“You have love, war, passion and betrayal — all the situations that you can sing about in an opera, you can find them in Aida.” — Riccardo Massi, Italian spinto tenor He’s a soldier, captain of the ...

Perhaps Verdi's most famous tune, Va pensiero is claimed as the anthem for Italian unification, a call to arms for the oppressed everywhere. But, in fact, the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves acquired its ...

When serving up poignancy, there cannot be contrivance unless it is intended. In any other form, its presence will dull and deflate the impact of the emotional revelation. Verdi’s Rigoletto is an ...

The Canadian Opera Company has announced six shows for its 2025-26 season, including a major new production of Massenet’s “Werther” and the return of a Verdi classic. The upcoming lineup, announced ...

Verdi’s Requiem is, some say, his greatest opera: passionate emotions in a deeply powerful sacred drama of life and death itself. Great artists who aspire to touch the stars have their heroes. Verdi ...