(Credit: © Peter Mayr) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced multiple cast changes for its upcoming production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” Following the replacement of Asmik Grigorian in the role of Elisabetta di Valois; Ain Anger replaces Dmitry Ulyanov as the Grand Inquisitor; while René Pape replaces Anger in the role of Philippo II. The rest of the cast includes María {…}
(Credit: © Lidia Khomich) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that soprano Angela Meade will not be appearing in the role of Amelia in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” in December 2021. As a result, soprano Irina Churilova will take over the role. Per the same press release, Heidi Stober will replace Meechot Marrero in the role of Oscar. Churilova {…}
(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 {…}
This week audiences will get to celebrate the holiday with a new Christmas album by one of the leading baritones in the world and two rarely performed works by two of the greatest Italian composers. All I Want Baritone Lucas Meachem releases “All I Want,” an EP of five classic Christmas ballads on with Crossover Records. The carols include “All {…}
(Credit: © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that it will reopen its doors to the public with a performance of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” on Dec. 13, 2021 after a three-week closure due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The opera had its live online premiere on Dec. 5. “Don Giovanni” stars Hanna-Elisabeth Müller as Donna {…}
(Credit: Victor Santi) La Salle Gaveau in Paris has announced an upcoming concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “I Due Foscari.” The opera will star Plácido Domingo in the role of Francesco Foscari, Anna Pirozzi as Lucrezia Contarini, Arturo Chacón-Cruz in the role of Jacopo Foscari, and Emanuele Cordaro as Loredano. Mathieu Herzog will conduct the Ensemble Appasionato. La Salle Gaveau {…}
(Credit: Barbara Aumüller) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced details for its upcoming production of Verdi’s operatic masterwork “Don Carlo.” The opera will star Nicole Car in the role of Elisabetta di Valois, Étienne Dupuis as Rodrigo, Marquis di Posa, Alex Esposito as Philippo II, Yulia Matochkina as Eboli, and Robert Watson in the title role. The cast will be {…}
(Credit: © Simon Pauly) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that Spanish bass-baritone Carlos Álvarez will not be appearing in the role of Count René Anckarström in the December 2021 performances of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” American baritone Thomas Lehman will take over the performances scheduled for Dec. 20, 22, and 29, 2021. Lehman joins a cast that includes {…}
(Photo: L.Romano) On Fridays, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most essential topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. This year, Jonas Kaufmann and Maria Agresta open the season at Teatro San Carlo di Napoli with the new stunning production of “Otello,” directed by Mario Martone. {…}
(Credit: Alexey Kostromin) Polish soprano Ewa Płonka has withdrawn as the cover for Anna Netrebko’s Lady Macbeth at the Teatro alla Scala’s season opener. Płonka will also not sing the final performance in Verdi’s operatic masterpiece on Dec. 29, 2021. “Friends, due to personal reasons I will not be taking part in Macbeth production this December in La Scala but {…}
(Credit: Teatro Real official website) The Teatro Real has announced several cast changes for the title role in Verdi’s “Nabucco.” The company noted that baritones Amartuvshin Enkhbat and George Petean have dropped out of the production and as a result, Gabriele Viviani, George Gagnidze, and Luca Salsi will sing the title role. They will join Luis Cansino, who will also {…}