(Credit: Teatro Cervantes/Bayerische Staatsoper)

This weekend, three new productions open with superb casts. Meanwhile one of the biggest stars in opera makes a major debut while a production will continue in very intriguing circumstances.

Norma – Staatsoper Hamburg, Germany

Marina Rebeka headlines a new production of “Norma” by Yona Kim. Rebeka takes on her signature role alongside Marcelo Puente, Liang Li, and Diana Haller. Matteo Beltrami conducts. OperaWire has raved about Rebeka stating she “makes powerful a impression.”

I Masnadieri – Bayersiche Staatsoper, Germany

Verdi’s early and rarely performed gem gets a new production by Johannes Erath. The cast stars Charles Castronovo in the lead role with Diana Damrau as Amalia. The cast is rounded out by Mika Kares and Igor Golovatenko with Michele Mariotti.

Götterdämmerung – Biwako Hall, Japan

The final part of Wagner’s epic Rung Cycle is set to be presented twice this weekend but with a catch. Due to the spread of coronavirus and considering health and safety measures, the performers will be singing for an empty auditorium but the performance will be livestreamed.

The first cast includes Christian Franz, Stephanie Müther, Fumihiko Shimura, Shigeo Ishino, Hidekazu Tsumaya, Fumiko Ando, and Mutsumi Taniguchi. Meanwhile,  the second cast includes Erin Caves, Kaori Ikeda, Daisuke Oyama, Tomohiro Takada, Kenji Saiki, Mari Moriya, and Ikuko Nakajima. Ryusuke Numajiri conducts Michael Hampe’s production.

La Favorita – Teatro Cervantes, Spain

Carlos Álvarez, Nancy Fabiola Herrera, Lucía Millán, Ismael Jordi, Pavel Shmulevich, and Luis Pacetti highlight Donizetti’s rarely performed work. Curro Carreres directs the production with Antonello Allemandi conducting.

La Bohème – Opernhaus Zurich, Switzerland

Juan Diego Flórez makes his long awaited role debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s masterpiece.  The cast also includes Ruzan Mantashyan in the title role, Olga Kulchynska, Konstantin Shushakov, Dean Murphy, and Stanislav Vorobyov. Marco Armiliato conducts.