In the second cast of the Teatro Real de Madrid’s “Medea,” Saioa Hernandez proved a revelation. Her dramatic instrument with a bright dark timbre, her expansive vibrato, her thunderous high register, her sonorous low register in chest voice, and her fluid vocal line make her ideal for this role. Medea’s writing is mostly central, we could even say that it {…}
Deustche Grammophon’s Stage + is set to stream Nadine Sierra and Francesco Demuros’ gala concert from the Festival Cap Rocat. The company will broadcast the concert, which was filmed on the coast of Majorca earlier this month, on August 26, 2023. Demuro and Sierra were joined by the Symphony Orchestra of the Balearic Islands and conductor Pablo Mielgo. The concert {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “I Capuleti e Montecchi.” Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Idan Cohen. The cast includes Maria Kataeva and Anna Pennisi as Romeo and Marina Monzó and Francesca Pia Vitale as Giulietta. Ioan Hotea, Mert Süngü, Marco Spotti, and Gabriele Sagona round out the {…}
The Teatro Caro Felice has announced its 2023-24 season. Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens the season with a cast that includes Christopher Ainslie, Sydney Mancasola, Matteo Anselmi, Scott Wilde, Kamelia Kader, Peter Kirk, John Chest, Hagar Sharvit, Keri Fuge, David Shipley, David Ireland, Seumas Begg, Sion Goronwy, Robert Burt, and Benjamin Bevan. Donato Renzetti conducts the production by Laurence Dale. Performance Dates: Oct. 13-19, 2023 Dante Ferretti directs Massenet’s “Werther” with Jean-François Borras, Jérôme {…}
The Opéra National de Paris is set to present a new production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” this June. The production, which opens on June 17 and runs through July 15 at the Opéra Bastille (the first time the opera gets showcased at the theater), will be directed by Thomas Jolly. Carlo Rizzi will conduct two different casts. The first {…}
The Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera Henrik Nánási conducts a new production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” by Allex Aguilera. Stuart Skelton, Elisabet Strid, Agnieszka Rehlis, Markus Eiche, Albert Pesendorfer, Jorge Rodríguez-Norton, Fernando Campero, and Juan Antonio Sanabria star. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 2023 Yolanda Auyanet and Berna Perles share the title role {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has rounded out the year with 13 performances of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula,” a title which had not been performed in Madrid for 22 years. What is often considered Bellini’s most balanced composition was presented with a strong double cast of international singers and a new production directed by the Spanish stage director Barbara Lluch. Salem {…}
The 2022 International Opera Awards were handed out at the Teatro Real on Nov. 28, 2022. The Opera Company of the Year accolade was awarded to Lyviv National Opera and the Odessa National Opera. The companies were chosen due to their perseverance in performing during the war. There was no shortlist this year. The Female Singer of the Year went {…}
(Credit: © Bertie Watson/Gemma Escribano) The International Opera Awards has announced the program and performers for its upcoming ceremony on Nov. 28, 2022 at the Teatro Real de Madrid. Jessica Pratt and Francesco Demuro will headline a duet from “I Puritani” with soprano Nardus Williams presenting “Dovo sono” from “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Audiences will also hear soprano Barno Ismatullaeva {…}
Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Italy has announced its 2022-23 Season. The season opens with Puccini’s “La bohème” starring Valeria Sepe, Jessica Nuccio, and Giorgio Berrugi. Fabrizio Maria Carminati conducts the production by Mario Pontiggia. Performance Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 4, 2022 Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” will get a new production with Desirée Rancatore, Luca Bruno, Gabriele Sagona, and Cristin {…}
The Teatro Lirico di Cagliari has announced its 2023 season. Cilea’s “Gloria” will star Ramaz Chikviladze, Mattia Denti, Anastasia Bartoli, Valentina Boi, Franco Vassallo, Ivan Inverardi, Carlo Ventre, and Denis Pivnitsky. Francesco Cilluffo conducts the production by Antonio Albanese. Performance Dates: Feb. 10-19, 2023 Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” will star Dave Monaco, Chuan Wang, Christian Senn, Andrea Vincenzo Bonsignore, Giulio Mastrototaro, {…}