The Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival released its 2024 lineup. Vera Petrova’s production of Händel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” under the baton of maestro Schmeisse opens the festival at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Performers are to be announced at a later time. Performance Dates: July 21 & 23, 2024 The open air opera concert, “Best Arias and Ensembles” features {…}
France’s Opéra de Dijon has announced its 2023-24 season. Here are the operatic and vocal concerts. Opera Händel’s “Ariodante” is set to star Lea Desandre, Ana Maria Labin, Ana Vieira Leite, Hugh Cutting, Kresimir Spicer, Moritz Kallenberg, and Renato Dolcini. William Christie conducts. Performance Date: Oct. 15, 2023 Beethoven’s “Fidelio” will star Sinead Campbell Wallace, Maximilian Schmitt, Martina Russomanno, Mischa {…}
Just before the New Year celebration, the Lithuanian capital was seething with indignation and anger : one of the most famous Lithuanian singers in the world, Kristian Benedikt, had participated in the Christmas concert at the Bolshoi Theatre in Minsk. It was not the most understandable and logical decision on the part of the Lithuanian tenor, especially at a time {…}
Lithuanian tenor Kristian Benedikt is apologizing for his recent performance in Belarus. The tenor, who was criticized for performing in Minsk, said he went to Belarus at the invitation of an evangelical bishop and took part in pre-Christmas events to support his friends suffering repressions of the Minsk regime. He said, “I performed at a concert organized and directed by {…}
The Lithuanian National Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a variety of repertoire for the whole family. Here is a look at the opera and operetta to be performed. Viktorija Miškūnaitė headlines Massenet’s “Manon“ with Mickael Spadaccini and Eugenijus Chrebtovas. The production will be conducted by Julius Geniušas. Performance Dates: Sept. 30 -Oct. 2, 2021 Verdi’s “La Traviata“ will return {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2021-22 season, which will feature six productions. It all starts with Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Carolyn Sproule, Richard Trey Smagur, Christian Pursell, and Heidi Stober. Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts a production directed by Rob Ashford. Performance Dates: Oct. 22 – Nov. 7, 2021 Next up is the world premiere of “The Snowy Day.” The new {…}
(Credit: Dusíkovo divadlo official website) Famed Slovakian tenor Štefan Margita and his wife Hanka both tested positive for the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. Margita posted a message on his Facebook profile, stating “Our dear ones, we did not want to burden you with our worries. Yes, we both tested positive for COVID. So you don’t have to learn from the various {…}
Tenor Kristian Benedikt has been hospitalized with COVID-19. The tenor’s Facebook page had a message from the tenor’s wife stating, “My dear friends, colleagues, loved ones. Since there were questions about yesterday’s post, I’ll specify: yes, me and my husband we got COVID-19. Both are in the hospital (I’m in intensive care), children are home. Please pray for us, for {…}
“What could Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ might mean for the people gathered in a beautiful inner yard of Alma Mater Vilnensis on this hot summer evening?” These were my thoughts as I entered the yard of Vilnius University. “Would it inspire them? Would it hit?” That night would be the first large scale classical music event in Vilnius {…}
The Lithuanian National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season. Here is a look at the operas and operettas for the upcoming season. Opera Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena“ opens the season with Sesto Quatrini and Ričardas Šumila conducting. Francesca Sassu and Joana Gedmintaitė headline the cast in the title role, with Raffaella Lupinacci, Justina Gringytė, and Eglė Šidlauskaitė as Giovanna, Tadas Girininkas {…}
Spotlight Artists Management and Production is set to present “Opera Night in Manhattan” on Dec. 6, 2019 at the Gallery MC on west 52nd Street. The event will feature a number of major artists including tenor Kristian Benedikt, who is set to perform in “The Queen of Spades” at the Metropolitan Opera this month. Joining him will be soprano Zoya {…}