George Enescu (1881-1955) is one of Romania’s best known composer. Enescu was a musical prodigy, studying music in Vienna at the age of 7 before transferring to the Paris Conservatoire in 1895. At the Conservatoire, he studied composition under Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré. He remained active in Paris as a violinist and conductor ofContinue reading “The saxophone and Oedipus, how George Enescu used the saxophone in his only opera, OEdipe”
Category Archives: Opera Streaming
Watch the saxophone solos in Léo Delibes ballet, “Sylvia”
In 2019, the Wiener Staatsoper ballet staged Sylvia by Léo Delibes. This classic Romantic styled staging harkens back to the premiere of the ballet at the Palais Garnier in its opening season 1876. The ballet was poorly received when it premiered, but with the strength of its score and new stagings and choreography, the balletContinue reading “Watch the saxophone solos in Léo Delibes ballet, “Sylvia””
Opera Streams of the Week, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs on 5/6/2022 and more…
The Atlanta Opera is livestreaming The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs by Mason Bates this Friday, May 6th at 8 pm ET. Originally commissioned by the Sante Fe opera, this production The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs is a coproduction with the Austin Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Calgary Opera, and the Utah Opera. Tickets toContinue reading “Opera Streams of the Week, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs on 5/6/2022 and more…”
The Operatic Saxophone turns one year old—celebrate it by watching opera
Two years ago when everything shut down due to Covid, I started watching the daily streams of the Metropolitan Opera. My interest in opera started before then, but with all the free time and the Met’s high production value, this was the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of opera. Outside of the knowledgeContinue reading “The Operatic Saxophone turns one year old—celebrate it by watching opera”
Watch the premiere of “The Time of Our Singing,” featuring Saxophonist Mark Turner
Belgian composer and jazz pianist Kris Defoort premiered a new opera last month, The Time of Our Singing. This opera is based on Richard Powers’ 2003 novel of the same name which tells the story of a mixed raced family growing up during racial segregation in America. This production is staged by the Belgian operaContinue reading “Watch the premiere of “The Time of Our Singing,” featuring Saxophonist Mark Turner”
Hamlet: Streaming on Met on Demand, 5/5-5/6
One of the first operas to feature the alto saxophone, Ambroise Thomas’s 1868 opera, Hamlet is streaming tonight on Met on Demand. You can watch it here until Thursday, May 6th: https://www.metopera.org/season/on-demand/opera/?upc=811357013625 Here is the Metropolitan Opera’s description of this 2010 production. “After over a century out of the Met’s repertoire, audiences were thrilled toContinue reading “Hamlet: Streaming on Met on Demand, 5/5-5/6”
Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, now streaming on Operavision
Sergei Prokofiev’s 1936 masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet, is now streaming on Operavision. This new production is from the Polish National Ballet. It will be streaming until 8/16/21. Romeo and Juliet has a well known tenor saxophone solo, you can hear it in at minute 26:35 during the “Montagues and Capulets” scene, one of it’s mostContinue reading “Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, now streaming on Operavision”
Werther streaming on Met on Demand 4/2-4/3
Jules Massenet’s tragic opera about the love struck poet, Werther, is streaming on Met on Demand on April 1st. You can watch the production here: https://www.metopera.org/season/on-demand/opera/?upc=811357017296 From the Metropolitan Opera, “Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann brings aching intensity and vocal charisma to the tortured title hero of Massenet’s Goethe adaptation. Sophie Koch, in her Met debut,Continue reading “Werther streaming on Met on Demand 4/2-4/3”
Mahagonny Songspiel streaming from La Scala 3/18
Tomorrow, Teatro alla Scala in Milan is streaming a duo of operas from Kurt Weill. First up is Die Sieben Todsünden, then Mahagonny Songspiel. These performances will be available on Thursday, March 18th at 8 pm CET. You can find the livestream here. https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/2020-2021/opera/die-sieben-todsunden-mahagonny-songspiel.html Mahagonny Songspiel debuted in 1927. This scenic cantata is a collectionContinue reading “Mahagonny Songspiel streaming from La Scala 3/18”
Doubt now streaming on Great Performances
Douglas J. Cuomo adapted John Patrick Shanley’s 2005 Broadway play, Doubt for the Minnesota Opera New Works. This opera premiered in 2013 and now you can watch this 2019 production, now streaming on Great Performances. Starring Christine Brewer, Adriana Zabala, Matthew Worth and Denyce Graves. Doubt uses the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. This operaContinue reading “Doubt now streaming on Great Performances”
the Operatic Saxophone 