The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its performance of “La Bohème” on Oct. 13, 2023. The company said that the role of Colline will be sung by Scott Conner who replaces Christian Van Horn. Conner made his Met debut as the Police Commissioner in “Der Rosenkavalier” in 2017. He has since reprised his role in “Der Rosenkavalier” {…}
The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music has unveiled its 2023-24 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances. The season opens with a concert starring soprano Leah Crocetto. The showcase, which will be conducted by Douglas Kinney Frost, will include the world premiere of Clarice Assad’s “Baião n’ Blues,” Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and Brahms’ {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Puccini’s “La Bohème” for 18 performances in the fall and winter. The opera, which is set to run between Oct. 10 and Jan. 13, will first star Federica Lombardi in the lead role alongside Matthew Polenzani, Olga Kulchynska, and Adam Plachetka. The cast also includes Sean Michael Plumb in his Met role debut as {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present a production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” from Oct. 6 to 28, 2023. The opera will be presented in a production by Tony Award winner John Caird and will be conducted by Jordan de Souza. The opera will star real-life husband and wife, tenor Pene Pati and soprano Amina Edris in the leading roles {…}
For the Berkshire Opera Festival’s first “La Bohème,” OperaWire interviewed two of the leads, Yongzhao Yu (Rodolfo) and Véronique Filloux (Musetta). The festival, not far from the historic site of Tanglewood, has over the years gained a reputation for exciting and powerful productions. It is also known for spotting rising talent poised to reach an ever wider audience around the globe. {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to present “Opera in the Outfield” at the Nationals Park on Sept. 30, 2023. The event will be hosted by WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary and WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and will be sponsored by Mars. The event will feature family activities and pre-show performances at 5 p.m., followed by an outdoor broadcast {…}
Valley Opera and Performing Arts is set to present a Uniquely Relevant Production of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The opera, which is set to be presented on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, 2023, features a concept by Dylan F. Thomas and stage direction by Brayden Hade. The production will bring the classic opera back to the height of the Covid-19 pandemic {…}
Chicago-based Ouroboros Opera and The Valkyrie Ensemble will present the Chicago premiere of “La Femme Bohème.” The work reimagines the Puccini classic with an all-female and non-binary cast and will take place at the bookstore Women and Children First on August 25 and 26, 2023. The opera will star Angela Born, Alannah Spencher, Beck Buechel, Marnie Baylouny, Tracey Furling, Angela {…}
Photo Credit: Karen Almond When you think of friends in opera, who do you think of? Perhaps your mind goes to the happiness shared between sisters in “Cosi Fan Tutte.” Or, more seriously, you think of the squabbles inherent in Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus.” Whatever it may be, you don’t have to look far to find more than meets the {…}
(Photo: Opera Holland Park 2023 © Craig Fuller) Part of “La bohème’s” appeal is surely in its cinematic quality. Puccini’s score does so much meticulous work that directors sometimes feel that they have little to do other than show the singers to the stage – and ensure they take the right cues from the orchestra. There are sudden close-ups and {…}
(Mise en scène Christophe Gayral, Décors Christophe Ouvrard, Costume Tiziano Musetti) On July 14, the Puccini Festival opened with a new production of “La Bohème” directed by Christophe Gayral. The production updated the opera to 1968 during the student protests in France. It was a concept that was presented at the festival in November of 2022 and one that was {…}