Barno Ismatullaeva, Jacquelyn Wagner, Pumeza Matshikiza, Mario Rojas & Daniel Luis de Vicente Lead Staatsoper Hannover’s 2024-25 Season

The Staatsoper Hannover has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Philip Glass’s “Satyagraha” will be conducted by Masaru Kumakura and directed by Daniel Kramer. The production will star Shanul Sharma, Meredith Wohlgemuth, Ketevan Chuntishvili, Beatriz Miranda, Lluís Calvet i Pey, Markus Suihkonen, Ruzana Grigorian, Darwin Prakash, and Markus Suihkonen. Performance Dates: Sept. 6-Oct. 31, 2024 Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” will receive a new {…}

Feb 7, 2024

Pumeza Matshikiza Signs with Arcadia Artists

South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza has signed with Arcadia Artists for worldwide general management. Matshikiza has been an exclusive Decca Artist since 2014 and has performed at many of the leading opera houses across Europe and the United States. In recent seasons, the soprano has won critical acclaim in the title role of “Aida” at the Staatsoper Hannover, Mařenka in {…}

Apr 25, 2023

James Newby, Pumeza Matshikiza & Massimo Cavalletti Lead Staatsoper Hannover’s 2023-24 Season

The Staatsoper Hannover has announced its 2023-24 season featuring eight new productions. Premieres Stephan Zilias conducts Wagner’s “Parsifal” in a new production by Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson. The cast includes Michael Kupfer-Radecky, Daniel Eggert, Shavleg Armasi, Marco Jentzsch, Tómas Tómasson, Seth Carico, and Irene Roberts. Performance Dates: Sept. 24-Oct. 31, 2023 “Turning Turandot” will be conducted by Richard Schwennicke and directed by Olivia Hyunsin {…}

Oct 29, 2022

Natalya Romaniw, Pumeza Matshikiza & Andrew Stenson Lead Garsington Opera’s 2023 Season

The Garsington Opera has announced its 2023 season. The season opens with Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia“ with conductor Douglas Boyd condcuting Christopher Luscombe. The cast will include Andrew Stenson, Johannes Kammler, Katie Bray, Richard Burkhard, Callum Thorpe, and Josephine Goddard. Performance Dates: May 31-July 22, 2023 The company will also present Mozart’s “Mitridate, re di Ponto“ with Robert Murray, Elizabeth Watts, {…}

Apr 24, 2022

English National Opera 2021-22 Review: The Handmaid’s Tale

(Photo: Catherine Ashmore) Such has been the success of Margret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” that, since its publication in 1985, it now finds itself positioned alongside other major 20th century dystopian novels, drawing comparisons with Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World.” Like them, it has entered the cultural mainstream, spawning plays, films, a ballet, a major television series, {…}

Mar 1, 2022

English National Opera 2021-22: The Cunning Little Vixen

Photo: © CLIVE BARDA/ArenaPAL Opening night was delayed due to a storm – very on brand for Leoš Janáček, though perhaps more apt for “Kat’a Kabanova” – so nature very much had the upper hand when this new production of “The Cunning Little Vixen” opened at the London Coliseum on Sunday. Director Jamie Manton has previously made an impact with {…}

Jun 10, 2021

Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Elīna Garanča, Christine Goerke Headline Philharmonie Essen’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical / Jiyang Chen / Chris Singer / Paul Schirnhofer/DG / Opus 3 Artists official website) Philharmonie Essen has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Christine Goerke and Klaus Florian Vogt perform works by Richard Wagner. Andris Nelsons conducts the Bayreuther Festspielorchester. {…}

May 12, 2021

Kate Lindsey, Natalya Romaniw, Pumeza Matshikiza & Sean Panikkar Lead English National Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The English National Opera has announced its 2021-22 Season featuring new productions of classic and modern masterpieces. Natalya Romaniw, David Junghoon Kim, Roland Wood, and William Thomas star in Puccini’s “Tosca” in a semi-staged production conducted by Richard Farnes. Performance Dates: August 27 & 29, 2021 Carolyn Kuan conducts Glass’ “Satyagraha” with Sean Panikkar, Musa Ngqungwana, William Thomas, Sarah Pring, Felicity Buckland, Gabriella Cassidy, James Cleverton, and Ross Ramgobin. {…}

Sep 5, 2020

Tenor Štefan Margita Tests Positive For COVID-19

(Credit: Dusíkovo divadlo official website) Famed Slovakian tenor Štefan Margita and his wife Hanka both tested positive for the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. Margita posted a message on his Facebook profile, stating “Our dear ones, we did not want to burden you with our worries. Yes, we both tested positive for COVID. So you don’t have to learn from the various {…}

Jul 7, 2020

Pumeza Matshikiza Diagnosed With COVID-19

South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza has confirmed that she has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The soprano announced via social media that she had tested positive for the virus three days after being hospitalized for “stomach pain, a constant feeling of dizziness, vomiting, high temperature, and feeling cold.” “Thank you for all your good health wishes! Really much appreciated! I’d like {…}

May 5, 2020

Carmela Remigio, Florian Boesch, & Günther Groissböck Highlight Theater an der Wien’s 2020-21 Season

The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2020-21 season featuring 13 new productions, chamber opera, and opera in concert. Productions The season opens with Leoncavallo’s “Zazà” starring Svetlana Aksenova in the title role, Nikolai Schukoff, Christopher Maltman, Dorothea Herbert, and Enkelejda Shkosa. Stefan Soltész conducts the new production by Christof Loy. Performance Dates: Sept. 16-27, 2020 Wayne Marshall conducts {…}