On Jan. 12, Opera Hong Kong will open a production of “La Bohème.” The production will bring together artists from around the world, including some local talent. The cast will also feature leading soprano Francesca Dotto in her company role debut. Dotto has a history with Puccini’s masterpiece as it was with in the role of Musetta that she made {…}
Happy 2023! With the arrival of the new year, the Wiener Staatsoper will continue to celebrate with a revival of Rossini’s masterful comedy “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The production will feature a mix of veteran performers and rising stars, including Alasdair Kent, who will make his company debut as he continues his rise in the opera world. Kent will sing {…}
As the year winds down, the Teatro Verdi Salerno will open a production of Puccini’s “Turandot” to conclude the 2022 season. The production will include formidable interpreters of the work and will also feature a highly anticipated role debut. Lianna Haroutounian will make her role debut as Liu after singing many of the great Puccini heroines in the repertory. To {…}
This week, the Grand Théâtre de Genève will open a new production of Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” featuring some of the best Bel Canto performers in the industry. Among the headliners will be tenor Edgardo Rocha in his role debut as Roberto. Rocha is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of bel canto repertoire which he has performed around the world. {…}
This week, the Houston Grand Opera is set to revive Javier Martínez and Leonard Foglia’s “El Milagro del Recuerdo,” celebrating the holiday season. It’s a work that world premiered in 2019 to critical acclaim and sold-out shows. For this revival, the production will see the return of some of the original cast members including Cecilia Duarte. Duarte originated the role {…}
This week the Arizona Opera is set to open its season with Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” featuring two stellar casts including Leah Hawkins, one of the most promising young singers of her generation. The soprano, who hails from Philadelphia, is set to have one of her most exciting seasons yet featuring numerous role debuts and house debuts. With Ariadne, Hawkins {…}
This week, the Donizetti Opera Festival opens its 2022 season featuring three operas including “Chiara e Serafina,” a rarely performed work and one that flopped at its premiere in 1822. However, for its 200th anniversary the Donizetti is bringing the work back with a young cast and veteran buffo bass-baritone Pietro Spagnoli. For the past years, Spagnoli has been in {…}
A week ago Serena Sáenz made headlines when she won second place at the Operalia Competition. Following numerous other competitions over the years, the soprano finally had her major breakout and is likely set for a major career. That career will get a significant boost this week when she makes her Wiener Staatsoper debut in a production of “Ariadne auf {…}
Russell Thomas is one of today’s great Verdi tenors. He has performed all over the world in some of the composer’s most difficult roles, garnering great acclaim. This week he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for his first headliner. Thomas made his debut at the Met in 2005 as the Heralder in “Don Carlo” and has since performed supporting roles {…}
On Oct. 28, the Teatro Carlo Felice will make history with the first Italian production of Berlioz’s “Beatrice et Benedict.” The opera, which had its world in 1862, has been performed all over the world by many great interpreters. For this upcoming production, the Genoa theater has brought together a cast of important artists including Julien Behr. Behr is a {…}
(Credit: Johan Persson) This week the San Francisco Opera is set to present Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” a work that received its U.S. premiere in the city. This season’s presentations will mark the first time the work is presented in French in San Francisco and will mark the first time the company showcases the work since 1982. With the {…}