At 36, the soprano Lisette Oropesa is in the midst of what should be a star-making season at the Metropolitan Opera. This fall she won rave reviews and ardent ovations in the title role of Massenet’s “Manon.” And on Wednesday, she sang her first performance with the company as Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata.”It can be hard for a soprano to stand out among the enormous horde of singers who have taken on this touchstone role. And Ms. Oropesa is following Aleksandra Kurzak’s riveting account at the Met last month, when Michael Mayer’s 2018 production returned.But combining exquisite singing, youthful allure, affecting vulnerability and, by the end, bleak intensity, Ms. Oropesa emerged on Wednesday as a major Violetta.In Act I, when Violetta, a charming courtesan, is throwing a lavish party, a soprano must summon flights of coloratura brilliance and coquettish sparkle. Ms. Oropesa breezily dispatched runs and embellishments as she mingled with her guests and met Alfredo, the smitten young man from a bourgeois family who has been pining for her from afar.Yet you could detect a trace of forced vivacity in Ms. Oropesa’s interpretation, an intentional touch of tremulous fervor in her sound, even as she let bright-voiced, ebullient phrases soar. Here was a young woman determined to prove that she was undaunted and would remain, as she later sings, “sempre libera”: always free.Her Alfredo was the tenor Piero Pretti, who took on the role after the star tenor Vittorio Grigolo was fired in December following allegations of inappropriate behavior. Mr. Pretti, who has a warm, mellow voice, came across as an earnest young man, in awe of the glamorous Violetta, and a bit clueless.That could have made for a weak Alfredo. But paired with Ms. Oropesa’s larger-than-life Violetta, his demeanor worked. And you understood why this nice-guy type would appeal to her. In Act II, when she and Alfredo have fled Paris to enjoy their love in the country, it made sense that Alfredo was truly shocked to learn that Violetta was selling her possessions to support their life.During the long scene with Germont, Alfredo’s disapproving father, Ms. Oropesa’s singing was wonderful, and exquisitely sad in the aching “Dite alla giovine,” in which Violetta agrees to give up Alfredo so that his sister’s marriage plans will not be derailed by the scandal of the family’s new connection to a courtesan. And in Violetta’s great aria in the final act, “Addio del passato,” Ms. Oropesa poignantly balanced bleak expressivity with arching lyricism.The baritone Luca Salsi brought a robust, if somewhat blunt, voice to Germont; some passages of blustery excess marred his essentially honorable singing. Maria Zifchak (as Annina, Violetta’s maid) and Kevin Short (as the devoted Dr. Grenvil) gave touching performances of short but crucial roles. The conductor Bertrand de Billy drew a stylish, vibrant and sensitive performance from the Met Orchestra.He certainly had an inspiring Violetta to work with.La TraviataThrough March 19 at the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center; 212-362-6000, metopera.org. More

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Simply titled ‘Donald Glover Presents’, the 12-song project from the ‘This Is America’ hitmaker comes out on a specially-dedicated website in the early hours of March 15.
Mar 16, 2020
AceShowbiz – Actor and rapper Donald Glover has given fans something to smile about during the coronavirus pandemic by dropping a surprise new album.
The “This Is America” hitmaker debuted the 12-song project, simply titled “Donald Glover Presents”, on a specially-dedicated website in the early hours of Sunday, March 15, with no explanation or specific information about the material.
The album, which streams on a loop online, includes previously-released tunes such as “Feels Like Summer” and “Algorythm”, with guest appearances by Ariana Grande, SZA, and 21 Savage, and is accompanied by a black and white illustration of a large crowd of people appearing to celebrate together outdoors.
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It’s not known if “Donald Glover Presents” will eventually be released on traditional music streaming services, but it is the first collection of new material from the 36-year-old since 2016’s “Awaken, My Love!”, which was launched under his rap moniker, Childish Gambino.

