Elina Garanca, Roberto Alagna, Javier Camarena, Pretty Yende, Benjamin Bernheim Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

By David Salazar

It’s the last week of 2020. Which means there will be a lot of streaming options focused on end of the year celebrations and the holiday season. But our list also includes a number of unique opera productions and experiences.

Without further ado, here is our final Top 10 operas to stream this week. Have a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Rachmaninoff’s “Troika” – La Monnaie / Du Munt (NOW)

For those seeking out some operatic rarities, there is no better opportunity to check out Rachmaninoff’s trio of operas than the one being offered by La Monnaie / Du Munt The company is presenting Rachmaninoff’s “Troika” of “Aleko,” “Skupo Rytsar,” and “Francesca da Rimini.” Kostas Smoriginas, Anna Nechaeva, Sergei Leiferkus, Dmitri Golovin, Dimitris Tiliakos, and Alexander Vassilev appear throughout the trilogy of operas.

Watch it here.

Carmen – Opéra National de Paris (NOW)

Those seeking out more standard repertory to end the year can’t go wrong with the Opéra National de Paris’ production of “Carmen” which features Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in the lead roles of Carmen and Don José respectively. This 2017 production is a stark reminder of the incredible chemistry this duo has had in this opera for the better part of a decade.

Watch it here.

Christmas Concert – Spotlight Artists Management (NOW)

While technically, a Christmas Concert, this showcase of artists is presented in a unique three-part format with the first section featuring artists in live performance and a second presenting artists from their homes. The final section stars pianist Alexander Chaplinskiy. The showcase includes music by Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, as well as world music from Spain, Turkey, and even a Japanese version of a famed holiday tune. Artists include Zoya Gramagin, Dilara Unsal, Nozomi Yoshida, Eugenia Forteza, Billy Huyler, Sara Pearson, Laura Virella, Chris Plaas, Stephen Steffens, Katie Procell, Emma Mitrovic, and composer Nataliya Medvedovskaya.

Watch it here.

Rigoletto – Gran Teatre del Liceu (Dec. 29, Jan 1, 3)

First up will be “Rigoletto” starring tenor Javier Camarena in the role of Duca di Mantua, soprano Desirée Rancatore as Gilda, bass Ante Jerkunica as Sparafucile, and baritone Carlos Álvarez in the title role. Riccardo Frizza conducted the production by Monique Wagemakers. The work was performed and filmed in 2014.

Watch it here.

Die Fledermaus – Vienna State Opera (Dec. 31)

What is New Year’s Eve without “Die Fledermaus?” Despite COVID, the Wiener Staatsoper continues its annual tradition set to celebrate the New Year with a specially filmed performance of J.Strauss’s famed operetta.

The work will star  Georg Nigl in his company role debut as Eisenstein, Camilla Nylund as Rosalinde, Jochen Schmeckenbecher as Frank, and Peter Simonischek as Frog. The cast will also include Regula Mühlemann in the role of Adele and Christina Bock in her Wiener Staatsoper debut as Orlofsky. Asmik Grigorian will also make a surprise appearance.

Watch it here.

Die Fledermaus – Orlando Opera (Dec. 31)

Maybe we aren’t in Europe for New Year’s Eve and might not be able to gain access to Vienna’s own rendition. Or maybe you want a different approach to the famed classic. Or maybe, you want both. In any case, Orlando Opera is presenting the famed opera in its recently performed version Susan Hellman Spatafora in the role of Rosalinda, tenor David Margulis as Alfred,  Kyaunnee Richardson as Adele and Gabriel Preisser as Eisenstein. Grant Preisser also directed the production. Other cast members include Ben Gulley, Cree Carrico, Tyler Putnam, Sarah Nordin, Brian Douchette, Andrew Pardini, and Gloria Palermo. Jorge Parodi conducted the opera.

Watch it here.

New Year’s Eve Gala – Metropolitan Opera (Dec. 31)

The Met will continue its annual holiday tradition of ringing in the New Year with a major production. In this case, the company is presenting its biggest event in its Met Stars Live in Concert series. This gala will feature Angel Blue, Javier Camarena, Matthew Polenzani, and Pretty Yende live from Parktheater, a stunning example of neo-Baroque architecture situated in Augsburg, Germany. The program will include arias, duets, and ensembles from Donizetti’s “La fille du régiment” to Puccini’s “La bohème” and “La Rondine,” as well as arrangements of operetta and Neapolitan songs.

Watch it here.

Il Trovatore – Oper Leipzig (Dec. 31)

Perhaps not the opera any of us think of when we think about the hope of New Year’s, especially in 2020, but there is no doubt that Verdi’s middle period masterwork packs a melodic punch few operas in the repertory do. This production features a top-notch cast including Roberta Mantegna as Leonora, Dario Solari as Conte di Luna, Gaston Rivero in the role of Manrico, Marina Prudenskaya as Azucena, Sandra Maxheimer in the role of Ines, Alvaro Zambrano as Ruiz, and Sejong Chang as Ferrando.

Watch it here.

Curtain Call With Benjamin Bernheim – Opernhaus Zürich (NOW)

The Opernhaus Zürich continues its unique concert series, this time featuring tenor Benjamin Bernheim. The tenor works with young artists from the International Opera Studio in scenes from “Rigoletto,” “Werther,” and “Manon.” Artists include Sandra Hamaoui, Siena Licht Miller, and Yannick Debus. Pianists include Joanna Laszczkowska, William Green, and Adam Rogala. English horn player Clément Noël also makes an appearance.

Watch it here.

Semele – OperaVision / Komische Oper Berlin (Jan. 3)

Kick off 2021 with a production of Handel’s “Semele” from the Komische Oper Berlin. Barry Kosky directs the production, which stars Philipp Meierhöfer, Nicole Chevalier, Katarna Bradić, Eric Jurenas, and Allan Clayton. Konrad Junghänel conducts.

Watch it here.

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