Marina Costa-Jackson, Zachary Nelson & Nicole Cabell Lead North Carolina Opera’s 2022-23 Season

North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}

Apr 23, 2022

Manhattan School of Music Graduate Opera Theatre Presents ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’

The Manhattan School of Music Graduate Opera Theatre is set to present “Le Nozze di Figaro” starting on April 28. There will be a total of four performances running through May 1, 2022. The showcase, which will be directed by Lawrence Edelson and conducted by George Manahan, will star Yerin Han as Susanna, James Harris as Count Almaviva, Jasmine Ismail {…}

Apr 14, 2022

Teatro Grattacielo & Camerata Bardi to Present ‘Don Giovanni’ in Greece

Teatro Grattacielo and Camerata Bardi are set to present “Don Giovanni” at the Apollo Theater in Ermoupolis in Greece. The opera will star Manos Christofakakis in the title role alongside Rick Agster, Valerio Morelli, Stephanie Lorentz, Olivia Le Roux, Adam Golstein, Diego Valdez, Lisa Algozzini, Sophie Kochanowski, Lucas Bouk, Bryan McClary, Clare Ghigo, and Mara Koutsaimani. The opera will also {…}

Apr 12, 2022

Omer Meir Wellber to Receive ‘Rudi Häussler Prize’ from Semperoper Dresden

(Credit: P. Meisel) The Semperoper Dresden is set to award Omer Meir Wellber with the “Rudi Häussler Prize” as part its “Mozart Days 2022.” Wellber, who is set to conduct the three Mozart-Da Ponte Operas this season, is the company’s Principal Guest Conductor and will hold that title until the end of the 2021-22 season. The prize is endowed with {…}

Apr 8, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: Le Nozze di Figaro

(Credit: Ken Howard) In the opera world, it’s a common cliché to think that Mozart, because of the simplicity of his music, is “easy to perform.” That’s often why we see opera conservatories and universities often take on his masterpieces for performances. But in my view, nothing is more challenging than Mozart. Not only is the music itself complex in {…}

Mar 15, 2022

Bayerische Staatsoper Makes Cast Change for ‘Nozze di Figaro’

The Bayerische Staatsoper has made a cast change for its upcoming production of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Per OWL Artist Management, mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson will be taking over the role of Cherubino for the March 15, 2022 performance; she will be replacing Samantha Hankey. She will join a cast starring Gerald Finley, Olga Bezsmertna, Katharina Konradi, Luca Pisaroni, Katja Pieweck, {…}

Feb 24, 2022

Fairfield County Chorale to Present ‘A Requiem for the Pandemic’

On March 26, 2022, the Fairfield County Chorale will present Mozart’s “Requiem in D minor” and Thomas Cabaniss’ “Three Sabbaths” in a program titled “A Requiem for the Pandemic.” Renowned conductor David Rosenmeyer will conduct the Chorale, with guest soloists including soprano Joy Jan Jones, mezzo-soprano Eugenia Forteza, tenor Pedro Sequera, and baritone Hyunsoon Kim. The program will join Mozart’s {…}

Feb 20, 2022

Opéra National de Paris 2021-22 Review: Le Nozze di Figaro

(Credit: Miguel Lorenzo Mikel Ponce) “Le Nozze di Figaro” was one of many productions staged by Opéra national de Paris (Paris Opera), which was severely affected by the pandemic, suffering from the cancellation of several performances and multiple changes in the cast with covers stepping in at very short notice. Before the February 3 performance in the Palais Garnier, it was {…}

Feb 14, 2022

Opéra National de Paris 2021-22 Review: Don Giovanni

(Credit: Vincent Pontet) Despite struggling with COVID’s incredibly contagious Omicron variant and subsequent cancelations as a result, the Opéra National de Paris still managed to stage Mozart’s masterpiece, “Don Giovanni.” It was a performance par excellence, where all the primary soloists were, remarkably, able to perform — due to high infection rates it is becoming increasingly common for covers to {…}

Feb 11, 2022

Opera Australia 2022 Review: The Marriage of Figaro

Photo Credit: Prudence Upton Opera Australia’s latest production for their 2022 summer season, a revival by Andy Morton of David McVicar’s 2015 production of “The Marriage of Figaro,” opened at Sydney Opera House on January 27th which, according to Opera Australia’s publicity, is Mozart’s 266th birthday. January 27th is also the day after Australia Day, the annual holiday which commemorates {…}

Feb 5, 2022

Q & A: Elsa Dreisig on Her New Album ‘Mozart X 3’ & Playing Different Roles

Elsa Dreisig credits Mozart with being the composer who first inspired her to become a professional singer. And over the past years, the soprano has dominated his works singing his operas around the world. After two successful albums, Dreisig decided to pay tribute to the famed creator with an album devoted entirely to arias from his operas particularly the three {…}