(Photo © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) “La Cenerentola” premiered in 1817, shortly after Rossini’s success with “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” History tells us that it was composed in just three weeks, with only minimal self-plagiarism: the overture was borrowed from “La Gazetta,” and the protagonist’s final rondo from the tenor’s final aria in “Il Barbiere.” The story is a {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Tobias Krazter directs a new production of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” with Nicholas Brownlee, Milan Siljanov, Sean Panikkar, Markus Brück, Matthias Klink, Matthew Rose, Timo Riihonen, Ekaterina Gubanova, Mirjam Mesak, and Wiebke Lehmkuhl. Vladimir Jurowski conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27, 2024-July 31, 2025 Damiano Michieletto directs Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” with {…}
The Royal Opera House is set to perform a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” directed by Damiano Michieletto. The opera will be performed between April 5 and May 31, 2024 and will be broadcast on May 1, 2024 in the cinema theatres of over 50 countries. Micheieletto has directed three other productions at the Royal Opera House including “Guillaume Tell {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences are in for two full recordings of well-known works with some of the world’s greatest singers. There are also choral recoridngs and some less known works to discover. Heaven to Earth Signum Classics releases Heaven to Earth, a collection of singable, {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera) I suppose anything with “Destiny” in the title will always be a bit profound. In fact, “La Forza” is about as profound and gloomy, if not downright dark as it gets, even by Verdi’s standards. At around four and a half hours, it’s also his longest work. It’s a story of love, death, and revenge. Mainly revenge. {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “I Capuleti e Montecchi.” Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Idan Cohen. The cast includes Maria Kataeva and Anna Pennisi as Romeo and Marina Monzó and Francesca Pia Vitale as Giulietta. Ioan Hotea, Mert Süngü, Marco Spotti, and Gabriele Sagona round out the {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced several cast changes for productions of “Rigoletto” and “Nabucco.” The company revealed that Giulia Mazzola will replace Nina Minasyan as Gilda. The cancelation marks Minasyan’s fourth canceled performance. She is still scheduled to sing in the August 19 performance of “La Traviata.” Mazzola will join a cast that includes Luca Salsi in the title {…}
Interest in Rossini is famously tied to Maria Callas and the renaissance, both technical and stylistic, of the Belcanto tradition which in the wake of the Divina has inspired as diverse a roster as Teresa Berganza, Marilyn Horne, and Montserrat Caballe to name but a few. Yet in addition to her live performances, her recorded legacy has marked our ear {…}
“Norma” is considered one of the most difficult soprano roles in the repertoire and for many singers, it is the pinnacle of the repertoire. But interestingly, Bellini’s masterpiece has also been performed by some mezzo-sopranos and this week, Vasilia Berzhanskaya, a mezzo, will add the demanding role to her growing Bel Canto repertoire. At the age of 29, the mezzo {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2023 season featuring three productions and concerts. The first production of the season will be “Eduardo e Cristina” in a new production by Stefano Poda. Jader Bignamini conducts Enea Scala, Anastasia Bartoli, Daniela Barcellona, Grigory Shkarupa, and Matteo Roma. Performance Dates: August 11-20, 2023 “Aureliano in Palmira” will be conducted by George Petrou {…}
The Teatro Filarmonico has announced its 2023 season. The season opens with Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” starring Giulio Mastrototaro, Sara Blanch, Alessandro Luongo, Gilda Fiume, and Annalisa Stroppa. Francesco Ommassini conducts the production by Ivan Stefanutti. Performance Dates: Jan. 22-29, 2023 Massimiliano Stefanelli conducts Verdi’s “Aida” in a production by Franco Zeffirelli. Monica Conesa sings the title role with {…}