This week, Opera San José is set to bring a production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with a cast of rising stars and veterans of San Jose including Eugene Brancoveanu. Brancoveanu is a Tony Award-winning baritone who became a Resident Artist of San Jose during the 2019-2020 season and stayed with the company until 2023. He became a favorite of the company {…}
This week the Opera de Bellas Artes is set to revive Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” for the first time in 167 years. The company will showcase a cast of leading Mexican artists, including legendary tenor Ramon Vargas, who last year celebrated his 40th anniversary at the legendary Mexican theater. Throughout his illustrious career, Vargas has received raves for his “golden” tone {…}
This week, the Teatro La Fenice revives Puccini’s most popular opera, “La Bohème” with Celso Albelo in his role debut as Rodolfo. After 20 years performing around the world at some of the greatest theaters in the world, the role debut also represents the first time the Spanish tenor takes on an opera by Puccini. In anticipation of his debut {…}
This week the Centro Cultural de Belém is set to open a new production of Beethoven’s only opera “Fidelio.” The production which is a co-production with Hamburg and Bologna, is set to feature an all-star cast that includes Gabriela Scherer in her role debut. Scherer, who is one of the most in-demand dramatic sopranos of her generation, sings her first {…}
This week Rosie Aldridge made her debut at the Berlin State Opera in the role of Kostelnička in Leoš Janáček’s opera “Jenůfa.” It is a role that she recently debuted in Stuttgart and later performs it this season at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Looking at her debut, OperaWire had a chance to do a mini-interview with Aldridge. Here is {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) This New Year’s Eve the Metropolitan Opera is set to open a new production of Bizet’s beloved “Carmen.” The production will showcase one of the most sought-after Carmens currently performing in the world – Aigul Akhmetshina. Over the past years, Akhmetshina has performed the role at the Royal Opera House, Bashkir State Opera and {…}
(Credit: W.Hoesl) It’s been a year since Diana Damrau sang a role on the opera stage. Her last was in 2022 when she made her role debut as the Countess in “Capriccio.” Since then Damrau has been open about taking a step back from the dramatic Bel Canto roles and has noted that she does not want to sing “crazy {…}
(Credit: Brescia e Amisano) On Dec. 7, 2023, the Teatro alla Scala is set to open its 2023-24 season with a new production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” The opera, which has opened the theater on numerous occasions is one of the most beloved at the theater. For this special night, the company has enlisted an all-star cast including Francesco Meli. {…}
This past month the Salzburg Landestheater premiered a new production of “Aida” with a cast of rising stars and well-established singers. Now as the production continues its run, a new Amneris is taking over the rest of the run. Julia Rutigliano will make her role debut as Amneris, a role that the mezzo notes is a milestone. In a statement {…}
On Nov. 16, Ailyn Pérez will make history at the Metropolitan Opera when she headlines the first-ever Latin American Opera in the company’s history (and only the third Spanish-language opera). The soprano will sing the title role of “Florencia en el Amazonas,” making her role debut and marking her first Spanish-language opera ever. The Mexican-American soprano will also headline her {…}
This week the Lithuanian National Opera is set to bring a new production of “Aida” this week with one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. Kristine Opolais will make her debut with the company in the title role of Aida, a work she last performed completely 15 years ago in Riga. The last time she performed a part {…}