Here we will list links to other web sites and blogs that we at Opera Lively endorse for their quality and high standards.
First, our first official partnership with a professional opera company - we are proud and honored that maestro James Meena, artistic director and principal conductor at Opera Carolina, has accepted us as one of his Media Partners. Opera Carolina is one of the premier regional companies in the United States, with high standards of quality, presenting beautiful productions in the state-of-the-art, 2,100-seat Belk Theater in Charlotte, NC. Their web site is very informative, with excellent content including some 50 in-depth analyses of different operas - look for their interesting Operaphobic Guides which can be downloaded in pdf format. Visit them at www.operacarolina.org, and see one of their productions which you can find announced in our Local area.
Second, our second official partner, UNC Opera, is the opera program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Music. They produce regularly (twice a year) operas with a focus on contemporary American composers, and boast undergrad and grad voice and opera education.
Our sixth partners to join us are Asheville Lyric Opera, the company from Western North Carolina headquartered in a beautiful and arts-rich mountain city. They are in their 14th season. A trip to Asheville to see one of their productions is a treat, given that the city offers outstanding gourmet restaurants, upscale hotels and spas, wineries, art galleries, etc. Visit their web site at www.ashevillelyric.org.
CVNC.org is an online arts journal in North Carolina. Its acronym stands for Classical Voice of North Carolina, but since it has expanded to cover many other disciplines beyond classical music, it now goes exclusively by its initials. It covers music, dance, theater, opera, and visual arts. John W. Lambert, its executive editor, is an insightful and competent critic, and the journal, in its 12th year of operation, counts on many other collaborators (33 distinguished arts writers, plus interns in two colleges). Joel Adams and Joe Kahn are co-chairs. Reviews and calendars are provided - it contains the most extensive performing arts calendar in the state (annualy, they list about 2,500 events!). Those interested in diffusing their events should send email to events@cvnc.org. Opera Lively is happy to endorse this organization - a worthy destination for donations, for those who want to support the performing and visual arts, since it helps diffusing - for free - the events offered by many NC non-profits.
Ionarts.org is a web site with high quality coverage of classical music and opera, including reviews of live opera, CDs and DVDs, and links to broadcasts. It's very well done, by Charles T. Downey, who also freelances for the Washington Post. We recommend it.
www.voix-des-arts.com is a North Carolina-based web site by Joseph Newsome, who is passionate about opera and classical music, having received musical education in piano, violin, and voice. We are glad to know that he also supports one of our favorite charities, UNICEF, and we like his well-written and informative reviews. We loved his stated mission: he is "dedicated to ensuring that opera and classical music do not merely endure but triumph in the 21st century." Please visit his site.
We believe in the work that noted American baritone Mr. Thomas Hampson is doing for the rediscovery of American art songs. Please visit his Hampsong Foundation site.
More links will be added to this space as we develop more partnerships and relationships with other content providers - stay tuned.
Totally awesome recording of a totally awesome opera!
First one is 1960 studio recording.