(Photo: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season will continue with a live transmission of Bizet’s “Carmen” on Jan. 27, 2024. The transmission will feature English director Carrie Cracknell’s new production and stars mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina and tenor Piotr Beczała. They are joined by a cast that includes soprano Angel Blue and bass-baritone Kyle {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its Dec. 31, 2023 performance of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The company said, “For tonight’s performance of Bizet’s Carmen, the role of Don José will be sung by Rafael Davila.” Davila will replace Piotr Beczała. Davila made his Met debut in 2017 as Don Jose in Carmen and has since performed in productions {…}
It’s time of the year. The moment we wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments. After releasing our favorite performances of 2023 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top 11 singers of the year, performers that we thought stood out and had major breaks or performances. So {…}
(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to celebrate its New Year with a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” The opera will be directed by English director Carrie Cracknell. Cracknell will explore themes that could not be more relevant today: gendered violence, abusive labor structures, and the desire to break through societal boundaries. The opera will {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its performance of “Lohengrin” on Oct. 11, 2023. The company said, “Piotr Beczala, unwell, has withdrawn from the performance of ‘Lohengrin.’ As a result, the title role will be performed by Klaus Florian Vogt.” Beczala also took to social media and said, “Dear friends, with regret, I must inform you {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to hear a new album by a great tenor and complete operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Moniuszko, and Gluck. Romances Star tenor Piotr Beczala presents a selection of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, together with the acclaimed accompanist Helmut Deutsch. In a statement, Beczala noted, “When I first began to study singing at the Katowice Academy of {…}
The Arena di Verona’s performance of “Rigoletto” on August 4 was canceled halfway through due to a downpour. The performance marked Piotr Beczala’s debut at the Arena di Verona and also starred Nadine Sierra and Amartuvshin Enkhbat. As a result of the canceled performances all spectators will be able to return for a performance of the Arena di Verona Opera Festival {…}
This week, Piotr Beczała returns to Italy for his highly anticipated debut at the Arena di Verona. The Polish tenor, who is one of the most acclaimed singers of his generation has not performed at any major Italian theater since 2013; the tenor noted 10 years ago that he would not return to Italy after he was booed at the {…}
(Credit: Vincent Peters / Met Opera) Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala have won awards from the Association of Music Critics of Argentina. Netrebko won the award for Best Female Foreign Singer, while Beczala won for Best Male Foreign Singer. The soprano was recognized for her performances of “Tosca,” while the tenor was honored for his acclaimed recital at the famed {…}
(Photo: Monica Ritterhaus) Piotr Beczała has withdrawn from his remaining performances of “Turandot” at the Opernhaus Zürich. The tenor took to social media to announce that he has been struggling with a severe viral infection over the last six weeks and that unfortunately his body is too weak to take on the performances. Beczała He wrote, “Dear friends, as you {…}
Credit: Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera has announced the schedule for its Summer HD Festival. Ten free opera screenings will be projected on the façade of the opera house in Lincoln Center Plaza on Aug. 26-Sept. 4. First up is a special presentation of the film “Moonstruck,” (1987) starring Academy Award-winner Cher, with costars Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello, {…}
