The Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid has announced the winners of the third edition of the Ópera XXI Awards. The winners of this edition include baritone Carlos Álvarez as Best Singer; tenor Xabier Anduaga, winner of the Young Singer award; Riccardo Frizza for best Musical Director; Robert Carsen for Best Stage Director; the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s “Turandot” for {…}
TENET Vocal Artists is set to present a unique final concert for its 2021-22 season. The showcase, entitled “Songs of the Trouvères,” will feature Jolle Greenleaf, Virginia Warnken Kelsey, and Jason McStoots along with instrumentalists Grant Herreid, Priscilla Herreid, Robert Mealy, and Charles Weaver. “Like every other performing ensemble in this most extraordinary and difficult of all years, we initially despaired of being able to keep {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2021-22 season which will spotlight some of the world’s greatest performers and five new productions. Here is the full slate. Premieres Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will showcase Juan Diego Flórez as Count Almaviva, Marianne Crebassa as Rosina, Davide Luciano in the role of Figaro, Paolo Bordogna as Bartolo, and Ildar Abdrazakov as Basilio. {…}
The Grand Théâtre de Genève has announced its 2021-22 season with a variety of programs including opera, recitals and ballet as well as family events. For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on the opera and recitals. Opera Leonardo Marino and Pablo Jakob’s “Huit Minutes” will make its world premiere in François Renou’s production. The new opera will {…}
(Credit: Kristin Hoebermann) Washington Concert Opera is set to present Bellini’s “I Puritani” starting on June 26 via the company’s official streaming platform. The recording of the opera will be available for repeat viewings up until July 26, 2021, and will be free for all who register in advance. The opera will star Brenda Rae, René Barbera, Javier Arrey, and {…}
Erin Wagner has been named the winner of the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation’s 2021 International Vocal Competition. A student of Juilliard, Wagner will receive $25,000 and two New York concerts. The finals for the competition took place on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Other finalists included Megan Moore and William Socolof. Each artist was expected to present two full recital programs {…}
Finger Lakes Opera has announced a return to live performances starting this July. “Each summer is special as the creative team works its magic to bring the mainstage and young artists together for a collective experience unique to audience members. Having that taken away last year was stifling, which is why the board and staff were deeply committed to bringing {…}
Rossini’s operatic world is a crossroads of things: the formal conventions of arias, duets, cavatina, patter number, the stock characters of the Commedia dell’arte, a hotchpotch of contemporary patriarchal and orientalist stereotypes, and reheated scenarios from various librettists. How do modern audiences, relatively unmoored from this world, connect with these shows? A Brilliant Production In this new production of “Il {…}
CineLife Entertainment, in collaboration with CinemaLive and C Major Entertainment, have announced that they will present a filmed version of Bizet’s “Carmen” recorded on the floating stage of Lake Constance in Bregenz, Austria. Titled “Carmen on the Lake,” the production will feature a 7,000 seat, open-air amphitheater and will incorporate the lake itself as an extension of the stage. The {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that the mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili has canceled her participation in concert performances “Best of Don Carlo” in the role of Eboli. As a result, Judit Kutasi will perform the role. Kutasi will join the cast that includes Yosep Kang as Don Carlo, Davide Luciano as {…}
The Edinburgh International Festival has announced its 2021 slate. For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on operatic or vocal performances. Opening the season will be “A Grand Night of Singing” starring Danielle de Niese, Kim Criswell, Anna-Jane Casey, Damian Humbley, and Richard Morrison. Wayne Marshall leads the Edinburgh Festival Ensemble. Performance Dates: August 8-13, 2021 Thomas {…}