Nov 27, 2014Sao Paolo
La damnation de Faust
On the 27th of November, 2014 Michael Spyres will make his South America debut singing the title role of La damnation de Faust with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paolo conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong. The three concerts on the 27th, 28th and 29th will take place at the Sala Sao Paolo.
Nov 04, 2014London
Opera Rara recording and London concert of Donizetti's "Les Martyrs"
On the 4th of November 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Polyeucte in Donizetti's Les Martyrs, the French version of Poliuto at the London Royal Festival Hall. The concert performance will be conducted by Sir Mark Elder and follows recording sessions of the piece for Opera Rara.
http://www.oae.co.uk/event/donizettis-les-martyrs/
Oct 08, 2014Bologna
Arnold in "Guillaume Tell"
Following this year's successful appearances as Arnold in Guillaume Tell at La Monnaie Bruxelles and Wichita Grand Opera Michael Spyres will revive the role in October at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Italy. Michele Mariotti will be conducting and Graham Vick will stage Rossini's masterpiece. Performances on the 8th, 11th, 14th, 16th and 18th of October 2014. More information on the website of the Teatro Comunale
Aug 31, 2014La Côte St André
La Damnation de Faust / Festival Berlioz
On the 31st of August 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Faust in a concert performance of Hector Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at the Festival Berlioz in the composer's native town La Côte St André. François-Xavier Roth will be conducting, Anna Caterina Antonacci will sing Marguerite and Nicolas Courjal will be Méphistophélès.
http://www.festivalberlioz.com/La-Damnation-de-Faust
Aug 26, 2014London
BBC Proms debut in "Missa Solemnis"
On the 26th of August 2014 Michael Spyres will make his BBC London Proms debut in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and will be recorded for a later television broadcast by BBC4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2014/august-26/15000
Aug 19, 2014San Lorenzo in Campo
Michael Spyres to receive Tiberini d'oro Award 2014
On the 19th of August 2014 Michael Spyres and Italian contralto Sonia Prina will be awarded the "Premio
Tiberini d'oro".
The award that in the past has been assigned to artists such as Katia Ricciarelli, Mariella Devia, Samuel Ramey, Chris Merritt, Rockwell Blake and Juan Diego Florez will be given to Spyres and Italian contralto Sonia Prina at the Teatro Tiberini in San Lorenzo in Campo, Italy.
Launched in 1989 by music critic Giosetta Guerra the aim of the International Opera Award
“Mario Tiberini” is to remember Italian tenor Mario Tiberini (1826-1880) who in the 19th
century dominated the international opera scene in a vast reperoire of roles by Rossini,
Bellini, Gounod, Meyerbeer, Donizetti and Verdi among others.
During the award ceremony Sonia Prina, Michael Spyres, guest artist soprano Tara
Stafford and pianist Mirca Rosciani will be performing music from operas such as Giulio
Cesare, Partenope, Rodelinda, La sonnambula, Un ballo in maschera and Il trovatore.
Aug 12, 2014Pesaro
Aureliano in Palmira
In August Michael Spyres will return to the Rossini Opera Festival in the title role ofAureliano in Palmira, the last remaining opera that has never been performed in the composer's home town. Mario Martone's new production will see Jessica Pratt as Zenobia, Lena Belkina as Arsace and Will Crutchfield conducting. Performances on 12, 15, 18 and 22 August 2014.
More information: http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/?IDC=470&ID=566
Jul 11, 2014Rossini in Wildbad
Hommage à Arnold Nourrit
On the 11th and 13th of July 2014 Michael Spyres will sing two concerts at Rossini in Wildbad with arias written for the French tenor Adolphe Nourrit [1802 - 1839]. The program will include known and celebrated pieces such as Arnolds aria and cabaletta from Guillaume Tell as well as arias from rarely performed operas such as Auber's Le philtre or Niedermeyer's Stradella. David Parry will be conducting.
More information on http://www.bad-wildbad.de/rossini/programm/eroeffnung-koenigliches-kurtheater-mit-rossini-in-wildbadhommage-adolphe-nourrit-teil-1-id_5095/
Jun 24, 2014St Denis Festival
Rossini's "La petite messe solennelle"
On the 24th of June 2014 Michael Spyres will be the tenor soloist in Rossini's La petite messe solennelle at the St Denis Festival. Ottavio Dantone will be conducting. Julia Lezhneva, Franco Fagioli and Marco Vinco will complete the ensemble.
http://www.orchestredechambredeparis.com/concert/st-denis-la-petite-messe-solennelle-de-rossini/#b
Jun 17, 2014London, English National Opera
Worldwide HD cinema broadcast of "Benvenuto Cellini" with Michael Spyres in the title role
Don't miss today's live worldwide HD cinema broadcast of Benventuo Cellini from the English National Opera with Michael Spyres in the title role! In case you don't know which cinemas in your city will broadcast it you can find out on ENO's website: http://www.eno.org/enoscreen
Jun 14, 2014London
Critical praise for Michael Spyres's "Benvenuto Cellini"
"... Michael Spyres’ hero extracts an unqualified triumph – histrionic charisma, tenorial grace and easy musicianship rolled into one." (Financial Times)
Michael Spyres is receiving overwhelming critical praise for his interpretation of the title role in Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera. Click here for a collection of the best reviews on the production.
Jun 05, 2014London
Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera
On the 5th of June 2014 Michael Spyres will debut the role of Benvenuto Cellini in Terry Gilliam's new production at the English National Opera. The performance on the 17th of June will be broadcast into cinemas worldwide – a list of the cinemas to broadcast the performance will follow as soon as possible.
