Tagged: North Carolina Opera

German composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner brought to audiences such operatic treasures as “Tristan and Isolde,” “Parsifal” and the “Ring” cycle. But his influence on music extended further than his mainstream popularity. He changed the way theater-goers saw opera, and his impact reverberates to the modern day. The North Carolina Opera is doing a performance of portions of his works. Host Frank Stasio talks with Timothy Myers, conductor for the opera’s upcoming performance; and Elizabeth Bishop, the lead actress.

Everywhere you go right now, you’re probably hearing holiday tunes. But the internationally regarded baritone Steven Kimbrough is bringing a new sound to Christmas: opera. His new album, “Christmas Lullabies From Around the World” has the celebrated singer doing operatic renditions of some little known Christmas songs.

It's one of the most popular operas of all time and notoriously difficult to perform, but the North Carolina Opera is bringing it to the Triangle this weekend. Il Trovatore, Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece, pits two enemies against each other in a dramatic love tale that ends with a twist.