Shelén Hughes Camacho, Elisse Albian, Rachel Duval Lead American Classical Orchestra’s 2026-27 Season

The American Classical Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances on offer. The ACO and ACO Chorus open the season with Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. Bolivian soprano Shelén Hughes Camacho, a 2025 George and Nora London Foundation Competition winner, makes her ACO debut. Thomas Crawford conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 17, 2026 {…}

May 6, 2026

OPERA America Announces Participants in 2026 Leadership Intensive

OPERA America has revealed the 20 participants selected for its 2026 Leadership Intensive, drawing administrators from the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The 14 U.S. participants are James Barnett, Artistic Director of Skylark Opera Theatre; Caitlin Bolden, Director of Artistic Operations at Knoxville Opera; Richard Gammon, Director of the Opera Maine Studio Artist Program; Matthew Hrdlicka, Artistic Coordinator {…}

May 6, 2026

Obituary: South African Soprano Khayakazi Madlala Dies at 32

Soprano Khayakazi Madlala has died at the age of 32. The soprano died on May 5 after a short illness. Cape Town Opera was the first to announce the news and said, “We are heartbroken by the unexpected passing of our beloved colleague, Khayakazi Madlala. Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.” Born {…}

May 6, 2026

Ben Bliss Wins 2026 Beverly Sills Artist Award

The Metropolitan Opera has named tenor Ben Bliss the winner of the 2026 Beverly Sills Artist Award. The annual $50,000 award recognizes extraordinarily gifted singers with rising Met careers. Established in 2006 by an endowment gift from the late Agnes Varis, a former Met Board member, and her husband, Karl Leichtman, the award is given in honor of the legendary {…}

May 6, 2026

Annabel Kennedy Joins IMG Artists for General Management

Mezzo-soprano Annabel Kennedy has joined the roster of IMG Artists for general management. Kennedy will be represented by Senior Artist Manager Isabella Pitman. Kennedy is the winner of the Royal Over-Seas League International Music Competition Singing Award, prizewinner at the IVC Opera and Oratorio Competition and the Josep Palet Competition. She is a member of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein {…}

May 6, 2026

Lise Lindstrom & Stefan Vinke Lead Atlanta Opera’s ‘Götterdämmerung’

The Atlanta Opera is set to present Richard Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung.” The production by Tomer Zvulun will be presented between May 30 and June 7, 2026, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This production will mark the first complete staging of the Ring cycle in the Southeast and represents one of the most ambitious artistic undertakings in the company’s history. Conducted {…}

May 6, 2026

Merola Opera Program to Perform ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’

San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program is set to present Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The serio-comic work will be conducted by Ann-Katrin Stöcker with stage direction by Omer Ben Seadia. The work will be performed July 30 and August 1, 2026 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The opera will be performed in German with English supertitles. This summer the {…}

May 6, 2026

Kirsty McLean to Perform at Ronnie Scott’s Classical

Soprano Kirsty McLean is set to perform at Ronnie Scott’s Classical on June 15. McLean and pianist Patrick Milne present “Divas,” a program celebrating iconic voices from opera and beyond. The lineup moves between operatic arias and crossover classics, spanning repertoire associated with such artists as Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. The program include {…}

May 6, 2026

Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg 2025-26 Review: L’Orfeo

(Credit: Daniel Dittus) Leonardo García Alarcón has already established an impressive track record in early North Italian opera, with his acclaimed “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria” at the 2024 Aix-en-Provence Festival and his masterful Cavalli’s “Pompeo Magno” at Bayreuth in 2025. His interpretation with Cappella Mediterranea and the Chœur de Chambre de Namur was imbued with the freshness and vitality {…}

May 6, 2026

Charlotte Symphony to Present ’emergency shelter intake form’

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Roof Above, will present Gabriel Kahane’s “emergency shelter intake form.” The piece will be performed as the centerpiece of its season finale concert on May 15 & 16 at Knight Theater. Conducted by Music Director Kwamé Ryan the performance will feature mezzo-soprano Alicia Hall Moran and also music by Copland and Higdon. Commissioned {…}

May 6, 2026

Hong Kong Polytechnic University to Present ‘Scènes de la vie de Bohème’

Hong Kong Polytechnic University is set to present “Scènes de la vie de Bohème.” This performance is based on the Puccini’s opera and is sung in French. The cast is made up of four principal roles. “Scènes de la vie de Bohème” focuses on the emotional ties between the two couples while telling a story of the Chinese cultural diaspora {…}