The Opéra National de Paris just issued a warning on its website, noting that the opening night of Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” might be affected due to ongoing strike in France. The strike against the French government pension reform has hit the company extensively, leading to a number of high profile cancellations in December, including performances of Borodin’s “Prince {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced the semifinalists for the 32nd annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias. The event, which will take place on Feb. 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Wortham Theater Center. Sopranos led the semifinalists with a total of seven participants – Tatiana Carlos, Lindsey Chinn, Amani Cole-Felder, Caitlin Gotimer, Emily Kern, {…}
(credit: Andrej Stoycher) John Chest has replaced Luca Pisaroni on Il Pomo d’Oro’s tour of Handel’s “Orlando.” The tour, which opens on Jan. 9, will be performed in Verona, Paris, Essen, and Madrid and will also star Max Emanuel Cencic in the title role, Kathryn Lewek as Angelica, Francesca Ascioti as Medoro, and Nuria Rial as Dorinda. The tour is {…}
(Credit: Dragosh Cojocaru) In 2011, Moldovian soprano Valentina Nafornița won the first prize at the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and quickly became an ensemble member of the Wiener Staatsoper. From that moment on, she obtained a number of important assignments around the world, making debuts at the Salzburg Festival, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Opéra de Lausanne, and Opéra {…}
The Italian conductor Riccardo Frizza will begin the year with two symphonic programs in Hungary and Italy. On Jan. 15, Frizza will conduct the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in a program dedicated to Richard Strauss. The program will include Vier letzte Lieder sung by soprano Andrea Rost as well as the final scene of “Der Rosenkavalier.” Rost will be joined {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced that conductor Tugan Sokhiev will make his company debut conducting Mussorgsky’s opera “Boris Godunov” in place of the late conductor Mariss Jansons. The opera premieres on August 20 and is directed by Christof Loy. Meanwhile, Franz Welser-Möst will now conduct the Vienna Philharmonic concerts on July 26 and 29, also replacing the late Latvian conductor. {…}
An up-and-coming soprano makes her debut on record, while another noted baritone, also in his CD debut, presents a series of unique and rarely heard songs by a wide range of composers. Finally, a tribute to brave men and women takes center stage in the final major release of the week. Check it out. Romance Valentina Naforniţa releases her debut {…}
The Maryland Lyric Opera has announced its first Student Initiative “Hello Opera!” The new Initiative will provide students with a unique opportunity to purchase any seat in the house for only $10 with student ID. This year the 19th Amendment – Women’s Right to Vote will celebrate its centenary and the MDLO will present three new productions about strong women {…}
The Montclair Orchestra has signed David Chan as Music Director for another seven years, extending his tenure with the orchestra until 2027, and marking 10 years in the role. The extension will allow the organization to work together with Chan to execute important new artistic and education initiatives, including the development of a new youth orchestra program to serve the {…}
“European Generation,” with the support of the Dnipro Regional Council, Zaporizhzhya Regional Philharomic, and Dnipropetrovsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, has announced the Giorgio Merighi International Vocal Competition. The competition is set to kick off in February taking place in three different countries including Italy, Greece, and Ukraine. The final, set for May 1 and 2, 2020, will take place {…}
Opera Ithaca has announced that it has been awarded a $45,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and Regional Economic Development Council to expand upon its Apprentice Artist Program. Per a press release, the company is set to unveil its revised program in 2020-21 with the first class under this reshaping. The program will feature two {…}