes worked and other times was just a distraction. Singing would take place on

Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) composed three operas often grouped as his “Tudor Queens” series: Anna Bolena (1830), Maria Stuarda (1835), and Roberto Devereux (1837). They represent some of the finest examples of bel canto writing, blending historical intrigue with dramatic storytelling

In September 2023 Opera Rara launched one of its most ambitious projects in its 50-year history. Spearheaded by Carlo Rizzi and Roger Parker, the “Donizetti Song Project” aimed to record the nearly 200 Donizetti songs, many of them unheard and

The opera buffa Don Pasquale, which was first staged on 3 January 1843 by the Théâtre-Italien at the Salle Ventadour, was an instant success. No wonder, as it was introduced by four of the most celebrated singers of the day,

175 years ago, Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) died in a state of mental derangement due to neurosyphilis. His disease was confirmed by autopsy, and many commentators have “speculated that the composer’s brain disease may have had an influence on his ability

Opera is a unique mixture of music and theatre; singing and acting each plays an important role in the success of a production. One of the most testing roles is that of the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor. In

L’Elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) is one of the most beloved of all Donizetti’s operas. It combines touching romance and hilarious comedy with beautiful music. Donizetti composed the opera in a six-week period, and it went into rehearsal around