Jonathan Tetelman, Aigul Akhmetshina, Aušrine Stundyte, David Butt Philip & Sondra Radvanovsky lead Deutsche Oper Berlin’s 2024-25 Season

The Deustche Oper Berlin has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Respighi’s “La Fiamma” will be directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Carlo Rizzi. The cast will include Aušrine Stundyte, Georgy Vasiliev, Vladislav Sulimsky, Martina Serafin, Sua Jo, Cristina Toledo, Martina Baroni, Karis Tucker, Caren Van Oijen, Doris Soffel, and Patrick Guetti. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 18, 2024 Enrique Mazzola {…}

Mar 22, 2024

Opéra de Paris 2024 Review: Simon Boccanegra

(Photo credit: Vincent Pontet-OnP) A few years ago, when Bieito’s staging of “Simon Boccanegra” premiered at the Paris Opera, the reviews were abysmal. Few things are as catchy in the opera world as negative consensus. I got to see the same production with a very similar cast last weekend, and, somehow, I think it was one of the most emotional {…}

Mar 14, 2024

Denyce Graves, Sinéad Campbell Wallace, Étienne Dupuis Headline Washington National Opera’s 2024-25 Season

Washington National Opera announced its 2024-25 season. It all starts with Beethoven’s “Fidelio” starring Sinéad Campbell Wallace, Jamez McCorkle, Derek Welton, David Leigh, and Denyce Graves. Robert Spano conducts a production by Francesca Zambello. Performance Dates: Oct. 25 – Nov. 4, 2024 Robert Spano conducts “Gods and Mortals: A Celebration of Wagner.” The concert features Christine Goerke and Brandon Jovanovich. Performance {…}

Feb 1, 2024

Karen Slack, Nicole Car & Étienne Dupuis Lead Bravo! Vail Music Festival’s 2024 Season

The Bravo! Vail Music Festival has announced its 37th Season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Fabio Luisi conducts “The American Songbook” with soloists Karen Slack and Issachah Savage and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The concert features Gershwin, Ornadel, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Johnson, and Dawson. Performance Date: June 28, 2024 Puccini’s “La Bohème” is set to star Nicole {…}

Jan 24, 2024

Ermonela Jaho Named Opera for Peace Ambassador

(Photo credit: Fadil Berisha) Soprano Ermonela Jaho has been named an Opera for Peace ambassador. Albanian soprano Jaho is recognized for her portrayals of opera characters in Baroque, bel canto, and verismo repertoire. She recently recorded “Turandot” with Warner Classics and Erato CD which was nominated for best Opera album at the 2023 Gramophone Awards, and “Fuoco Sacro,” with Michael {…}

Jan 13, 2024

Étienne Dupuis, Javier Camarena, Sondra Radvanovsky, Brian Jagde Headline Casts for Royal Opera House’s 2024 Japan Tour

The Royal Opera House has announced the cast details for its Japan 2024 tour. “It’s a pleasure to be bringing these incredible works to Japan – with two stellar casts, our Royal Operas Chorus and of course Orchestra of the Royal Opera House,” said Music Director Antonio Pappano, who will conduct all the performances on the tour, in an official {…}

Jan 12, 2024

Juan Diego Flórez, Maria José Siri, Francesco Meli & Vasilisa Berzhanskaya Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences are in for two full recordings of well-known works with some of the world’s greatest singers. There are also choral recoridngs and some less known works to discover. Heaven to Earth Signum Classics releases Heaven to Earth, a collection of singable, {…}

Dec 18, 2023

Teatro Real 2023-24 Review: Rigoletto (Cast B)

The Teatro Real de Madrid continued its run of “Rigoletto” with a second cast under the musical direction of Nicola Luisotti. Since our earlier review of the first cast already explores the production itself, we will jump right into an analysis of the vocal performances. Étienne Dupuis was a lyrical Rigoletto, but far too lyrical. His warm and effortless timbre {…}

Oct 10, 2023

Royal Opera House 2023-24 Review: La Forza del Destino

(Credit: Royal Opera) I suppose anything with “Destiny” in the title will always be a bit profound. In fact, “La Forza” is about as profound and gloomy, if not downright dark as it gets, even by Verdi’s standards. At around four and a half hours, it’s also his longest work. It’s a story of love, death, and revenge. Mainly revenge. {…}

Jul 19, 2023

CD Review: Joseph Calleja’s ‘Ave Maria’

It has been a while since Decca released a solo recital with Joseph Calleja. “The Magic of Manotvani,” some sort of a crossover, dates from 2020 while his last properly operatic release, “Verdi,” goes all the way back to 2018. Yet the British label has all but forgotten about its spearhead tenor who, with “Ave Maria,” makes a beautifully toned but no less {…}

Jul 8, 2023

Anna Netrebko Headlines ‘La Traviata’ at Wiener Konzerthaus

(Credit: tim osipov) Anna Netrebko is set to perform Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Sept. 6, 2023 in a concert performance. The performance will mark the first time Netrebko sings the iconic opera in Austria since 2009. It also comes nearly 20 years after her breakout turn in Salzburg in 2005. The soprano famously performed the opera at the San Francisco {…}

Etienne Dupuis