Opera do Castelo and Teatro São Luiz co-present the national premiere of Barber’s “Vanessa.” Soprano Catarina Molder takes on the title role. Tenor Ermin Ašćerić sings Anatol. Soprano Beatriz Volante, mezzo-soprano Alexandra Calado, and baritones Luís Rodrigues and Tiago Amado Gomes make up the rest of the cast. They are joined by the Coro Operafest. Hannah König is the costume {…}
Earlier this summer, I returned to Cooperstown to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Glimmerglass Festival, a place that, quite simply, changed the course of my life. Standing once again on their majestic campus, I was inspired to reflect on my own journey as a performer and as a person, as well as the impact the Festival has had {…}
(Credit: © © Yasuko Kageyama) Rai Cultura and Rai 3 are set to broadcast Puccini’s “Tosca “from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. The broadcast will be held on Nov. 1, 2025, and will feature a star cast led by Eleonora Buratto in the title role, Jonathan Tetelman as Cavaradossi, and Luca Salsi as Scarpia. They will be joined by Gabriele {…}
The Renata Tebaldi International Voice Competition has announced its 2025 winners. The first prize and critics’ choice went to Uruguayan countertenor Maximiliano Danta. He will also get a chance to perform at the Opéra Royal – Château de Versailles Spectacles, which was offered by the president of the jury. Czech Countertenor Vojtěch Pelka won second prize as well as the {…}
The Israeli Opera has announced a new director for its upcoming “Tosca.” The company said that Ido Ricklin will direct the production after the Royal Ballet and Opera canceled their planned co-production. The Royal Ballet and Opera announced in August that it would be collaborating with the Israeli Opera following an open letter signed by 182 Royal Ballet and Opera {…}
OperaDelaware will present “OperaDEathmatch,” a first-of-its-kind fusion of opera and boxing, at OperaDelaware Studios on Friday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. The event, which is produced in collaboration with Delaware boxing champion and community leader Dave Tiberi, transforms OperaDelaware Studios into a boxing ring where vocal performers face off in an audience-driven competition, featuring OperaDelaware Company Artists Toni {…}
(Credit: Soloman Howard) Boston Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2025–2026 concert season. Here are the vocal performances on offer. First up is Verdi’s Requiem, featuring soprano Ailyn Perez, mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, tenor John Osborn, and bass Maharram Huseynov. The performance includes Chorus pro Musica under Jamie Kirsch, with Donald Palumbo serving as guest choral coach and artistic advisor. Benjamin Zander {…}
Buxton International Festival has announced its 2026 opera season. First up is “La Traviata,” as the company seeks to complete its Verdi cycle. The production is created in collaboration with Norwich Theatre and is directed by James Hurley. Adrian Kelly conducts the Buxton International Festival Orchestra. Alexandra Nowakowski stars alongside André Heyboer. Performance Dates: July 11- 25, 2026 Next is {…}
(Photo credit: Lenka Hatasova) Conductor Jakub Hrůša has received the Medal of Merit in the Field of Arts from Czech President Petr Pavel. The state honor was presented on October 28, 2025, in the historic Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle during the national celebration marking the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak state. “I deeply value the highest honor of the {…}
A new organization representing the UK’s opera sector, the UK Opera Association (UKOA), has officially launched, uniting 20 founding companies to advocate for opera’s future and strengthen its presence across the country. UKOA, which was founded by Birmingham Opera Company, British Youth Opera, Buxton International Festival, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne, Longborough Festival {…}
On Oct. 24, soprano Benita Valente died at 91. Born on Oct. 19, 1934, in Delano, California, she was first noticed by a high-school teacher who recommended lessons with Lotte Lehmann in Santa Barbara. She went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Martial Singher and later with Margaret Harshaw, where she graduated in 1960. {…}