Francesco Meli, Marina Rebeka, Angel Blue, Nicole Car, Carolina López Moreno, Klaus Florian Vogt & Ryan Speedo Green Lead Semperoper Dresden’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/francesco-meli-marina-rebeka-angel-blue-nicole-car-carolina-lopez-moreno-klaus-florian-vogt-ryan-speedo-green-lead-semperoper-dresdens-2026-27-season/

The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2026-27 season. Premieres The opera premieres begin with Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera,” a new production by Angela Denoke in her Semperoper directorial debut, conducted by Daniele Gatti and Stefano Tanzanian. Francesco Meli, Giorgio Berrugi, Nicole Car, Yulia Matochkina, Rosalia Cid, George Petean, and Lodovico Filippo Ravizza. Performance Dates: Oct. 4, 2026-May 21, 2027 {…}

News, Season Announcement

Lisette Orospesa, Asmik Grigorian Lise Davidsen, Rolando Villazón, Michael Fabiano, Brian Jagde, Ailyn Pérez, Aigul Akhmetshina Star in Metropolitan Opera’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/lisette-orospesa-asmik-grigorian-lise-davidsen-rolando-villazon-michael-fabiano-brian-jagde-ailyn-perez-aigul-akhmetshina-star-in-metropolitan-operas-2026-27-season/

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. The company opens the season with a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth,” starring Lise Davidsen, Quinn Kelsey, Freddie De Tommaso, and Ryan Speedo Green. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a production by Louisa Proske. Performance Dates: Sept. 22-Oct. 20, 2026 The Metropolitan Opera will present the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s “Lincoln in the {…}

News

Cast Change: Aleksandra Kurzak Joins Paris Opera’s ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/cast-change-aleksandra-kurzak-joins-paris-operas-aida/

The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its final two performances of “Aida.” The company said, “Ewa Plonka will not be performing in the last two performances of ‘Aida.’” As a result, “the role of Aida will be played by Aleksandra Kurzak for the performances on Nov. 1 and 4, 2025.” Kurzak recently made her role debut {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Opéra National de Paris 2025-26 Review: Aida

https://operawire.com/opera-national-de-paris-2025-26-review-aida/

(Credit: Bernd Uhlig) “Aida,” as we know, was supposed to be Giuseppe Verdi’s last opera. At least, he thought so. Along with his powerful “Requiem,” and all its operatic overtones, his very final work to come, the moving and gentle “Quattro Pezzi Sacri” – “Aida” was supposedly the prolific master’s operatic swan song. But, well, that is certainly not what {…}

News, Streaming

Paris Opera Play Announces 2025-26 Streaming Slate

https://operawire.com/paris-opera-play-announces-2025-26-streaming-slate/

The streaming platform, Paris Opera Play, unveils its season for 2025-26. This article only features classical vocal performances. All performances are broadcast live and available for replay for 30 days after airing. Verdi’s “Aida” stars Saioa Hernández in the title role. She is joined by Piotr Beczała, Ève-Maud Hubeaux, Roman Burdenko, Alexander Köpeczi, Krzysztof Bączyk, Manase Latu, and Margarita Polonskaya. {…}

Editorials, Reviews

‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

https://operawire.com/don-giovanni-is-one-of-the-greatest-works-ever-written-why-is-it-so-hard-for-directors-to-get-right/

(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}

News, Season Announcement

Marina Rebeka, Cecilia Bartoli, Juan Diego Flórez, Ismael Jordi, Marigona Qerkezi & Marina Monzó Lead Teatro de la Maestranza’s 2025-26 Season

https://operawire.com/marina-rebeka-cecilia-bartoli-juan-diego-florez-ismael-jordi-marigona-qerkezi-marina-monzo-lead-teatro-de-la-maestranzas-2025-26-season/

The Teatro de la Maestranza has announced its 2025-26 season. Two casts will perform Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Alessio Arduini and Jan Antem star alongside Ekaterina Bakanova, Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir, Marco Ciaponi, Pablo Martínez, George Andguladze, Luis López, Julie Boulianne, Karen Gardeazabal, David Menéndez, Emmanuel Franco, Marina Monzó, Montserrat Seró, Ricardo Seguel, and Yoshihiko Miyashita. Iván López Reynoso and Mariano García Valladares {…}

News, Streaming

Nino Machaidze & Luciano Ganci Lead Radio Broadcast of ‘Giovanna d’Arco’ from the Teatro Regio di Parma

https://operawire.com/nino-machaidze-luciano-ganci-lead-radio-broadcast-of-giovanna-darco-from-the-teatro-regio-di-parma/

Rai Radio 3 is set to broadcast Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” on May 10, 2025. The performance from the Teatro Regio di Parma stars Luciano Ganci as Carlo VII, Nino Machaidze as Giovanna, Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar as Giacomo, and Krzysztof Bączyk as Talbot. Michele Gamba, who made his Teatro Regio di Parma debut, conducted a critical edition by Alberto Rizzuti. In a {…}