Jun 04, 2014Interviews
Interviews prior to "Benvenuto Cellini"
Prior to opening night of Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera two new interviews with Michael Spyres have been published: With the British magazine Opera Now and with the online magazine Opera Britannia:
http://operabritanniauk.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/opera-britannia-interview-michael-spyres/
Apr 19, 2014La Monnaie
Press review "Guillaume Tell" in Brussels
The press review of Michael Spyres's triumphal debut at La Monnaie as Arnold in Guillaume Tell can now be found on the "Press" page of this website:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
Apr 09, 2014Paris & Mulhouse
Concerts with Annick Massis
Michael Spyres will sing a solo concert (4 April) and two duet concerts with Annick Massis (5 & 9 April) in Mulhouse and at Opéra Comique in Paris. The repertoire will include arias and duets by Auber, Massenet, Halévy and more:
Solo concert:
Daniel François Auber: La Muette de Portici - Spectacle affreux
Daniel François Auber: La Muette de Portici - ouverture
Hector Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust - Invocation à la nature
Jules Massenet: Le Cid - O souverain, O juge
Jules Massenet: La Méditation de Thaïs
Jacques François Halevy: La Juive - Rachel, quand du Seigneur
Concerts with Annick Massis:
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber
La Muette de Portici, ouverture
Gioachino Rossini
Guillaume Tell, Air de Mathilde « Sombre forêt »
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber
La Muette de Portici, « Spectacle affreux »
Jacques-Fromental Halévy
La Juive, récitatif et air de la Princesse Eudoxie
« Voici longtemps la crainte et la tristesse »
François-Adrien Boieldieu
La Dame blanche, « Viens gentille dame »
Gioachino Rossini
La Pie voleuse, ouverture
Guillaume Tell, Duo Mathilde et Arnold
Entracte
Jules Massenet
Thaïs, La Méditation de Thaïs
Air de Thaïs, « dis-moi que je suis belle »
Jacques-Fromental Halévy
La Juive, Air de Eléazar, « Rachel, quand du Seigneur »
Napoléon-Henri Reber
Symphonie n°4, pour orchestre, 1er mouvement
Jules Massenet
Manon, duo de Saint Sulpice, « Manon, oui c’est moi c’est moi »
Mar 13, 2014Interview
Interview with the French "Opéra" Magazine
The French "Opéra" magazine have published an exclusive interview with Michael Spyres in their March 2014 issue:
Mar 11, 2014Bruxelles
last performance of "Guillaume Tell" at La Monnaie
Tonight at 6PM Michael Spyres will again sing Arnold in the last performance of Guillaume Tell at La Monnaie in Brussels. Praised by the critics as "phenomenal" (Concertonet), "the star of the night" (Crescendo Magazine) and "one of the best tenors of his generation" (La Libre) he will also sing the role at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna under the baton of Michele Mariotti in October 2014.
Mar 02, 2014Bruxelles
Debut at La Monnaie as Arnold in Guillaume Tell
On 2 March 2014 Michael Spyres will debut at La Monnaie in Brussels as Arnold in Guillaume Tell. Evelino Pidò will conduct the concert performance of Rossini's masterpiece. Further performances on 5, 9 and 11 March 2014.
Feb 22, 2014Wichita Grand Opera
Arnold in "Guillaume Tell"
On 22 February 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Arnold in Guillaume Tell at Wichita Grand Opera. More information on:
http://www.wichitagrandopera.org/william-tell.html?page=williamtell20132014.html
Jan 28, 2014Dynamic
CD release: world-premiere recording of Mazzoni's "Antigono"
Antigono - an opera thought to be lost forever during an earthquake back in 1755, and not played for over 255 years, has been put together in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon in 2011. A world-premiere recording of this production with Michael Spyres in the virtuoso title role will now be released on CD by Dynamic. It will be available in the USA and the UK on the 28th of January, 2014 - pre-order it now on Amazon:
Jan 18, 2014Chicago Lyric Opera
last performance of "Die Fledermaus", press review
On the 18th of January 2014 the last performance of Strauss's Die Fledermaus with Michael Spyres as Alfred will take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago. His debut in December was critically much acclaimed:
Jan 10, 2014Chicago Lyric Opera
further performances of "Die Fledermaus"
After a most successful Lyric Opera debut in December 2013 Michael Spyres will again lend his "ringing Italianate tone" (Chicago Sun-Times) and "easy high notes" (Chicago Classical Review) to the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus. Performances on 10, 12, 15 and 18 January 2014.
Dec 30, 2013DVD "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", Liceu 2013
New in the record stores
A DVD of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" from the Liceu Barcelona with Michael Spyres in the title role and Natalie Dessay as Antonia is now available on DVD:
Dec 13, 2013Chicago Lyric Opera
Reviews "Die Fledermaus", article "Voix des Arts"
On 10 December Michael Spyres debuted at Lyric Opera of Chicago in the role of Alfred in "Die Fledermaus". First excellet reviews can be found here:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
On "Voix des Arts" you can find an interesting new article on Michael Spyres:
http://www.voix-des-arts.com/2013/12/artist-profile-michael-spyres-tenor.html
Dec 10, 2013Chicago
Lyric Opera debut in Die Fledermaus
On the 10th of December 2013 Michael Spyres will debut at Chicago Lyric Opera as Alfred in E. Loren Meeker's productin of Die Fledermaus alongside Juliane Banse as Rosalinde, Daniela Fally as Adele, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein, Adrian Eröd as Falke and Emily Fons as Orlofsky. Ward Stare will conduct.
Further performances on 13, 16, 18 and 21 December 2013; on 10, 12, 15 and 18 January 2014
http://www.lyricopera.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=13822
Nov 09, 2013London
Reviews on "La damnation de Faust"
Like after his Covent Garden debut in May 2013, the British press is enthusiastic about Michael Spyres. Read the press review on the concert here:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
Nov 03, 2013London (Barbican Hall)
La damnation de Faust with Gergiev
"Tenor Michael Spyres was in complete command as Faust, inhabiting the character with expert vocal inflection, facial expression and body language. He was always compelling, even when singing about his soul-crushing ennui, and he never betrayed a hint of strain in this ridiculously virtuosic role." is what the Salt Lake Tribune wrote about Michael Spyres's Faust in La damnation de Faust in Salt Lake City. He will repeat the role on 3 and 7 November at the London Barbican Hall under the baton of Valery Gergiev and alongside Olga Borodina and Ildar Abdrazakov. The two concert performances of Berlioz's légende dramatique will be recorded for a future CD release.
