(Credit: Riga Jurmala Music Festival) The Riga Jurmala Music Festival has announced its 2022 slate. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Pretty Yende, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, tenor Julien Prégardien, and bass René Pape perform Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626. The rest of a program features Sibelius’ Symphony No. 4 {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera House official website) The Royal Opera House has announced multiple cast changes for its upcoming productions of Puccini’s “Tosca,” Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” Per an official press release, Oksana Lyniv will conduct the full run of Tosca in 2021, replacing Francesco Ivan Ciampa who was due to conduct the performances on Dec. 11, 14 & {…}
(Credit: Chorégies d’Orange official website) Les Chorégies d’Orange Festival has announced its 2022 slate, featuring two operas and international stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on vocal performances only. Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” spotlights René Barbera as Nemorino, Andrzej Filończyk as Belcore, Erwin Schrott as Dulcamara, Anna Nalbandiants as Giannetta, and Pretty Yende as Adina. Giacomo Sagripanti {…}
PBS has announced that it will start broadcasting two Great Performances at the Met this December and January. First up will “Bryn Terfel & Friends in Concert,” which will premiere on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 at 12 p.m. on New York’s THIRTEEN. The concert, which was recorded in December 2020 will feature the famed bass-baritone as he performs holiday favorites {…}
(Credit: Karin Cooper) During the Washington National Opera’s 2021-22 season Opening Night gala, the company announced that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family honored her love for the Washington National Opera with a gift of her piano. The gift also included the costume worn for her appearance in a WNO’s production of Donizetti’s “La fille du régiment” in 2016. The company was {…}
(Credit: Scott Suchman) On Nov. 6, the Washington National Opera opened its 2021-22 in celebratory fashion by showcasing a gala with five international artists. But it wasn’t just any old gala, it was particularly themed and carefully constructed. The evening was divided into three parts – the arts celebrating the return of opera and the artistic world after gloomy days {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to present “Come Home: A Celebration of Return,” a program featuring internationally acclaimed stars including a mix of WNO favorites, and new faces. The concert will feature soloists Pretty Yende in her WNO debut, Isabel Leonard, Lawrence Brownlee, and Cafritz Young Artist Alumna Alexandria Shiner. It will also include the highly anticipated mainstage debuts {…}
Opéra de Paris has announced cast changes for its production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.” The company noted that Sydney Mancasola is currently ill and will not be able to sing the performances on Oct. 16, 21, 24, and 27, 2021. As a result, the role of Adina will be performed by Mané Galoyan on October, 16, Pretty Yende on October {…}
The South African Soprano Pretty Yende opened the 70th ABAO Bilbao Opera season with a solo recital accompanied by Italian pianist Michele d’Elia. She presented a balanced program that included chamber arias from Bellini, Donizetti, and the Rossini as well as Liszt’s “Tre sonetti di Petrarca,” which was a beautiful and unexpected addition to the evening. There were also a {…}
(Credit: Elena Cherkashyna) The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The company noted that Pretty Yende will replace Nadine Sierra in the title role of Violetta. Yende recently made her role debut as Violetta at the Paris Opera and has sung the role at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo and at the {…}
Pretty Yende is set to inaugrate the Bilbao Opera on Oct. 9 at the Euskalduna Bilbao. The concert will mark Yende’s Bilbao debut and will see the coloratura soprano perform scenes and arias by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, and Liszt. The soprano will perform from such operas “La Sonnambula,” “Linda di Chamonix,” and “Il Viaggo a Reims.” The soprano will be joined {…}