(Credit: Natalia Mentugova) In 2019, Lidia Fridman had a major breakout when she jumped into a run of Donizetti’s “L’Ange de Nisida” at the Donizetti Opera Festival. It was an introduction to an artist with a major voice. Fast forward to 2025, Fridman has already performed at many major theaters as the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Müpa {…}
Polish countertenor Michał Sławecki has become known for his contemporary music interpretations and incorporates prominent Polish composers: Paweł Mykietyn, Agata Zubel, Wojciech Błażejczyk, Rafał Ryterski, Bartek Chajdecki, Maciej Zieliński, and Andrzej Zarycki amongst others. He has performed with the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Philharmonics in Szczecin, Gdańsk, and Bydgoszcz, the Silesian Opera in Bytom, the Polish National Opera, the Opera {…}
(Photo: c. StefanPop.com) Romanian tenor Ștefan Pop is considered among today’s leading lyric tenors and he is best known for bel canto repertoire. He is the recipient of several awards including, in 2010, Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition and the Seoul International Music Competition. Born in Bistrita, and having a strong musical background after studying the violin for twelve years, he {…}
On May 16, Jack Swanson will make his Metropolitan Opera debut. The American tenor has become one of the most in demand for his work in the Bel Canto repertoire singing at major houses like the Staatsoper Hamburg, Houston Grand Opera, Rossini Opera Festival, Opéra National de Paris, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Arena di Verona, and {…}
(Photo credit: Jiyang Chen) Grammy and Emmy Award-winning baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. met with OperaWire to discuss his exciting 2025-26 season. Throughout the conversation, Smith details his dedication to reaching diverse audiences and explains how his background in music education enhances his performance career. Later this month, Smith will make his long-awaited role debut as Porgy in Francesca Zambello’s production of {…}
(Photo: Anastasiya Taratorkina) Prior to the performance of Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne’s rarity “Phèdre” at the Badische Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Operawire met up with one of its stars, the young Russo-German soprano Anastasiya Taratorkina, who was performing the role of Oenone. Although only in her third year as a professional singer, she is already building a reputation as a fine singing actress {…}
(Photo: S Ghini.) Naxos released a CD entitled “Tre Liriche,” featuring songs by Ottorino Respighi performed by the Italian contralto Alessandra Visentin with the New York Chamber Orchestra under the direction of maestro Salvatore Di Vittorio. The title of the CD refers to three songs, “Notte,” “Nebbia” and “Pioggia,” which have never been performed or recorded with a large orchestra, {…}
(Credit: Julia Wimmerlin) Olga Kulchynska is currently starring in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The soprano made her Met debut six years ago and has already performed over 20 times with the company in “La Bohème” and Turandot.” This season, she will get her first Met Live in HD with her interpretation of Susanna in Mozart’s {…}
(Photo: Beata Nykiel) Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina is universally hailed as one of the most exciting opera singers in a generation. Called “The New Netrebko” by renowned critic David Mellor, she is the “Carmen du Jour” and is in demand by opera houses around the world. She sings with a rare, coloratura mezzo voice. A luminary of the Jette Parker {…}
(Photo: Craig Gibson) Freddie De Tommaso is an Anglo-Italian tenor from Tunbridge Wells who received universal acclaim in 2021 when he stepped up to rescue an ailing Bryan Hymel, substituting his Cavaradossi halfway through the Royal Opera House’s performance of “Tosca.” The Times described the occasion as a “had to be there moment.” He repeated the role for his Metropolitan {…}
Pene Pati is having a breakout season, making important debuts at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera. The tenor has been hailed for his “extraordinary gift for producing a golden thread of sound” and his “round and sunshine-filled voice.” He has won numerous awards around the world including the Opus Klassik Newcomer of the Year Award, Best {…}