David Pickard, the director of the BBC Proms will step down after nine years leading the classical music festival. He will leave the post after next summer’s Proms. In a statement he said, “It has been an immense honour and privilege to run the world’s greatest classical music festival alongside an incredible team, working with many of the most exciting {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Paul Lewis, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Dalia Stasevska perform the first night of Proms. Performance Date: July 14, 2023 Early music vocal ensemble Stile Antico explores the many facets of William Byrd. Performance Date: July 15, 2023 Soprano Rainelle {…}
The BBC Singers are off the budget chopping block, for now. In a statement published on the BBC website, the BBC stated that several organizations proposed alternative funding. “We have agreed with the Musicians’ Union that we will suspend the proposal to close the BBC Singers, while we actively explore these options. If viable, these alternative options would secure the {…}
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Opera House and BBC Proms have canceled performances. The Royal Opera closed on Sept. 8 and canceled performances of “Don Giovanni” and the Aida Insight. The house said it would contact ticket holders for refunds or to change to another performance. Meanwhile, BBC Proms canceled two nights including the Last Night {…}
George Gagnidze has canceled the BBC Proms performance of “Il Tabarro.” The baritone took to social media and said, “I am very sad to announce that I’m forced to cancel tomorrow’s ‘Il Tabarro’ at the BBC Proms due to bronchitis. This is my first cancellation in a very long time and it was a difficult step to take. I was {…}
London’s BBC Proms has announced a cast change for its performance on July 30, 2022. The festival announced that Daniela Barcellona, Ivan Gyngazov, and Jung Soon Yun have withdrawn from Prom 19: Puccini’s “Il Tabarro.” As a result, Annunziata Vestri, Adam Smith, and Shengzhi Ren will replace them. Vestri will perform the role of La Frugola while Smith will sing {…}
The BBC Proms has announced a cast change for its opening performance of Verdi’s Requiem. The festival said in a statement, “We are sorry to announce that Freddie De Tommaso has withdrawn from the First Night of the Proms (Friday 15 July) due to testing positive for Covid-19.” As a result, David Junghoon Kim will step in to sing the {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2022 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the festival. Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Verdi’s Requiem on the First Night of the 2022 BBC Proms. Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Jennifer Johnston, Freddie De Tommaso, and Kihwan Sim are the soloists. Performance Date: July 15, 2022 David Bates and La {…}
Credit: Marica Rosengard Celebrated Finnish soprano Karita Mattila has been awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland, First Class Commander Badge. The Order of the Lion of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the Order of the White Rose of Finland. The famed Finnish soprano has {…}
(Credit: Trond Gudevolt) The Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that coloratura soprano Caroline Wettergreen will take over the role of Die Königin der Nacht in Mozart and Schikaneder’s “Die Zauberflöte” for the performances on Dec. 27, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. CET, and Jan. 10, 2021. Wettergreen will replace Antonina Vesenina and join a cast that includes René Pape in {…}
It’s going to be an exciting week with a combination of live streams and other performances being made available digitally for opera lovers worldwide. And while we are at it – get ready for more in coming weeks as opera companies around the world start to embrace digital opera as part of their 2020-21 seasons. Before we kick off our {…}