Oct 28, 2013Interview / MusicOMH
Interview with MusicOMH
Michael Spyres on his triumphal Covent Garden debut in La donna del lago, singing La damnation de Faust at Barbican Hall, his career and more:
http://www.musicomh.com/classical/features-classical/interview-tenor-michael-spyres
Sep 27, 2013Salt Laky City
La damnation de Faust
On 27 and 28 September 2013, Michael Spyres will sing Faust in La damnation de Faustwith the Utah Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Thierry Fischer in Salt Lake City. He has debuted this role most successfully in September 2012 in a Terry Gilliam production at the Vlaamse Opera.
Sep 26, 2013Salt Lake Tribune
Interview
There is a new interview with Michael Spyres for the Salt Lake Tribune prior to his debut with the Utah Symphony Orchestra as Faust in La damnation de Faust:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/56924340-223/utah-faust-role-symphony.html.csp
Aug 30, 2013Der Neue Merker
Interview
There is a new Interview with Michael Spyres online for the Austrian opera magazine Der Neue Merker:
http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/michael-spyres-der-baritenor-im-gespraech
Aug 27, 2013Pesaro
successul concert performance of La donna del lago in Pesaro
"habemus baritenorem" - are the words of the Italian online publication L'ape musicale on Michael Spyres's Rodrigo in La donna del lago in Pesaro under the baton of Alberto Zedda. Click hear to read the full review in Italian:
http://apemusicale.com/2013/08/28/la-donna-del-lago-pesaro-23082013/
Aug 15, 2013Pesaro
Solo concert and La donna del lago
After his triumph as Arnold in Guillaume Tell at the Rossini Festival in Bad Wildbad, Michael Spyres will be back at the Italian Rossini Festival in Pesaro on the 15th of August for a solo concert and Rodrigo in La donna del lago on August 23rd under the baton of Maestro Alberto Zedda.
At his concert, he will be singing the following pieces:
A.Stradella – “Se i miei sospiri”
A.Scarlatti – “Già il sole del Gange”
A.M.Mazzoni – Antigono “Tu m’involasti un regno…”
W.A.Mozart – Così fan tutte “Un aura amorosa…”
G.Rossini – La scala di seta “Vedrò qual sommo incanto…”
G.Rossini – Otello “Ah! sì per voi già sento…”
F.Boieldieu – La dame blanche “Viens gentille dame... »
G.Verdi – Rigoletto “Ella mi fu rapita!...parmi veder…”
Read here what Michael Spyres has to say about the programme of his concert:
"As I began researching this solo concert I arrived at a very telling fact and that is that the province of Pesaro-Urbino has been a very influential and important contributor to the greatest composers of the last 400 years and in essence a key element to the evoution of classical music as a whole. Each of the pieces presented here have an intrisic link to the Region as well as it's most famous resident, Rossini.
Sei miei sospiri has been a mystery since it was first introduced in 1838 by Francois Fetis. Although the true composer is not known it is often accredited to Alessandro Stradella who was an extremely influential character in the history of Opera and his life was the subject of 3 different operas during the 1800's. As the story of Niedermayer's opera goes the Duke of Pesaro is pursuing the heroine Leonor but the hero Stradella saves her. The duke hires two assassins to murder the couple as they flee Venice. The aria Sei miei sospiri was reintroduced in 1843 with the more widely known text of Pieta signore in a different key. Historians have said because of the compositional style that Stradella could not have composed this piece and Fetis himself tricked the public. Some have suggested it to be be a fantastic musical hoax written by Rossini himself but whatever the truth may be the piece remained as one of the most popular and frequently performed pieces of the 19th century.
Gia il sole dal gange has achieved success over the last century particularly from the fact that virtually every famous tenor has chosen to record it. Scarlatti was a key figure in shaping operas form in Italy and in 1707 he spent the year living in Urbino as he composed under commission. Scarlatti's style showed that he posessed a modern understanding of modulation and just as Rossini would accomplish a century later Scarlatti's music formed an important link between vocal styles of the 17th century and the classical school of the 18th century.
Antonio Mazzoni was one of the most well respected composers and teachers of his era. Mazzoni began his professional career as the Maestro di capella at Fano which was also where his first opera premiered in 1746. He also became Prince of the Accademia Filarmonica Bologna five times and was one of the examiners and counterpoint teachers of Mozart. In 1755 he was a resident composer of Lisbon's brand new opera house and premiered two operas before the great earthquake. Mazzoni chose the libretto of Metastasio's Antigono as his second Lisbon opera which was an extremely popular libretto set by all major composers of the time. Antigono is one of the most virtuosic and challenging pieces ever written for the voice and Tu m'involasti un regno is the opening aria of the protagonist. The vocal range alone demands over 2 1/2 octaves with octave and a half leaps as well as lightning fast coloratura which was a perfect fit for the roles creator Anton Raaf, one of the most well known singers who in 1790 would become Mozart's first Idomeneo.
As a child Mozart travelled and studied throughout Italy and in 1770 toured through Pesaro and Rimini. His style was evident from the beginning but was extremely influenced by his time in Italy. Cosi fan tutte premiered in 1790 and Un aura amoroso became a standard of the tenor repertoire for its elegant vocal line and it remains today as one of the most technically challenging tessitura's ever written.
