Belgian Government Reopens Theaters Following Council of State’s Ruling

(Credit: Johan Jacobs) The government of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has officially reopened theaters following a decision by the Council of State. Using an emergency procedure, the Council of State ruled that the government’s closure measures were not proportionate, and didn’t provide enough motives to understand why attending cultural performances was particularly dangerous for public health. Per the {…}

Kristine Opolais, Michael Volle, Angela Gheorghiu & Evelyn Herlitzius Lead Semperoper Dresden’s 2021-22 Season

The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, revivals, jung oper, and Chamber works. Premieres Gaetano d’Espinosa conducts a new production of Peter Konwitschny Bellini’s “Norma” with Yolanda Auyanet in the title role. The cast will also include Dmytro Popov, Alexandros Stavrakakis, and Stepanka Pucalkova. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-31, 2021 Ivan Repušić conducts a new production of {…}

Karita Mattila, Sara Jakubiak & Camilla Nylund Headline Finnish National Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions and several workshops, concerts, and musicals. The season will also mark the first season of Chief Conductor, Hannu Lintu. Here is a breakdown of the season: Opera & Musicals Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci“ and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana“ open the season with Hannu Lintu conducting. Mascagni’s opera stars Niina Keitel, Johanna Lehesvuori, {…}

Enea Scala, Michael Fabiano, Corinne Winters, Barbara Hannigan, Davinia Rodriguez, Stéphanie d’Oustrac Lead La Monnaie’s 2021-22 Season

(Photo Credits: In Art Management / © Jiyang Chen / Gillian Riesen / © Raphael Brand / LA Opera official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot) La Monnaie De Munt has announced its new 2021-22 season, consisting of 12 operas and seven recitals. Here is the full slate. Operas Kris Defoort and Peter van Kraaij’s opera “The time of our singing” {…}

Sir Simon Keenlyside, Eva-Maria Westbroek & Enea Scala Lead La Monnaie’s Updated 2020-21 Season

(Credits: Opéra National de Paris official website / © Fazil Berisha / Simon Pauly) La Monnaie has announced an updated 2020-21 season that is expected to begin in February. Here is the look. Opera A semi-staged version of Mozart’s Opera “Der Schauspieldirektor” will feature Mieke de Groote, Achille Ridolfi, Dietrich Henschel, Marie-Aurore D’Awans, Nadine Baboy, Hervé Loka Sombo, Lenneke Ruiten, {…}

Saioa Hernández, Angel Blue & Angela Gheorghiu Lead Semperoper Fall 2020 Performances

(Credits: Lourdes Balduque / Angel Blue Facebook page/ Cosmin Gogu) The Semperoper Dresden has announced a revised program for November and December 2020. The opera house will present three new productions, Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte,” Udo Zimmermann’s “Weiße Rose,” and Simone Fontanelli’s “Pinocchio.” Here is the look. Mozart’s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte” will star René Pape, Nikola Hillebrand, Tuuli Takala, Sebastian {…}

Gerard Schneider, Brenda Rae & Nicholas Brownlee Highlight Oper Frankfurt’s 2020-21 Season

Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2020-21 season. The German house will present 11 new productions and a number of revivals and recitals. New Productions  Monika Buczkowska, Judita Nagyová, Peter Marsh, Simon Neil, and Alfred Reiter star in Ligeti’s “La Grand Macabre.” Sebastian Weigle conducts a production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Sept. 13-Oct. 17, 2020 Katharina Thoma will direct Offenbach’s {…}

Rolando Villazón, René Pape, Anja Harteros Highlight Semperoper Dresden’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Jiyang Chen / Marco Borggreve) The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2020-21 season featuring seven new operatic productions and a number of revivals. Here is a look at the operatic productions. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell,” written by de Jouy and Bis. The new production by Georg Schmiedleitner will star Christoph {…}

Bruce Sledge Replaces Andrea Carè In Metropolitan Opera’s November ‘Madama Butterfly’ Performances

The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Bruce Sledge will sing the remaining performances of the November run of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The company announced via social media that Bruce Sledge will sing Pinkerton in the Nov. 13, 16, 22, and 25 performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, replacing Andrea Carè. Sledge heroically made his role debut as Pinkerton during the HD {…}