The Riga Jurmala Music Festival has canceled its 2022 edition. In a press statement, the Latvian organization noted that its decision resulted from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent war that is taking place. “Due to the unfolding tragic war in Ukraine, we have decided to cancel next summer’s Festival. It is not a decision we take lightly {…}
The Edinburgh International Festival has announced that it has accepted the resignation of conductor Valery Gergiev, effective immediately. “The board of trustees of the Edinburgh International Festival has asked for, and accepted the resignation of, Valery Gergiev as Honorary President of the Festival. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this action is being taken in sympathy with, {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) On Feb. 28 the Metropolitan Opera will premiere the French version of Verdi’s “Don Carlos.” Over the course of the Met’s history, the company has presented the Verdi masterwork 217 times in various different iterations. This year the Met has lined up a star cast that includes Matthew Polenzani, one of the great tenors {…}
The Verbier Festival has accepted the resignation of Valery Gergiev as the Music Director of the Verbier Festival Orchestra. The festival released a statement on Feb. 28 in which it noted that it had asked Gergiev to resign and he accepted. The festival’s Founder & Director, Martin T:son Engstroem also added, “The Verbier Festival, its staff, management and Board, strongly condemns {…}
Photo: Gustavo Mirabile New York City-based alternative opera company, Bare Opera, opened its 2022 season with a gala at The Green Room 42 in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. This small, plucky company is making waves as it creates immersive opera experiences for all audiences; 360° of Opera honored Bare Opera by naming it Best Independent Opera Company of {…}
The Michigan Opera Theatre is changing its name after more than 50 years. The company will now be called the Detroit Opera and will take up the new name when its returns to the Detroit Opera House on April 2. According to CEO Wayne S. Brown and Artistic Director Yuval Sharon the name change is the next step in a {…}
Numerous Russian cultural leaders have signed a petition for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to stop the war. In the letter, which was signed by the Bolshoi Theatre’s General Director Vladimir Urin and prominent conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov, leaders said, “We now speak not only as cultural figures, but as ordinary people, citizens of our country, our Homeland. Among us {…}
The Philharmonie de Paris has canceled Valery Gergiev’s upcoming engagements. The concert hall released a statement noting, “The invasion of Ukraine by Russia will bring the City of Music – Philharmonie de Paris to modify its programming in the coming months in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Specific information on all cancellations and replacements will be communicated in the next {…}
Two prominent festivals have cut ties with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. On Monday morning the Riga Jurmala Festival in Latvia and the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland decided to cancel upcoming events with the leading conductor. In a statement by Executive and Artistic Director Michael Haefliger of the Lucerne Festival said, “Lucerne Festival has decided to cancel the {…}
(Credit: Sarah Katharina. Wardrobe by Niko Niko.) Elīna Garanča and Piotr Beczala have canceled their performances in Russia. Both artists took to social media to announce their positions on why they were canceling their upcoming concerts in the country. Beczala stated, “I am not a politician and I have no influence on political decisions. But I am an artist and {…}
Ontario-based Opera Laurier is set to team up with Loose Tea Music Theatre to produce a triple bill of productions. The companies will present Monica Pearce’s “Etiquette,” Cecilia Livingston’s “Singing Only Softly,” and Ashley Seward’s “Borderless” on March 4 and 5, 2022. “Etiquette” portrays Dorothy Parker, Emily Post, and Nancy Astor in a 1920s scandal. “Borderless” hones in on the {…}