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Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Soprano Federico Fiorio On Performing Monteverdi’s ‘I Grotteschi’ And On His Work With Karalis Antiqua

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-federico-fiorio-on-performing-monteverdis-i-grotteschi-and-on-his-work-with-karalis-antiqua/

(Photo: Federico Melis) Federico Fiorio is a male soprano, specializing in the baroque. I first came across him on his professional debut in 2018 when he was performing at Venice’s Teatro Malibran, in which he impressed with his “high degree of vocal control and versatility.” Since then, and almost by chance, I have had the opportunity of reviewing many of {…}

News, Season Announcement

Cecilia Bartoli, Ian Bostridge, Maayan Licht & Carlo Vistoli Lead 2026 Monteverdi Festival

https://operawire.com/cecilia-bartoli-ian-bostridge-maayan-licht-carlo-vistoli-lead-2026-monteverdi-festival/

(Credit: Fabrice Demessence) The Monteverdi Festival announces its 2026 programming. This article only features vocal concerts. Cecilia Bartoli opens the Festival in a gala concert with Les Musiciens du Prince conducted by Gianluca Capuano. Performance Date: May 28, 2026 The Monteverdi Festival opens with “Vespers Of The Blessed Virgin” under the baton of Leonardo García-Alarcón. Performance Date: June 7, 2026 {…}

News, Season Announcement

Lise Davidsen, Sophie Bevan, Iestyn Davies & Carolyn Sampson Lead Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts’ 2026 Season

https://operawire.com/lise-davidsen-sophie-bevan-iestyn-davies-carolyn-sampson-lead-aldeburgh-festival-of-music-and-the-arts-2026-season/

The Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts has announced its 2026 season which will be held between June 12 and 28, 2026. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Festival Academy Masterclass will be led by Lise Davidsen. She will coach alumni singers from the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, each accompanied by acclaimed pianist James Baillieu. Performance {…}

Season Announcement

Max Emanuel Cencic, Eva Zalenga, Christophe Dumaux, Julia Lezhneva, Petr Nekoranec Among Headlines of Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival 2026

https://operawire.com/max-emanuel-cencic-eva-zalenga-christophe-dumaux-julia-lezhneva-petr-nekoranec-among-headlines-of-bayreuth-baroque-opera-festival-2026/

(Photo Credit: © Lukasz Rajchert) The Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival has announced its seventh edition, running Sept. 4–13, 2026. Händel’s “Floridante” receives six performances as a co-production with the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe and the International Handel Festival Karlsruhe. Artistic Director Max Emanuel Cencic stages and sings the title role with Eva Zalenga, Sonja Runje, Bruno de Sá, Pavel Kudinov, and {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Nicky Spence, Ausrine Stundyte, Bogdan Volkov & Sara Swietlicki Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/nicky-spence-ausrine-stundyte-bogdan-volkov-sara-swietlicki-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will be able to listen to the world premiere of a new work, a DVD of Weinberg’s opera from Salzburg, and a rarely performed opera by Giacomelli. Adoration Bright Shiny Things releases “Adoration,” the world premiere live recording of an {…}

DVD and CD Reviews, Reviews

CD Review: Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci’s ‘Adriano in Siria’

https://operawire.com/cd-review-musikfestspiele-potsdam-sanssoucis-adriano-in-siria/

Carl Heinrich Graun’s “Adriano in Siria”—set to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio—is a compelling example of mid-18th-century opera seria, a genre that once dominated the European stage. First performed in Berlin in 1746, Graun’s setting was one of more than seventy opera settings of Metastasio’s libretto between 1732 and 1828, attesting to its immense popularity. This new live recording from {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci 2025 Review: Didone abbandonata

https://operawire.com/musikfestspiele-potsdam-sanssouci-2025-review-didone-abbandonata/

(Photo: Noah Shaye) On June 28, 2025, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci presented a rare revival of Baldassare Galuppi’s opera “Didone abbandonata” — the 1752 Madrid version. Commissioned by the legendary castrato Farinelli to honor King Ferdinand VI of Spain, this adaptation brought together three giants of the 18th century opera: Farinelli himself, librettist Pietro Metastasio, and composer Galuppi. More concise and {…}

News

World Premiere Recording of Carl Heinrich Graun’s Opera ‘Adriano in Siria’ to be Released

https://operawire.com/world-premiere-recording-of-carl-heinrich-grauns-opera-adriano-in-siria-to-be-released/

(Photo credit: Stefan Gloede) The world premiere recording of Carl Heinrich Graun’s opera, “Adriano in Siria” is set to be released on June 13. “Adriano in Siria” was presented in a production by the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci and recorded in June 2024. The cast features the countertenor trio of Valer Sabadus, Bruno de Sá, and Federico Fiorio, alongside sopranos Roberta Mameli {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

La Monnaie 2024-25 Review: I Grotteschi

https://operawire.com/la-monnaie-2024-25-review-i-grotteschi/

(Photo: Matthias Baus) One of the highlights, if not the highlight, of La Monnaie’s 2024–25 season must be its world premiere of Monteverdi’s new opera “I Grotteschi,” a mammoth work, lasting almost seven hours, not including intervals, performed over two evenings. Rafael R. Villalobos as Scenario, Director & Costume Designer conceived and created the production, using extracts from the Monteverdi’s {…}