The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced a cast change for its production of “The Queen of Spades.” The company said that Ivan Gyngazov will take over the role of Hermann from Brian Jagde for all three performances. Gyngazov has performed at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Mariinsky Theatre, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, Theater an der Wien, Teatro Petruzzelli, Opéra {…}
Violetta Urmana had not sung at the Metropolitan Opera since 2017. For 16 years, she was a leading soprano for the company, performing both mezzo and soprano roles in many of the most dramatic roles in the repertoire. Her “Aida” was one of the most memorable interpretations and was even recorded on HD, while her “La Gioconda” was iconic. She {…}
(© Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is set to present two concerts at Carnegie Hall. The first will be held on June 12 and will feature Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Elza van den Heever in an all-Strauss program. The concert will include “Der Rosenkavalier Suite,” Selected Orchestral Songs, and “Ein Heldenleben.” The second concert will be held on June {…}
Music Academy of the West has acquired a downtown Santa Barbara Property which it intends to use to launch a Music Education Center. The acquisition was made possible thanks to a historic $20 million gift from Cheryl Goldberg in honor of her late husband, Michael Goldberg. “We are profoundly grateful to Cheryl Goldberg for bringing this vision to life,” said {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Andrea Bocelli will perform in concert. The company said that Bocelli will perform on Oct. 5, 2025 for a one-night-only performance of Italian opera favorites. Bocelli previously performed on the Met stage in 2019 alongside numerous opera singers. The concert is the latest special event that the Met announced following performances from Kristen Chenoweth, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the union of the Met chorus, soloists, dancers, full-time actors, stage managers, stage directors, and choreographers have reached a tentative agreement on a new one-year contract, subject to a ratification vote by its members that will be completed later this month. The new agreement will take effect on August {…}
The Music Academy has announced its 2025 Music Note Gala: An Evening of Inspiration Under the Stars to Support Music Education. The showcase is set for July 11, 2025, at 5 p.m. at the Upper Lawn of the Montecito Club and will feature performances by the Sing! children’s choir, mandolin player Chris Thile, the Academy Gala Orchestra, and conductor Daniela {…}
The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre is set to present “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” this summer. First up is a series of performances at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre starting on June 19, with subsequent shows set for June 21-26. Then the production heads to the Znojmo Music Festival from July 10-13, 2025. The cast stars Andreas Scholl, Valer Sabadus, Franko Klisović, Doubravka Novotná, {…}
(Photo: Michael Poehn) “Il Trovatore” is one of Verdi’s most celebrated operas, forming part of his “popular trilogy” alongside “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto,” all composed in the mid-19th century. Among the three, it is the least innovative, with characters that lack psychological depth or introspection, often conforming to operatic stereotypes—the valiant tenor, the virtuous soprano, and the sinister baritone. A {…}
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia have announced its 2025-26 season. Concerts Daniel Harding conducts a staged version of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” by Vincent Huguet. The opera will star Michael Volle, Miina‐Liisa Värelä, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Jamez McCorkle, Stephen Milling, and Okka von der Damerau. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-27, 2025 Antonio Pappano conducts Natalya Romaniw, Szilvia Vörös, {…}
Dramatic tenor Hovhannes Ayvazyan has joined TACT Artist Management. He will be represented by Sofia Rukin and Zarina Khazrat. Ayvazyan has performed with the Teatr Wielki, Armenian National Opera, Bolshoi Theatre, Hungarian State Opera, Arena di Verona, Mariinsky Theatre, and Poznan Opera. Hi repertoire includes such works as “Tosca,” “Il Trovatore,” “Aida,” “Luisa Miller,” “Turandot,” “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “Otello,” and “Madama {…}