Rossini was hugely influenced by Mozart right from the beginning and often wrote of his affinity towards the composer. As both were child prodigies Rossini earned the nick name "the little Mozart" and later "the Italian Mozart". La scala di seta was his third farsa comica and for this he paired with one of the most popular librettists of the genre Giuseppe Maria Foppa. Foppa was very aware of popular operas throughout Europe and he worked throughout all major theatres in Italy as well as a year in Lisbon. In 1802 Foppa wrote a popular farse to the subject of Mozart's Don giovanni and scholars have noted the influence of da Ponte's libretto for Mozart's Così fan tutte in the scene from La scala di seta in which Dorvil allows a test of his wife's fidelity. Only the overture of La scala has achieved success over the years and some have suggested that it could almost pass for a lost Mozart symphony. Today many historians have noted Mozart's influence in Rossini's writing and particularly in his sense of dramatic timing that he learned from Mozart which was not widely accepted in the Italian school of composition.
Otello was a monumental acheivement that changed the direction of dramatic vocal writing and became one of the most revered and plagerized pieces of its day. Vocally the role of Otello is one of the rare pieces written specifically for the most famous baritenors of history, Andrea Nozzari. The tenor role takes the place of the baritone voice and the tessitura is one of the lowest ever written for a tenor but it also requires extreme highs with Rossini writing a two and a half octave range from high d to low a. It was evident to all critics and composers alike that Otello would change the possibilities of opera as far as dramatically forever. One very telling moment is in Act 3 when Rossini chose to set the on stage deaths of the two main characters which was a taboo since it was considered too vulgar for the opera.
Francois Boieldieu was a pioneer in the Opera Comique style and was highly respected by critics and public alike in the Paris opera scene. Boieldieu also spoke very highly of Rossini's genius, " I am as much a 'rossiniste' as any of those yelping fanatics, and it is because I really like Rossini that I am angry when I see his art degraded by bad immitations...I believe that one can write very good music by imitating Mozart, Haydn. Cimarosa, etc. etc. but that one is only a cheap mimic if one imitates Rossini... 'he' cannot be imitated; one must either steal front him outright or be altogether silent when one is incapable of inventing other 'bon mots' '' Boieldieu and Rossini became dear friends and the two men honored each other with musical nods in Le Dame blanche and Le Comte Ory respectively. Once after a reception Rossini joined Boieldieu in performing extracts from his opera, and the two 'laughed like mad-men' playing over their favorite tunes from La Dame Blanche. While in Paris Rossini lived in the apartment below Boieldieu and was said to have remarked, "Remember, the only time I'm above you is when I sleep"
Rigoletto is considered by many as the last bel canto opera and has acheived more success than almost any opera in history. With Rigoletto, Rossini also became a fan of Verdi, "In this music I at last recognize Verdi's genius." Verdi was influenced at quite an early age and in biographical notes taken by Arrigo Boito, Il barbiere di Siviglia and L’Italiana in Algeri were among the very first operas that Verdi heard as a child. Verdi felt a great sense of gratitude towards Rossini, so much that when Verdi learned of his death he proposed that a group of Italian composers write a Requiem for Rossini to be performed on the first anniversary of his death with each movement created by a different composer. He would later use his Libera me composed for Rossini in his masterful Mazzoni Requiem. Not only was Verdi a great fan of Rossini but he also borrowed many aspects of his style and continued to build on the orchestration and motive ideas set forth by Rossini. Verdi scholar Julian Budden wrote that "Just after 1850, at the age of thirty-eight, Verdi closed the door on a period of Italian opera with Rigoletto. The so-called ottocènto in music was finished. " Verdi would go on to change the direction of opera just as Rossini had done before him."
Jul 23, 2013Opera News Sound Bites
Article on Michael Spyres in the ON's "Tenors Issue"
Opera News's July 2013 "Tenors" Issue is called "THE CARUSO LEGACY" and features Michael Spyres as their "Sound Bites". Besides Michael, they chose Bryan Hymel and Rolando Villazón to represent the new generation of tenors. Other articles include portraits of Jan Kiepura, Richard Tucker, Fritz Wunderlich and Enrico Caruso. Click here to read the article:
http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2013/7/Departments/Sound_Bites__Michael_Spyres.html
Jul 15, 2013Bad Wildbad Festival
first reviews on "Guillaume Tell"
First reviews on Michael Spyres in the role of Arnold in "Guillaume Tell" at the Bad Wildbad Rossini Festival:
"Michael Spyres, a singer who was not afraid of the frightening high notes of this role and who hit all the high Cs with aplomp. At the same time, with consistent vocal lines and colours, he also knew how to emphasize the torn character of his role."
F.A.Z
"Star tenor Michael Spyres ... could show all of his strength."
Focus (dpa)
"... the impressive tenor Michael Spyres as Arnold"
Bernhard Doppler, Deutschlandradio Kultur
Jul 10, 2013Interview Place de l'Opera
Interview for the Dutch opera magazine "Place de l'Opera"
For the series "Tenors of the future", the Dutch Opera Magazine "Place de l'Opera" has published an exclusive interview with Michael Spyres:
http://www.operamagazine.nl/featured/23055/tenoren-van-de-toekomst-michael-spyres/
Jul 03, 2013Interview Der Opernfreund
new interview in German
A very interesting, new article about Michael just appeared on the German website "Der Opernfreund", written by opera expert Bernd Hoppe:
http://www.deropernfreund.de/michael-spyres.html
Jun 30, 2013Vlaamse Opera
Excellent reviews for Candide
You will find a collection of the excellent reviews on Michael's "Candide" at the Vlaamse Opera on the Reviews page of this website!
Jun 03, 2013Le siège de Corinthe / NAXOS
Le siège de Corinthe / CD release
A complete recording of Rossini's "Le siège de Corinthe" with Michael singing the role of Néoclès has just been released on NAXOS:
May 22, 2013Covent Garden / La donna del lago
rave reviews for Covent Garden debut
Rave reviews for Michael's Covent Garden debut alongside Joyce diDonato and Juan Diego Florez:
"sensational and unique" (The Guardian), "The star of the show" (The Week) , "gloriously sung" (Daily Express) are only some of the superlatives for Michael's debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Click here for the full press review.
