It might not be a coincidence that Teatro Real decided to program the last theatrical composition of Strauss after the last one of Verdi. “Capriccio” was presented at the Teatro Real for the very first time, in a new production directed by Christof Loy. The performance also featured the debut of Malin Byström (Countess Madeleine), the baritone Josef Wagner (Count), {…}
The Mozartists are set to appear at the Lichfield Festival and Wigmore Hall for performances on July 8 and 9, 2019. The performances will feature soprano Louise Alder as she performs such pieces as “O temerario Arbace… Per quell paterno amplesso” and “Se il padre perdei,” among other arias. The concert will also showcase hornist Gavin Edwards, and flautist Katy {…}
The New York Opera Fest 2019 kicked off on Monday, April 29 and for the next several weeks, New Yorkers will get ample opportunity to enjoy opera in a variety of unique ways. As has been OperaWire’s tradition over the years, we have reached out to a number of the companies participating in the festival and have asked them a {…}
As part of their ongoing mission to share and celebrate the artistic treasures of Eurasian cultures, the Eurasia Festival has announced their 2019 Summer Season, featuring a lineup of performances which will be sure to inspire and delight audiences of all backgrounds. June 24 will see the festival’s Opening Night Gala, held at the Merkin Concert Hall in New York {…}
Baritone Andrei Kymach is the third finalist of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019 competition. Kymach will perform arias from Verdi’s “I Masnadieri,” Massenet’s “Herodiade,” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” in the finale. Kymach started studying music at the Kiev National Music Academy in 2010 and in September 2016 he joined the young artist program of the {…}
The Royal Opera Muscat has announced its 2019-20 Season. Bizet’s “Carmen” opens the Royal Opera Muscat season with José Cura in the role of Don José, Elena Maximova in the title role, Anita Hartig as Micaëla and George Petean in the role of Escamillo. The Teatro Colón Buenos Aires travels with conductor Antonello Allemandi. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-14, 2019 Celso Albelo {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced that Miranda Richardson will make her Royal Opera House debut. The renowned actress will perform the speaking role of the Duchesse de Crakentorp in Donizetti’s “La Fille du régiment.” The English actress is a two time Academy Award nominee, BAFTA Award winner, Olivier nominee, and seven-time Golden Globe nominee. Her films include “The Hours,” “Spider,” ‘Harry Potter and {…}
This week, two solo albums are released and a big compilation album featuring rare recordings is set for release. Il Bravo Vittorio Prato and Illiria collaborate together for the baritone’s first solo album. The new album is dedicated to the art of the great baritone Antonio Tamburini and includes selections of rare Bel Canto arias from the operas of the beginning {…}
(Credit: Catherine Ashmore / Royal Opera House) At the tender age of 12, Jonathan Kent’s 2004 production of Tosca is among the fledglings of the Royal Opera roster. Visually simplistic and at times homogeneous, it eschews the archetypical velvet red and gleaming gold numerous incarnations of the opera take in favor of a dusky navy that enrobes the Sant’Andrea church, {…}
(Credit: Richard Hubert Smith) French Composer Jules Massenet premiered his opera “Cendrillon” in 1899 at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris. Best known for its radical story-telling of the fairytale Cinderella, this opera is centered around dreams-versus-reality and highlights Massenet’s surrealistic tendencies before the surrealism movement even began. Glyndebourne is a legendary hub that produces “no ordinary opera,” therefore, {…}
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced its 2019-20 season featuring rarely staged works and some of the most popular in the repertory. Spontini’s “Fernando Cortez” opens the season with Fabio Luisi conducting the new production by Cecilia Ligorio. The production stars Dario Schmunck in the title role as well as Alexia Voulgaridou. Performance Dates: Oct. 12-23, 2019 Marina Comparato and Karina Demurova sin {…}