Photo by Jim Scholz/Opera Omaha During these summer months, we looked at three operas that epitomize the ways opera creates space to think about intersectional discussions and overlooked topics concerning three interconnected themes, namely race, feminism, and indigenous rights. In part one, we looked at race in Daniel Sonenberg‘s 2017 opera, ‘The Summer King,’ finding out how the complexities of {…}
It’s that time of the year again! The 2026-27 season is about to begin and audiences are getting ready to choose performances as they head back to the opera. With so much to choose from, OperaWire is breaking down 10 opera productions that are must-sees. “Lincoln in the Bardo” at the Metropolitan Opera – Oct. 19-Nov. 14, 2026 The Metropolitan {…}
(Photo: Bernard Rosenberg) The Pietrasanta in Concerto Festival combines a unique and distinctive, artist-centered, and community-driven approach to a classical music festival, in contrast with more traditional models. This philosophy extends to nurturing future talent through live performances and masterclasses in local venues to prioritize deep understanding and cultural immersion over superficial social media engagement and pre-planned repertoire that might {…}
This week, Sebastiano Rolli is set to make his Arena di Verona debut conducting “Nabucco” in Stefano Poda’s acclaimed production. Rolli is well-known for his bel canto and Italian repertoire and has conducted at such houses as Slovak National Opera, Teatro Sociale in Rovigo, Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo, Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Teatro Verdi in Busseto, Teatro Regio di Parma, {…}
With the publication of Ross Benjamin’ translation of Daniel Kehlmann’s fictionalized story of Austrian filmmaker, Georg Wilhelm Pabst (1886-1967), The Director (2023/2025), preceded by German filmmaker Werner Herzog’s translated memoire, Every Man for Himself and God Against All (2022/2023), it’s fascinating to see how the opera-film relationship can be incredibly heterogeneous. While for Herzog, “when the whole world is transformed {…}
(Credit: Herwig Prammer) This week, the Salzburg Festival opens a new production of “Ariadne auf Naxos,” one of Strauss’ most popular works and one that showcases a multiple array of voices. For this production rising star Christina Nilsson will make her highly anticipated company debut. A winner of third prize in Operalia in 2019, Nilsson has become synonymous with the {…}
Photo Credits: Hudson Opera/RB Schlather (2017) Within contemporary American opera, there are many works whose lifespan betrays its contents. Even historical significance can’t save opera from being forgotten if it fails to find its audience. Works like Carlisle Floyd’s ‘The Passion of Jonathan Wade‘ (1962), Thea Musgrave’s ‘Simón Bolívar‘ (1994), Dorothy Moore’s ‘Frederick Douglass‘ (1985), Stewart Wallace’s ‘The Bonesetter’s Daughter‘ {…}
This week the Tiroler Festspiele Erl opens a production of “Der fliegende Holländer” with numerous rising stars including Nian Bezu, who will make her role debut as Senta. Bezu is a rising star who has performed at the Theater Baden, Finnish National Opera, Auditorio de Zaragoza, and Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, among many others. In anticipation for {…}
In the West, Richard Wagner’s music is by far the most utilized music in cinematic practice. From the Ring Cycle in satirical contexts, avant-garde metafiction, and even para-documentary realism, to comedy drama and beyond, his presence in film is extensive and ongoing. But if we leave both the US and Western Europe for a moment, what does one find? Is {…}