La damnation de Faust
On the 27th of November, 2014 Michael Spyres will make his South America debut singing the title role of La damnation de Faust with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paolo conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong. The three concerts on the 27th, 28th and 29th will take place at the Sala Sao Paolo.
Nov 04, 2014London
Opera Rara recording and London concert of Donizetti's "Les Martyrs"
On the 4th of November 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Polyeucte in Donizetti's Les Martyrs, the French version of Poliuto at the London Royal Festival Hall. The concert performance will be conducted by Sir Mark Elder and follows recording sessions of the piece for Opera Rara.
http://www.oae.co.uk/event/donizettis-les-martyrs/
Oct 08, 2014Bologna
Arnold in "Guillaume Tell"
Following this year's successful appearances as Arnold in Guillaume Tell at La Monnaie Bruxelles and Wichita Grand Opera Michael Spyres will revive the role in October at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Italy. Michele Mariotti will be conducting and Graham Vick will stage Rossini's masterpiece. Performances on the 8th, 11th, 14th, 16th and 18th of October 2014. More information on the website of the Teatro Comunale
Aug 31, 2014La Côte St André
La Damnation de Faust / Festival Berlioz
On the 31st of August 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Faust in a concert performance of Hector Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at the Festival Berlioz in the composer's native town La Côte St André. François-Xavier Roth will be conducting, Anna Caterina Antonacci will sing Marguerite and Nicolas Courjal will be Méphistophélès.
http://www.festivalberlioz.com/La-Damnation-de-Faust
Aug 26, 2014London
BBC Proms debut in "Missa Solemnis"
On the 26th of August 2014 Michael Spyres will make his BBC London Proms debut in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and will be recorded for a later television broadcast by BBC4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2014/august-26/15000
Aug 19, 2014San Lorenzo in Campo
Michael Spyres to receive Tiberini d'oro Award 2014
On the 19th of August 2014 Michael Spyres and Italian contralto Sonia Prina will be awarded the "Premio
Tiberini d'oro".
The award that in the past has been assigned to artists such as Katia Ricciarelli, Mariella Devia, Samuel Ramey, Chris Merritt, Rockwell Blake and Juan Diego Florez will be given to Spyres and Italian contralto Sonia Prina at the Teatro Tiberini in San Lorenzo in Campo, Italy.
Launched in 1989 by music critic Giosetta Guerra the aim of the International Opera Award
“Mario Tiberini” is to remember Italian tenor Mario Tiberini (1826-1880) who in the 19th
century dominated the international opera scene in a vast reperoire of roles by Rossini,
Bellini, Gounod, Meyerbeer, Donizetti and Verdi among others.
During the award ceremony Sonia Prina, Michael Spyres, guest artist soprano Tara
Stafford and pianist Mirca Rosciani will be performing music from operas such as Giulio
Cesare, Partenope, Rodelinda, La sonnambula, Un ballo in maschera and Il trovatore.
Aug 12, 2014Pesaro
Aureliano in Palmira
In August Michael Spyres will return to the Rossini Opera Festival in the title role ofAureliano in Palmira, the last remaining opera that has never been performed in the composer's home town. Mario Martone's new production will see Jessica Pratt as Zenobia, Lena Belkina as Arsace and Will Crutchfield conducting. Performances on 12, 15, 18 and 22 August 2014.
More information: http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/?IDC=470&ID=566
Jul 11, 2014Rossini in Wildbad
Hommage à Arnold Nourrit
On the 11th and 13th of July 2014 Michael Spyres will sing two concerts at Rossini in Wildbad with arias written for the French tenor Adolphe Nourrit [1802 - 1839]. The program will include known and celebrated pieces such as Arnolds aria and cabaletta from Guillaume Tell as well as arias from rarely performed operas such as Auber's Le philtre or Niedermeyer's Stradella. David Parry will be conducting.
More information on http://www.bad-wildbad.de/rossini/programm/eroeffnung-koenigliches-kurtheater-mit-rossini-in-wildbadhommage-adolphe-nourrit-teil-1-id_5095/
Jun 24, 2014St Denis Festival
Rossini's "La petite messe solennelle"
On the 24th of June 2014 Michael Spyres will be the tenor soloist in Rossini's La petite messe solennelle at the St Denis Festival. Ottavio Dantone will be conducting. Julia Lezhneva, Franco Fagioli and Marco Vinco will complete the ensemble.
http://www.orchestredechambredeparis.com/concert/st-denis-la-petite-messe-solennelle-de-rossini/#b
Jun 17, 2014London, English National Opera
Worldwide HD cinema broadcast of "Benvenuto Cellini" with Michael Spyres in the title role
Don't miss today's live worldwide HD cinema broadcast of Benventuo Cellini from the English National Opera with Michael Spyres in the title role! In case you don't know which cinemas in your city will broadcast it you can find out on ENO's website: http://www.eno.org/enoscreen
Jun 14, 2014London
Critical praise for Michael Spyres's "Benvenuto Cellini"
"... Michael Spyres’ hero extracts an unqualified triumph – histrionic charisma, tenorial grace and easy musicianship rolled into one." (Financial Times)
Michael Spyres is receiving overwhelming critical praise for his interpretation of the title role in Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera. Click here for a collection of the best reviews on the production.
Jun 05, 2014London
Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera
On the 5th of June 2014 Michael Spyres will debut the role of Benvenuto Cellini in Terry Gilliam's new production at the English National Opera. The performance on the 17th of June will be broadcast into cinemas worldwide – a list of the cinemas to broadcast the performance will follow as soon as possible.