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The ‘Enter Sandman’ rockers have bowed out of the Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio in May, and of the Louder Than Life bash in Louisville, Kentucky in September.
Feb 25, 2020
AceShowbiz – Metallica has pulled out of two upcoming festival gigs to allow frontman James Hetfield to attend “critical recovery events” as part of his battle with sobriety.
The “Enter Sandman” rockers had been booked to perform a double headlining set at the Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio in May, and perform at the Louder Than Life bash in Louisville, Kentucky in September, but they have since bowed out of the shows due to a personal diary clash.
In an open letter to fans, Hetfield, whose rehabilitation treatment last year (19) prompted the group to postpone a planned Australian tour, apologizes to ticketholders and writes, “As part of my continuing effort to get and stay healthy, I have critical recovery events on those weekends that cannot be moved…”
“The reality is that I have not prioritized my health in the past year of touring and I now know that my mental health comes first,” he explains. “That might sound like a no-brainer for most of you but I didn’t want to let the Metallica team/family down and, I alone, completely compromised myself.”
The singer goes on to share that he is making good progress with his ongoing treatment, “Looking on the brighter side, my therapy is going well. It was absolutely necessary for me to look after my mental, physical, and spiritual health.”
He assures fans all other Metallica concerts will go ahead as planned, and concludes his statement with a note of gratitude.
“Beyond 2020, I am optimistic about the blessings I have been given and what the future brings,” he adds.
“I appreciate all the great prayers and support from everyone since I went into rehab last September. Like the moth into the flame, being human in this career has its huge challenges and can be difficult. Your understanding helps the healing.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tool will step in as replacement headliners for the Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, while the new Louder Than Life performers are set to be announced soon.
The cancellation news emerges days after Hetfield returned to the stage for the first time since his rehab stay to honor late rocker Eddie Money.
The musician made a surprise appearance at a Thursday night (February 20) memorial show at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, where he was joined by the likes of Sammy Hagar, Rick Springfield and George Thorogood.
Hetfield performed Money’s tune “Baby Hold On”.
Proceeds from the Money tribute show benefited the USC Eddie Money Cancer Research Fund.
Money died in September, aged 70. following a battle with stage 4 esophageal cancer.
Hetfield will be back onstage with Metallica in April for a show at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile.

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The Rocketman criticizes modern pop singers/songwriters as he describes today’s chart records as ‘bits and pieces,’ in which he’s not interested at all.
Aug 27, 2020
AceShowbiz – Elton John isn’t a fan of modern pop music, insisting chart hits are “not real songs.”
The “Tiny Dancer” star opened up on the state of the music industry in an interview with BBC Radio 6 Music, and confessed he’s a fan of singer-songwriter Father John Misty because he writes “proper songs.”
“He reminds me a little bit of me the way he writes songs,” Elton offered. “You look at most of the records in the charts – they’re not real songs. They’re bits and pieces and it’s nice to hear someone write a proper song.”
“There’s a boy called Conan Gray who has a song called Heather and he’s about 22, he’s from America and he’s the only person in the American Spotify Top 50 to actually write the song without anybody else,” the “Rocket Man” singer insisted. “Everybody else there’s four or five writers on it and this boy’s going to be huge.”
Elton went on to explain, “I like people who write songs. And there’s plenty of people that do but a lot of them don’t get played on the radio because they’re too sophisticated and we get songs made by a computer all the time and I’m not interested in that.”
The star spoke with the outlet ahead of the “Record Store Day” re-release of his debut album on Saturday (29Aug20) – but he said the new pressing won’t encourage him to start revisiting his catalogue anytime soon.
“I don’t listen to any of my records any more. I just don’t do it. I’m not one of these artists that sits there compiling stuff from all the vaults and stuff like that,” he stated.
“I’m more interested in what’s coming next than what went by,” the “Crocodile Rock” star smiled.

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The ‘Jesus Is King’ rapper has seemingly postponed the release of his new album and reportedly threatens to ‘live stream’ any intervention the Kardashians plan to stage.
Jul 25, 2020
AceShowbiz – Kanye West has seemingly delayed the release of his new album “Donda: With Child” amid his mental health struggles.
The rapper has been hitting headlines in recent days due to his worrying behaviour, which has included saying at a presidential campaign rally that he and wife Kim Kardashian nearly aborted their daughter North, and tweeting that he’s been “trying to divorce” the reality star since 2018.
Kim released a statement on Wednesday (22Jul20) saying that Kanye needed to be given time and compassion as he continues struggling against bipolar disorder, and now it seems Kanye has decided to postpone the release of his new record.
Despite saying that the album was due to be released at midnight on Thursday, the deadline passed without any sign of the offering on streaming services.
Kanye has yet to address the apparent delay on his Twitter page.
It wouldn’t be the first time the father-of-four has postponed an album release. In November 2018, Kanye was due to release his album “Jesus Is King”, but the record didn’t materialise until October 2019.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that while Kim wants to help her other half, he’s threatening to “live stream” any intervention she stages to “show the world the truth.”
“Kanye is very unwell and everyone’s very worried for him,” an insider told Britain’s The Sun newspaper. “He’s acting extremely paranoid and seems convinced Kim and Kris Jenner are ‘out to get him.’ ”
“He’s told her that if the Kardashian family try and stage an intervention he’ll live stream it on Twitter and ‘show the world the truth.’ He’s warned Kim that he knows the family ‘secrets’ and will put them all out there. There’s a lot that isn’t on the reality show (Keeping Up with the Kardashians) – feuds, secret celebrity hook ups, surgery, financial deals and rows within the family.”
“But Kim’s only concern at this stage is getting Kanye help and protecting their children. She’s very worried.”

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