Photo credit: Elisa Haberer / Opéra national de Paris Paris Opera’s production of Charpentier’s “Médée” is not bad, but throughout the performance, operagoers will be filled with a sensation of uneasiness. It is not necessarily because of its murderous plot, but because the production feels unsuited to its musicians. It leaves one with the feeling of wearing a garment lent {…}
The Welsh National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Verdi’s “Rigoletto” is set to be conducted by Pietro Rizzo and directed by Adele Thomas. Leonardo Capalbo, Daniel Luis de Vicente, Soraya Mafi, and Natalia Kutateladze star. Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2024-Feb. 22, 2025 Puccini’s “Il Trittico“ returns to the stage. “Il Tabarro” will star Aluda Todua, Natalya Romaniw, and Andrés {…}
(Photo credit: © Marta Syrko) The Dutch National Opera and Dutch National Ballet take the stage together for the world premiere of Wayne McGregor and Samy Moussa’s “Jocasta’s Line.” Choreographer and stage director McGregor along with composer Moussa combined the Greek tragedies “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone.” Moussa composed new music for “Antigone,” but will use Stravinsky’s original score, with the {…}
The Gramophone Magazine has announced the 2023 award nominations. For the purposes of this article, we will only highlight the opera and vocal nominees. The opera nominees are Meyerbeer’s “Robert Le Diable” with Chœur de l’Opera National de Bordeaux, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, and Marc Minkowski (Bru Zane), Puccini’s “Turandot” with the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia {…}
The Leeds Lieder Festival 2023 has been announced. The season opens with a gala featuring tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Ana Manastireanu. They will perform music by Schumann, Britten, Finzi, Clarke, Tippett, and Gurney, among others. Performance Date: June 9, 2023 Soprano Louise Alder and pianist Joseph Middleton will perform music by Schubert, Schumann, and Mozart, among others. Performance Date: {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Back in 2017, The Guardian meditated on why, despite being one of the world’s greatest plays, “Hamlet” had no great corresponding operatic adaptation. The article notes that despite there being about 40 actual operatic adaptations, none have stood the test of time or held the stage. Perhaps the lone work with staying power is {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring eight productions and seven operas. Leo Hussain conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Christof Loy. The cast will include Sinéad Campbell-Wallace, Adam Smith, and Noel Bouley. Performance Dates: Sept. 30–Nov. 4 2022 Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard” will include Anthony Gregory, Neal Davies, Alexandra Oomens, Heather {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 69th straight week of streams. Per a press release, this week’s streams, which will be dedicated to the operas of Richard Strauss, will include several first-time broadcasts. Here is a breakdown of the schedule. Week 69 – Strauss Week Monday, July 5 – Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavalier” Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Tatiana Troyanos, Judith Blegen, Luciano Pavarotti, Derek Hammond-Stroud, and Kurt {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, concerts, and a special 175th-anniversary gala. Here is a look at the new season. Opera The first opera of the season is set to be Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” starring Iréne Theorin and Johanni van Oostrum sharing the title role. They will be accompanied by Samantha Hankey, {…}
Conductor Oliver Zeffman has commissioned a new opera, “Eight Songs From Isolation,” which bring together prominent composers and artists to explore themes of distance. Zeffman conducts the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and features artists such as Sarah Connolly, Iestyn Davies, Sophie Bevan, Toby Spence, Julia Bullock, and more. Over 50 people across North America, Europe, Africa and {…}
In collaboration with Dejan Vukosavljevic On the heels of its 2020-21 season cancelation, the Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2021-22 season. The company will present six new productions including three company premieres. Here is a look at the new season. New Productions The season opens with “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” by Terence Blanchard. The opera will be conducted by {…}