Jun 04, 2014Interviews
Interviews prior to "Benvenuto Cellini"
Prior to opening night of Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini at the English National Opera two new interviews with Michael Spyres have been published: With the British magazine Opera Now and with the online magazine Opera Britannia:
http://operabritanniauk.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/opera-britannia-interview-michael-spyres/
Apr 19, 2014La Monnaie
Press review "Guillaume Tell" in Brussels
The press review of Michael Spyres's triumphal debut at La Monnaie as Arnold in Guillaume Tell can now be found on the "Press" page of this website:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
Apr 09, 2014Paris & Mulhouse
Concerts with Annick Massis
Michael Spyres will sing a solo concert (4 April) and two duet concerts with Annick Massis (5 & 9 April) in Mulhouse and at Opéra Comique in Paris. The repertoire will include arias and duets by Auber, Massenet, Halévy and more:
Solo concert:
Daniel François Auber: La Muette de Portici - Spectacle affreux
Daniel François Auber: La Muette de Portici - ouverture
Hector Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust - Invocation à la nature
Jules Massenet: Le Cid - O souverain, O juge
Jules Massenet: La Méditation de Thaïs
Jacques François Halevy: La Juive - Rachel, quand du Seigneur
Concerts with Annick Massis:
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber
La Muette de Portici, ouverture
Gioachino Rossini
Guillaume Tell, Air de Mathilde « Sombre forêt »
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber
La Muette de Portici, « Spectacle affreux »
Jacques-Fromental Halévy
La Juive, récitatif et air de la Princesse Eudoxie
« Voici longtemps la crainte et la tristesse »
François-Adrien Boieldieu
La Dame blanche, « Viens gentille dame »
Gioachino Rossini
La Pie voleuse, ouverture
Guillaume Tell, Duo Mathilde et Arnold
Entracte
Jules Massenet
Thaïs, La Méditation de Thaïs
Air de Thaïs, « dis-moi que je suis belle »
Jacques-Fromental Halévy
La Juive, Air de Eléazar, « Rachel, quand du Seigneur »
Napoléon-Henri Reber
Symphonie n°4, pour orchestre, 1er mouvement
Jules Massenet
Manon, duo de Saint Sulpice, « Manon, oui c’est moi c’est moi »
Mar 13, 2014Interview
Interview with the French "Opéra" Magazine
The French "Opéra" magazine have published an exclusive interview with Michael Spyres in their March 2014 issue:
Mar 11, 2014Bruxelles
last performance of "Guillaume Tell" at La Monnaie
Tonight at 6PM Michael Spyres will again sing Arnold in the last performance of Guillaume Tell at La Monnaie in Brussels. Praised by the critics as "phenomenal" (Concertonet), "the star of the night" (Crescendo Magazine) and "one of the best tenors of his generation" (La Libre) he will also sing the role at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna under the baton of Michele Mariotti in October 2014.
Mar 02, 2014Bruxelles
Debut at La Monnaie as Arnold in Guillaume Tell
On 2 March 2014 Michael Spyres will debut at La Monnaie in Brussels as Arnold in Guillaume Tell. Evelino Pidò will conduct the concert performance of Rossini's masterpiece. Further performances on 5, 9 and 11 March 2014.
Feb 22, 2014Wichita Grand Opera
Arnold in "Guillaume Tell"
On 22 February 2014 Michael Spyres will sing Arnold in Guillaume Tell at Wichita Grand Opera. More information on:
http://www.wichitagrandopera.org/william-tell.html?page=williamtell20132014.html
Jan 28, 2014Dynamic
CD release: world-premiere recording of Mazzoni's "Antigono"
Antigono - an opera thought to be lost forever during an earthquake back in 1755, and not played for over 255 years, has been put together in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon in 2011. A world-premiere recording of this production with Michael Spyres in the virtuoso title role will now be released on CD by Dynamic. It will be available in the USA and the UK on the 28th of January, 2014 - pre-order it now on Amazon:
Jan 18, 2014Chicago Lyric Opera
last performance of "Die Fledermaus", press review
On the 18th of January 2014 the last performance of Strauss's Die Fledermaus with Michael Spyres as Alfred will take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago. His debut in December was critically much acclaimed:
Jan 10, 2014Chicago Lyric Opera
further performances of "Die Fledermaus"
After a most successful Lyric Opera debut in December 2013 Michael Spyres will again lend his "ringing Italianate tone" (Chicago Sun-Times) and "easy high notes" (Chicago Classical Review) to the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus. Performances on 10, 12, 15 and 18 January 2014.
Dec 30, 2013DVD "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", Liceu 2013
New in the record stores
A DVD of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" from the Liceu Barcelona with Michael Spyres in the title role and Natalie Dessay as Antonia is now available on DVD:
Dec 13, 2013Chicago Lyric Opera
Reviews "Die Fledermaus", article "Voix des Arts"
On 10 December Michael Spyres debuted at Lyric Opera of Chicago in the role of Alfred in "Die Fledermaus". First excellet reviews can be found here:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
On "Voix des Arts" you can find an interesting new article on Michael Spyres:
http://www.voix-des-arts.com/2013/12/artist-profile-michael-spyres-tenor.html
Dec 10, 2013Chicago
Lyric Opera debut in Die Fledermaus
On the 10th of December 2013 Michael Spyres will debut at Chicago Lyric Opera as Alfred in E. Loren Meeker's productin of Die Fledermaus alongside Juliane Banse as Rosalinde, Daniela Fally as Adele, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein, Adrian Eröd as Falke and Emily Fons as Orlofsky. Ward Stare will conduct.
Further performances on 13, 16, 18 and 21 December 2013; on 10, 12, 15 and 18 January 2014
http://www.lyricopera.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=13822
Nov 09, 2013London
Reviews on "La damnation de Faust"
Like after his Covent Garden debut in May 2013, the British press is enthusiastic about Michael Spyres. Read the press review on the concert here:
http://michaelspyres.com/index.php?site=reviews
Nov 03, 2013London (Barbican Hall)
La damnation de Faust with Gergiev
"Tenor Michael Spyres was in complete command as Faust, inhabiting the character with expert vocal inflection, facial expression and body language. He was always compelling, even when singing about his soul-crushing ennui, and he never betrayed a hint of strain in this ridiculously virtuosic role." is what the Salt Lake Tribune wrote about Michael Spyres's Faust in La damnation de Faust in Salt Lake City. He will repeat the role on 3 and 7 November at the London Barbican Hall under the baton of Valery Gergiev and alongside Olga Borodina and Ildar Abdrazakov. The two concert performances of Berlioz's légende dramatique will be recorded for a future CD release.
