The Opéra de Paris has announced details for its upcoming “Vissi d’arte – Gala Maria Callas.” As previously announced, the gala will be conducted by Eun Sun Kim and directed by Robert Carsen. Sondra Radvanovsky will sing selections from “Tocsa,” “Macbeth,” “Norma,” and “Manon Lescaut.” Meanwhile, Pretty Yende will sing excerpts from “La Traviata” and “La Sonnambula,” while Elīna Garanča {…}
(Photo credit: Marco Borrelli & Simon Pauly) The Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg has announced its 2023-24 season starring Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres. “Don Giovanni in the Underworld” is presented by the Choir of the Opéra national du Rhin. Performance Dates: September 16-21, 2023 Ernst van Tiel conducts the Strasbourg Philharmonic Choir in “Amadeus Live.” Performance Dates: October 13-14, 2023 {…}
The Festival Cap Rocat is dedicating Nadine Sierra and Francesco Demuro’s August 6 concert to Pretty Yende’s mother. Yende took to social media and said, “I’m terribly saddened to miss the concert tonight Festival CapRrocat with Nadine Sierra. I’m very grateful to Francesco Demuro for performing tonight and sending my sincerest gratitude for the entire management team for dedicating the concert {…}
(Credit: Gregor Hohenberg) Pretty Yende has canceled her recital at the Glanum Festival on July 22 due to a family emergency. The soprano took to social media and said, “Dearest Friends, to my deepest regret, I have to withdraw from my recital at the Glanum Festival tomorrow due to serious family circumstances.” She added “I am very grateful to the {…}
(Photo credit: Festival d’Aix-en-Provence © Vincent Beaume) In an arbored patio, Pretty Yende, ethereally sings the final terzett of the last Petrarch sonnet by Liszt, “ed era il cielo a l’armonia sí intento,” “che non se vedea in ramo mover foglia,” “tanta dolcezza avea pien l’aere e ’l vento.” (“and heaven so intent upon the harmony, no leaf was seen {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that three operas will be presented as part of the Film Festival am Wiener Rathausplatz. The festival will first present Puccini’s “Tosca” from a 2020 recording. The legendary production by Margarethe Wallmann stars Anna Netrebko in the role of Tosca, Yusif Eyvazov as Cavaradossi, and Wolfgang Koch as Scarpia. Conducting the production is Bertrand de Billy. Presentation: July 5, 2023 {…}
Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its production of “Romeo et Juliette.” The company has stated that Pretty Yende has canceled the performance on June 30, 2023. As a result, the role of Juliette will be performed by Amina Edris. The news comes after Yende took to Instagram following a June 27 performance in which she said {…}
The Opéra National de Bordeaux has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera Cristina Pasaroiu sings the title role of Dvorak’s “Rusalka” with Tomislav Mužek, Irina Stopina, and Wojtek Smilek. Domingo Hindoyan conducts the production by Olivier Deloeuil and Jean-Philippe Clarac. Performance Dates: Nov. 8-12, 2023 Louise Foor, Jonah Hoskins, Florian Sempey, and Matthieu Lécroart star in Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles.” {…}
Leading sopranos Renée Fleming and Pretty Yende have been named the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Goodwill Ambassadors for Arts and Health for 2023. Fleming and Yende were selected for their “artistic achievement and advocacy for improved health outcomes through creative means.” Their duties began on April 8 with a concert titled “Healing Arts” which was dedicated to WHO’s 75th anniversary {…}
Tenor and drag performer Jordan Weatherston Pitts has spoken out about his social media altercation with soprano Pretty Yende. On May 12, 2023, Pitts, who has been a drag performer for six years, released a video on his Instagram account in which he explained since 2019, his stage name for his drag persona was “Petty Yende,” in honor of the {…}
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 {…}
