(Credit: © Peter Mayr) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cancellation of all the remaining performances of popular Johann Strauss’ operetta “Die Fledermaus” in January 2022, due to rising COVID-19 cases in the artistic groups. The popular work was set to star Andreas Schager as Gabriel von Eisenstein, Rachel Willis-Sørensen in the role of Rosalinde, Wolfgang Bankl as Frank, Christina {…}
(Credit: Theater an der Wien official website) Soprano Svetlana Aksenova will replace Angel Blue in the role of Mimì in Puccini’s “La bohème” at the Bayerische Staatsoper for the performances on Jan. 5, 7 & 9, 2022. Aksenova joins a cast that includes Emily Pogorelc in the role of Musetta, Evan LeRoy Johnson as Rodolfo, Roman Burdenko as Marcello, Andrei {…}
(Credit: Teatro Lirico di Cagliari official website) The Teatro Lirico di Cagliari has announced its 2022 season, featuring five operas. Here is a full slate. Operas Martina Serafin, Marta Mari, Elena Schirru, Antonello Palombi, Mickael Spadaccini, Roberto Frontali, Leon Kim, Giuseppina Piunti, Alessandro Spina, Christian Collia, and Patrizio La Placa star in the Leo Muscato’s production of Licinio Refice’s “Cecilia.” {…}
(Credit: Johan Jacobs) The government of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has officially reopened theaters following a decision by the Council of State. Using an emergency procedure, the Council of State ruled that the government’s closure measures were not proportionate, and didn’t provide enough motives to understand why attending cultural performances was particularly dangerous for public health. Per the {…}
(Credit: Teatro Real official website) The Teatro Real in Madrid was forced to change a big part of the cast for the Dec. 29 presentation of Puccini’s “La bohème.” Per Platea Magazine, only two singers from the formerly announced cast have appeared onstage – Krzysztof Baczyk in the role of Colline, and Joan Martín-Royo as Schaunard. The company announced that {…}
(Credit: Miguel Lorenzo) This review is from the performance on the 16th of December 2021 Despite several singers falling ill, the Palau de Les Arts still managed to find a way to present a revival of its production of “Madama Butterfly”. Jorge Rodriguez-Norton, who played Goro, fell ill and had to be replaced by Mikeldi Atxalandabaso at very short notice. {…}
(Credit: English Touring Opera official website) The English Touring Opera has announced its 2022 spring performances. Here is a full slate. Puccini’s “La bohème” features Francesca Chiejina and Paula Sides as Mimì; Jenny Stafford and April Koyejo-Audiger in the role of Musetta; and Luciano Botelho and Thomas Elwin as Rodolfo. The cast is rounded out by Michel de Souza, Jerome {…}
(Credit: Lombardo Associates official website) Tenor Luciano Ganci will perform the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s “Tosca” at the Wiener Staatsoper for performances on Dec. 27 & 30, 2021. Ganci will replace Francesco Meli, who was originally scheduled to sing the role. Ganci joins a cast that includes Gevorg Hakobyan as Baron Scarpia, Martin Häßler as Angelotti, and Saioa {…}
(Credit: GM ART&MUSIC official website) The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has announced that tenor Bryan Hymel has withdrawn from all the scheduled performances of Puccini’s “Tosca” due to indisposition. Accordingly, multiple cast changes have been made. Italian tenor Riccardo Massi will perform the role of Cavaradossi on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p. m. GMT, replacing British-Italian tenor Freddie De {…}
(Credit: Anne Zeuner) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2022 season, featuring eight operas, concerts, and international opera stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Operas The season opens with Romeo Castellucci’s production of Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The opera stars Mika Kares and Aušrinė Stundytė in the lead roles, alongside soprano {…}
(Credit: Richard Lewisohn) The Grange Park Opera has announced that it will present a film version of Puccini’s comic masterpiece “Gianni Schicchi.” “Though the real Donati family and Schicchi lived in the early 1300s, and Puccini set his opera at that time, we are depicting a greedy family and a rogue of today. However, our Schicchi is a loveable rogue, {…}