Oct 28, 2013Interview / MusicOMH
Interview with MusicOMH
Michael Spyres on his triumphal Covent Garden debut in La donna del lago, singing La damnation de Faust at Barbican Hall, his career and more:
http://www.musicomh.com/classical/features-classical/interview-tenor-michael-spyres
Sep 27, 2013Salt Laky City
La damnation de Faust
On 27 and 28 September 2013, Michael Spyres will sing Faust in La damnation de Faustwith the Utah Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Thierry Fischer in Salt Lake City. He has debuted this role most successfully in September 2012 in a Terry Gilliam production at the Vlaamse Opera.
Sep 26, 2013Salt Lake Tribune
Interview
There is a new interview with Michael Spyres for the Salt Lake Tribune prior to his debut with the Utah Symphony Orchestra as Faust in La damnation de Faust:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/56924340-223/utah-faust-role-symphony.html.csp
Aug 30, 2013Der Neue Merker
Interview
There is a new Interview with Michael Spyres online for the Austrian opera magazine Der Neue Merker:
http://www.der-neue-merker.eu/michael-spyres-der-baritenor-im-gespraech
Aug 27, 2013Pesaro
successul concert performance of La donna del lago in Pesaro
"habemus baritenorem" - are the words of the Italian online publication L'ape musicale on Michael Spyres's Rodrigo in La donna del lago in Pesaro under the baton of Alberto Zedda. Click hear to read the full review in Italian:
http://apemusicale.com/2013/08/28/la-donna-del-lago-pesaro-23082013/
Aug 15, 2013Pesaro
Solo concert and La donna del lago
After his triumph as Arnold in Guillaume Tell at the Rossini Festival in Bad Wildbad, Michael Spyres will be back at the Italian Rossini Festival in Pesaro on the 15th of August for a solo concert and Rodrigo in La donna del lago on August 23rd under the baton of Maestro Alberto Zedda.
At his concert, he will be singing the following pieces:
A.Stradella – “Se i miei sospiri”
A.Scarlatti – “Già il sole del Gange”
A.M.Mazzoni – Antigono “Tu m’involasti un regno…”
W.A.Mozart – Così fan tutte “Un aura amorosa…”
G.Rossini – La scala di seta “Vedrò qual sommo incanto…”
G.Rossini – Otello “Ah! sì per voi già sento…”
F.Boieldieu – La dame blanche “Viens gentille dame... »
G.Verdi – Rigoletto “Ella mi fu rapita!...parmi veder…”
Read here what Michael Spyres has to say about the programme of his concert:
"As I began researching this solo concert I arrived at a very telling fact and that is that the province of Pesaro-Urbino has been a very influential and important contributor to the greatest composers of the last 400 years and in essence a key element to the evoution of classical music as a whole. Each of the pieces presented here have an intrisic link to the Region as well as it's most famous resident, Rossini.
Sei miei sospiri has been a mystery since it was first introduced in 1838 by Francois Fetis. Although the true composer is not known it is often accredited to Alessandro Stradella who was an extremely influential character in the history of Opera and his life was the subject of 3 different operas during the 1800's. As the story of Niedermayer's opera goes the Duke of Pesaro is pursuing the heroine Leonor but the hero Stradella saves her. The duke hires two assassins to murder the couple as they flee Venice. The aria Sei miei sospiri was reintroduced in 1843 with the more widely known text of Pieta signore in a different key. Historians have said because of the compositional style that Stradella could not have composed this piece and Fetis himself tricked the public. Some have suggested it to be be a fantastic musical hoax written by Rossini himself but whatever the truth may be the piece remained as one of the most popular and frequently performed pieces of the 19th century.
Gia il sole dal gange has achieved success over the last century particularly from the fact that virtually every famous tenor has chosen to record it. Scarlatti was a key figure in shaping operas form in Italy and in 1707 he spent the year living in Urbino as he composed under commission. Scarlatti's style showed that he posessed a modern understanding of modulation and just as Rossini would accomplish a century later Scarlatti's music formed an important link between vocal styles of the 17th century and the classical school of the 18th century.
Antonio Mazzoni was one of the most well respected composers and teachers of his era. Mazzoni began his professional career as the Maestro di capella at Fano which was also where his first opera premiered in 1746. He also became Prince of the Accademia Filarmonica Bologna five times and was one of the examiners and counterpoint teachers of Mozart. In 1755 he was a resident composer of Lisbon's brand new opera house and premiered two operas before the great earthquake. Mazzoni chose the libretto of Metastasio's Antigono as his second Lisbon opera which was an extremely popular libretto set by all major composers of the time. Antigono is one of the most virtuosic and challenging pieces ever written for the voice and Tu m'involasti un regno is the opening aria of the protagonist. The vocal range alone demands over 2 1/2 octaves with octave and a half leaps as well as lightning fast coloratura which was a perfect fit for the roles creator Anton Raaf, one of the most well known singers who in 1790 would become Mozart's first Idomeneo.
As a child Mozart travelled and studied throughout Italy and in 1770 toured through Pesaro and Rimini. His style was evident from the beginning but was extremely influenced by his time in Italy. Cosi fan tutte premiered in 1790 and Un aura amoroso became a standard of the tenor repertoire for its elegant vocal line and it remains today as one of the most technically challenging tessitura's ever written.
