The Symphony Orchestra of India has appointed Martyn Brabbins as its Chief Conductor. His tenure will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and he will conduct the orchestra in four programmes each season at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, one of Asia’s largest multi-venue arts and cultural centres. Brabbins will also advise the NCPA on matters {…}
Opera Naples has announced its 2025-26 season, or more specifically, its 2026 Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars. In a statement Opera Naples Executive Director Melanie Kalnins said, “Now in our 20th Anniversary milestone year, we plan to continue to elevate our artistic standards in partnership with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation and are proud to now extend our popular Festival Under {…}
The Macerata Opera Festival has announced its 2026 season. The festival will be held between July 17 and August 9, 2026. The season will open with Verdi’s “Nabucco” in a production by Paul-Émile Fourny and conducted by Fabrizio Maria Carminati. Ariun Ganbaatar, Alberto Comes, Anastasia Bartoli, Alessandro Scotto Di Luzio, and Laura Verrecchia star. Performance Dates: July 17-August 9, 2026 {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced a cast change for its production of “Romeo et Juliette.” The company said that Stephen Costello will sing the role of Romeo, replacing the originally announced Bekhzod Davronov. Costello has performed “Madama Butterfly,” Rigoletto,” and “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Canadian Opera Company. This season, Costello is set to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, {…}
Plácido Domingo has been awarded the 2025 Premio Faraglioni Capri, marking its 30th anniversary. He will be given the award on Sept. 9 at a Gala event at the Teatro del Grand Hotel Quisisana di Capri, the iconic Capri structure. The evening will also include Juliana Grigoryan, Maestro James Vaughan, and Lina Sastri. Il Premio Faraglioni, which is organized by {…}
Many who visit OperaWire regularly have their various interests in what one might call, operatic “rarities”–works that have achieved, to an extent, legendary status despite being seldom staged. As an avid lover of Hector Berlioz’s archetypal romantic career, I devoured both the Barzun and Cairns biographies of the composer more than once. And such a rarity mentioned was Spontini’s “La {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) Will the Metropolitan Opera have to return donations from Matthew Christopher Pietras? The question was asked in a New York Times article, which recently published another in-depth article about Pietras. In the article, the Times noted that the arts institutions such as the Met and the Frick Collection, which Pietras famously donated money to, {…}
Damien Geter is the new Music Director of the Portland Opera. Geter, a singer, composer, and conductor, has held the interim music director tag for four years; he was appointed to the position back in 2021. In 2025-26, his song “Amanirenas” will be featured in Karen Slack’s recital “African Queens” in September. Additionally, he will conduct Verdi’s Requiem to close {…}
Washington National Cathedral has announced its 2025-26 season. First up is a showcase featuring The Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra in Bach’s “Magnificat and Charpentier’s “Te Deum.” Also on the program is Rebel’s “Les Élémens.” Performance Date: Oct. 3 & 5, 2025 Händel’s Messiah” will kick off the holiday season. Performance Date: Dec. 5-7, 2025 VOCES8 will present a program {…}
New York’s Brick Presbyterian Church has unveiled its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances on offer. The Chancel Choir and instrumental ensemble will present “A World of Faith.” The program will feature “Prélude sur le Veni Creator” by Maurice Duruflé, the 13th-century “Communion Verse,” “Farafeza Longa” by Riyad Al-Sunbati, “Adinu,” “Oseh Shalom” by Nurit Hirsh (arranged by Elaine Broad {…}
Sir Willard White will headline a performance, “Close to You,” at Magdalen College Chapel in the U.K. The showcase, set for Sept. 27, 2025, will feature the opera legend alongside the Celoniatus Ensemble as they take on music by Copland, Gershwin, Porter, Mackenzie, and Sinatra, among others. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. local time. White has had a {…}