Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, Pavol Breslik, Simone Kermes Headline New CD/DVD Releases (Week of 2/7)

There are a plethora of major releases this weekend. So without further ado, let’s get into it. Tebaldo e Isolina Composer Francesco Morlacchi’s “Romeo and Juliet” story with a “happy ending” will get a unique CD release with mezzo-soprano Laura Polverelli, soprano Sandra Pastrana, and tenor Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani. Antonino Fogliani conducts the Virtuosi Brunensis and the Camerata Bach Choir, Poznań, {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Herbert Von Karajan Foundation Leadership Undergoes Generational Change

(Credit: Karajan Archiv) Eliette von Karajan, the widow of a celebrated conductor Herbert von Karajan, has handed over her board responsibilities at the Herbert von Karajan Easter Festival Salzburg Foundation to her two daughters Isabel and Arabel Karajan in January, according to the official press release. However, Eliette von Karajan remains honorary President of the Foundation for the Promotion of {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Opera Carolina Cuts Executive Director

Opera Carolina has laid off the executive director it hired 18 months ago due to budgetary issues. In a statement to supporters for the Charlotte Observer , the company noted Beth Hansen’s role was cut “as a result of a harsh economic climate for the arts and a possible reduction in fiscal year 2021 support from the Arts & Science {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Opera Atelier Co-Artistic Directors Honored with Prestigious French Order of Arts & Letters

Opera Atelier has announced that the company’s Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski C.M. and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg C.M. have been awarded the extraordinary recognition of Officers of the Order of Arts and Letters (Officiers de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French Republic. This will be the first time a Canadian couple receives the distinction simultaneously. The award will {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Opéra de Montréal To Screen ‘Carmen’ In 26 Venues Across Québec

On Feb. 23, 26 multidisciplinary venues throughout Québec will be showing Bizet’s “Carmen” on their screens as part of the Une Carmen pour tout le Québec event. For the event, the entire Opéra de Montréal team, in collaboration with SPEC du Haut-Richelieu, will be at the Cabaret-Théâtre du Vieux-Saint-Jean to celebrate this very first indoor screening in the company’s history, {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Opéra de Paris to Cancel Three Productions for 2020-21 Season

The Opéra de Paris will cancel three new production for the 2020-21 season. General Director Stéphane Lissner announced on Franceinfo that in order to reduce the deficit caused by the ongoing Paris strikes, the company will have to make cuts to its upcoming season. The General director said that while it would not bring balance to deficit, it would help {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Julia Bullock, Gustavo Dudamel & Isabel Leonard Lead LA Philharmonic’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) The LA Philharmonic has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of important stars and conductors. For the purposes of this article, we will only highlight vocal performances. The season opens with Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Peer Gynt selections with Gustavo Dudamel conducting Lang Lang. The program also includes John Adams’ Short Ride in {…}

Feb 6, 2020

London Philharmonic 2019-20 Review: Siegfried

(Credit: Simon Jay Price) Wagner’s biography and character are all over his operas, often transparently so: the wandering, embittered outcast in “The Flying Dutchman;” the revolutionary artist in “Die Meistersinger;” the sensuous hedonist in “Tristan und Isolde.” This may be one of the reasons that some people find his work overbearing and suffocating. Rarely is he identified with the dwarf {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Semperoper Dresden Announces Soprano for Final Performance of “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg“

(Credit: Ashley Plante) The Semperoper Dresden has announced that Soprano Sara Jakubiak will sing the role of Eva in Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” for the final presentation on Feb. 16, 2020. The company announced that Jakubiak will join the production, which stars Georg Zeppenfeld, Vitalij Kowaljow, Iurie Ciobanu, Günter Haumer, Adrian Eröd, Oliver Zwarg, Markus Miesenberger, Patrick Vogel, Beomjin {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Ekaterina Siurina & Alexandra Loutsion Highlight Pittsburgh Opera’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: – Dan Norman/Dominic M. Mercie/David Bachman) The Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring three main stage production and three modern operas. Here is a look at the ambitious season. Main Stage – Benedum Center Productions The season opens with Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” the first time the opera will be preformed with the company. The opera is set to {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Opera Meets Film: Opera Meets Film: 2020 Oscar Nominees That Should Be Adapted Into Operas

Last year, we took a look at some of the Oscar Nominees to see which of them would provide suitable opera adaptations for current and future composers of the art form. In theory, any of these ideas could be adopted into an opera with sufficient ambition and creativity, but some of the films operate very closely to the operatic language {…}