Rossini was hugely influenced by Mozart right from the beginning and often wrote of his affinity towards the composer. As both were child prodigies Rossini earned the nick name "the little Mozart" and later "the Italian Mozart". La scala di seta was his third farsa comica and for this he paired with one of the most popular librettists of the genre Giuseppe Maria Foppa. Foppa was very aware of popular operas throughout Europe and he worked throughout all major theatres in Italy as well as a year in Lisbon. In 1802 Foppa wrote a popular farse to the subject of Mozart's Don giovanni and scholars have noted the influence of da Ponte's libretto for Mozart's Così fan tutte in the scene from La scala di seta in which Dorvil allows a test of his wife's fidelity. Only the overture of La scala has achieved success over the years and some have suggested that it could almost pass for a lost Mozart symphony. Today many historians have noted Mozart's influence in Rossini's writing and particularly in his sense of dramatic timing that he learned from Mozart which was not widely accepted in the Italian school of composition.
Otello was a monumental acheivement that changed the direction of dramatic vocal writing and became one of the most revered and plagerized pieces of its day. Vocally the role of Otello is one of the rare pieces written specifically for the most famous baritenors of history, Andrea Nozzari. The tenor role takes the place of the baritone voice and the tessitura is one of the lowest ever written for a tenor but it also requires extreme highs with Rossini writing a two and a half octave range from high d to low a. It was evident to all critics and composers alike that Otello would change the possibilities of opera as far as dramatically forever. One very telling moment is in Act 3 when Rossini chose to set the on stage deaths of the two main characters which was a taboo since it was considered too vulgar for the opera.
Francois Boieldieu was a pioneer in the Opera Comique style and was highly respected by critics and public alike in the Paris opera scene. Boieldieu also spoke very highly of Rossini's genius, " I am as much a 'rossiniste' as any of those yelping fanatics, and it is because I really like Rossini that I am angry when I see his art degraded by bad immitations...I believe that one can write very good music by imitating Mozart, Haydn. Cimarosa, etc. etc. but that one is only a cheap mimic if one imitates Rossini... 'he' cannot be imitated; one must either steal front him outright or be altogether silent when one is incapable of inventing other 'bon mots' '' Boieldieu and Rossini became dear friends and the two men honored each other with musical nods in Le Dame blanche and Le Comte Ory respectively. Once after a reception Rossini joined Boieldieu in performing extracts from his opera, and the two 'laughed like mad-men' playing over their favorite tunes from La Dame Blanche. While in Paris Rossini lived in the apartment below Boieldieu and was said to have remarked, "Remember, the only time I'm above you is when I sleep"
Rigoletto is considered by many as the last bel canto opera and has acheived more success than almost any opera in history. With Rigoletto, Rossini also became a fan of Verdi, "In this music I at last recognize Verdi's genius." Verdi was influenced at quite an early age and in biographical notes taken by Arrigo Boito, Il barbiere di Siviglia and L’Italiana in Algeri were among the very first operas that Verdi heard as a child. Verdi felt a great sense of gratitude towards Rossini, so much that when Verdi learned of his death he proposed that a group of Italian composers write a Requiem for Rossini to be performed on the first anniversary of his death with each movement created by a different composer. He would later use his Libera me composed for Rossini in his masterful Mazzoni Requiem. Not only was Verdi a great fan of Rossini but he also borrowed many aspects of his style and continued to build on the orchestration and motive ideas set forth by Rossini. Verdi scholar Julian Budden wrote that "Just after 1850, at the age of thirty-eight, Verdi closed the door on a period of Italian opera with Rigoletto. The so-called ottocènto in music was finished. " Verdi would go on to change the direction of opera just as Rossini had done before him."
Jul 23, 2013Opera News Sound Bites
Article on Michael Spyres in the ON's "Tenors Issue"
Opera News's July 2013 "Tenors" Issue is called "THE CARUSO LEGACY" and features Michael Spyres as their "Sound Bites". Besides Michael, they chose Bryan Hymel and Rolando Villazón to represent the new generation of tenors. Other articles include portraits of Jan Kiepura, Richard Tucker, Fritz Wunderlich and Enrico Caruso. Click here to read the article:
http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2013/7/Departments/Sound_Bites__Michael_Spyres.html
Jul 15, 2013Bad Wildbad Festival
first reviews on "Guillaume Tell"
First reviews on Michael Spyres in the role of Arnold in "Guillaume Tell" at the Bad Wildbad Rossini Festival:
"Michael Spyres, a singer who was not afraid of the frightening high notes of this role and who hit all the high Cs with aplomp. At the same time, with consistent vocal lines and colours, he also knew how to emphasize the torn character of his role."
F.A.Z
"Star tenor Michael Spyres ... could show all of his strength."
Focus (dpa)
"... the impressive tenor Michael Spyres as Arnold"
Bernhard Doppler, Deutschlandradio Kultur
Jul 10, 2013Interview Place de l'Opera
Interview for the Dutch opera magazine "Place de l'Opera"
For the series "Tenors of the future", the Dutch Opera Magazine "Place de l'Opera" has published an exclusive interview with Michael Spyres:
http://www.operamagazine.nl/featured/23055/tenoren-van-de-toekomst-michael-spyres/
Jul 03, 2013Interview Der Opernfreund
new interview in German
A very interesting, new article about Michael just appeared on the German website "Der Opernfreund", written by opera expert Bernd Hoppe:
http://www.deropernfreund.de/michael-spyres.html
Jun 30, 2013Vlaamse Opera
Excellent reviews for Candide
You will find a collection of the excellent reviews on Michael's "Candide" at the Vlaamse Opera on the Reviews page of this website!
Jun 03, 2013Le siège de Corinthe / NAXOS
Le siège de Corinthe / CD release
A complete recording of Rossini's "Le siège de Corinthe" with Michael singing the role of Néoclès has just been released on NAXOS:
May 22, 2013Covent Garden / La donna del lago
rave reviews for Covent Garden debut
Rave reviews for Michael's Covent Garden debut alongside Joyce diDonato and Juan Diego Florez:
"sensational and unique" (The Guardian), "The star of the show" (The Week) , "gloriously sung" (Daily Express) are only some of the superlatives for Michael's debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Click here for the full press review.