Though the most iconic grand opera in the art form’s canon, Verdi’s “Aïda” shouldn’t challenge a house of Lyric’s caliber too strenuously. The work requires four good-to-great singers, but we expect a top-five American opera house to arrange them. Though “Aïda” lends itself to maximalist stagings, smaller companies pare it down successfully by foregoing equestrian participants, or downshifting parades to {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore“ starring Michael Spyres, Ailyn Perez, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Lucas Meachem, and Morris Robinson. Patrick Summers conducts the production by Stephen Wadsworth. Performance Dates: Oct. 18-Nov. 3, 2024 Isabel Leonard leads Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” with Jack Swanson, Alessandro Corbelli, Iurii Samoilov, and Cory McGee. Lorenzo Passerini {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the productions. Verdi’s “Rigoletto” is set to star Igor Golovatenko, Soloman Howard, Javier Camarena, and Mané Galoyan. Enrique Mazzola conducts the production by Director Mary Birnbaum. Performance Dates: Sept. 14-Oct. 6 2024 Elza van den Heever, Russell Thomas, Mika Kares, and Brian Mulligan star in {…}
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Jader Bignamini conducts Bizet’s “Carmen” with J’Nai Bridges, Russell Thomas, Ailyn Pérez, and Paulo Szot. Performance Dates: Feb. 21 & 23, 2025 Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducts Ben Folds who performs on piano and vocals. Performance Date: May 23 & 24, 2025 The season will also include soloists Bertrand {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra has announced its first international tour in over 20 years. The company revealed that it would perform concerts in London, Paris, and Baden-Baden. “It has been more than 20 years since the Met Orchestra was last on tour in Europe, and I am so delighted to lead these wonderful musicians in programs that {…}
Vocal Arts DC has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature some of opera’s biggest stars. It all kicks off with a recital featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo and Bryan Wagorn performing songs and cantatas. Performance Date: Sept. 21, 2023 Next up is Jonah Hoskins and pianist William Woodard presenting a program of music by Heggie, Lee Hoiby, and Erike Satie. {…}
The Los Angeles Opera is set to present a free live broadcast for the opening performance of Verdi’s “Otello.” The company will showcase the famed opera on May 13, 2023 at the Santa Monica Pier and CSU Dominguez Hills. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. at both location with the opera set to kick off two hours later. There will {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago is set to open its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the season. Tomasz Konieczny leads Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” alongside Tamara Wilson, Robert Watson, and Mika Kares. Enrique Mazzola conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 23, 2023 – Oct. 7, 2023 Audra MacDonald will perform in one evening. Performance Date: Oct. 6, 2023 Donizetti’s “La {…}
The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera Kent Nagano conducts Frank Castorf’s production of Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov.” The opera will star Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Kady Evanyshyn, Olivia Boen, Renate Spingler, Matthias Klink, Alexey Bogdanchikov, Vitalij Kowaljow, Oleksiy Palchykov, and Ryan Speedo Green. Performance Dates: Sept. 16-Oct. 7, 2023 Catherine Foster and Ewa Płonka sing the title role of Puccini’s {…}
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. James Gaffigan conducts Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” with Heidi Melton, Meredith Arwady, Antonio Poli, and Brian Mulligan. Performance Dates: Nov. 11 & 12, 2023 Kevin McBeth conducts IN UNISON Chorus in a concert Gospel Christmas. Performance Dates: Dec. 8, 2023 Stéphane {…}