(Credit: Richard Hubert Smith) On Sept. 18, Switzerland’s Theater St. Gallen will open a new production of Missy Mazzoli‘s 2016 “Breaking the Waves,” one of the most acclaimed operas of recent years. This run of performances will mark the first time the country presents the work, which will bring a cast of rising stars including Vuvu Mpofu. Mpofu will interpret {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) On Sept. 9 Staatsoper Hamburg is set to open concert performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” the work that the put composer on the map. The company has lined up an all-star cast that includes Sonya Yoncheva, who will make her overdue role debut. The Bulgarian soprano was originally set to make her role debut in the {…}
(Credit: Eric Bouloumie) Donizetti wrote nearly 70 operas, many of which have been forgotten. Over the last several years many of his works have been rediscovered thanks in part to concert performances, festivals, or recordings. This week German audiences will get to discover the composer’s 1841 one-act opera “Rita” at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The opera will star a cast of {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) On August 21, the San Francisco Opera will return to the stage after a year and a half of no performances due to the pandemic. The company will revive a production of “Tosca” with an all-star cast including Ailyn Perez in her role debut and Michael Fabiano in his U.S. role debut in Shawna Lucey’s acclaimed production. {…}
(Credit: Rossini Opera Festival) The Rossini Opera Festival is back in full swing after COVID-19 and is presenting one of the composer’s rarely performed Opera Seria, “Elisabetta Regina d’Inghilterra.” The opera is best known for having the same overture as “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” and for depicting one of the most famous queens in history. For the iconic role, the {…}
(Credit: © Wiener Staatsoper/Taylor) This week the Salzburg Festival continues in full swing with a new production of Händel’s oratorio “Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.” The production is a revival from the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, which premiered to great acclaim and brings together the same cast from that very festival, with one exception. This time Regula Mühlemann will {…}
(Credit: Paolo Conserva) The Festival Valle d’Itria is well known for presenting obscure, neglected, or rarely performed works and always explores diverse themes. This year the festival’s theme is “Fiat Lux” meaning a new beginning. Among the program this year are works by Scarlatti and Haydn. There will also be a production of Porporra’s “L’Angelica,” a serenata from 1720. The {…}
Every year the Bard Summerscape presents a rarely performed work that audiences and singers get to discover. The festival has presented works from Dvorak, Korngold, Moniuszko, Weber, and Mascagni to name a few. This year, the festival will present Chausson’s only opera “Le roi Arthus” with a cast of rising stars and veterans. Norman Garrett will take on the title {…}
This week the Glimmerglass Festival will open in Cooperstown, New York presenting a month-long program of inventive productions and repertory staples. The season will also feature some of the world’s biggest stars including Eric Owens, who will work as the festival’s Artist in Residence for the Young Artist Program. He will also perform in two of the company’s highly anticipated {…}
The Santa Fe Opera is set to open this week with a new production of “Le Nozze di Figaro” featuring a cast of rising stars. Among them will be Vanessa Vasquez who returns to the company after her debut in 2019. This season she will add the role of the Countess to her repertoire. The Colombian-American soprano first stepped onto {…}
On June 30, the Teatro Regio di Parma will open its Festival Estate al Parco della Musica with a new production of Donizetti’s comic gem “Don Pasquale.” The production will include a cast of established and rising stars. Among them is Spanish baritone Pablo Gálvez who will make his role debut as Dottor Malatesta. Born in Guadix, Granada, the baritone {…}