Historiography operates through superlatives. All too easily, it compresses organic development into the quasi-religious advent of the monstre sacré. This antiquarianism of sorts keeps a particularly tight grip on the development of Italian opera: There’s Monteverdi at one end, Puccini at the other—no ante, no post. But what about Ottorino Respighi, born some twenty years after the composer of {…}
(Photo credit: Eric Hudgman) Pink Fang (formerly Ping Chong and Company) announces its first full programming slate since its name change. Classical voice related events are included in this article. The song cycle, “Testimonies of Fire” is performed by ire Ensemble Community Choir. Troy Anthony directs. Performance Date: December 13, 2025 Sugar Vendil’s “Antonym: the opposite of nostalgia” interweaves chamber {…}
Druid City Opera has announced the cast for its June 2026 production of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Paul Houghtaling is set to take on the title role, with Indianapolis-based tenor Ganson Salmon as Ernesto and Alabama artists Daniel Seigel and Kathleen Buccleugh as Malatesta and Norina. The company also revealed that soprano Shelby Stephens, tenor Joshua Jones, baritone {…}
Plácido Domingo has been appointed Artistic Director of the Puccini Academy in Torre del Lago. The training project is promoted by the Puccini Festival Foundation with the aim of building young opera singers on a path of high-level artistic specialization, closely connected to the Puccini repertoire and stage performance. This decision, proposed by President Fabrizio Miracolo and ratified by the {…}
(Photo: Michael Bode) For its final production of the year, the Baden-Baden Festival presented Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” from December 19 to 21. It was conducted by Iván Fischer with baton and on the plateau, because the conductor, like Karajan before him, also directed the staging. The foremost quality of this production was undoubtedly the silky smoothness and harmony of the {…}
The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts has announced the 2025 National Finalists in opera, art song, and oratorio for the Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards in Voice. The announcement was made by founder and chief judge David (Volosin) Katz. The Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award honors the legacy of Friedrich Schorr, widely regarded as {…}
Opera Mundus APS ETS has announced the first edition of the International Opera Singing Competition Opera Mundus – Vox Futuri, scheduled for Feb. 20–21, 2026, in Padua, Italy. The competition will take place at the Teatro Polivalente San Carlo Borromeo and conclude with a public final round at the historic Sala dei Giganti. Founded by opera singer and Artistic Director {…}
Premiere Opera Foundation announced the virtual prize winners and honorees from its latest competition cycle. Ukrainian soprano Vlada Koieva received the Virtual First Prize and a $2,000 award. Meanwhile, Australian soprano Natasha Gesto earned the Virtual Second Prize and $1,500, while Georgian tenor Giorgi Guliashvili was awarded the Virtual Third Prize and $1,000. Virtual Premiere Grants of $500 each were {…}
Arizona Opera has Juan Cristóbal Flores has died following a gun shooting at a Goodwill donation center. The opera company announced the news via social media and stated, “The Arizona Opera family is deeply saddened to report the news that Juan Cristóbal Flores, a member of our Chorus and other arts organizations in Arizona, has passed away from the injuries {…}
Opera Modesto will present a family-focused weekend of events at the State Theatre of Modesto from Jan. 16–18, 2026. The centerpiece showcase will be a fully staged production of “Cendrillon,” Pauline Viardot’s operetta based on the classic fairytale. The production features a 13-piece orchestra, opera singers from across the U.S., including artists from California’s Central Valley, and English-language projections integrated {…}
Tulsa Opera partners in presenting the 70th annual Metropolitan Opera National Laffont Competition for the Tulsa District on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The competition takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Artists will travel to Tulsa from across the United States, as well as from Mexico, Canada, and other countries, {…}