Q & A: Artistic Director & Conductor George Petrou on This Season’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen

(Photo: FreddieF) This year’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen kicks off on May 16th and will run until May 25th. The festival will present a range of events dedicated to the composer, including lectures, concerts, recitals, and readings, along with the eighth edition of its Händel competition. The centerpiece of the festival will be five staged performances of the composer’s {…}

Mar 20, 2025

International Händel Festspiele, Karlsruhe 2025 Review: Siroe, re di Persia

(Photo: Felix Grünscloß) Although “Siroe, re di Persia” managed a good run of 17 performances, following its premiere at the King’s Theatre, London in 1728, Händel never revived the work. Apart from a couple of productions in Brunswick in 1730 and 1735, it lay dormant until the 20th century, has never managed to establish itself in the repertoire, and remains {…}

Mar 20, 2025

Q & A: Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi on This Year’s Wexford Festival & Productions for the Händel Festival in Göttingen & the Rossini Festival in Pesaro

(Photo: Armati Bacciardi) Over the next few months, OperaWire will be reviewing a number of productions at a variety of festivals across the globe. One name that keeps cropping up, at least in Europe, is that of Rosetta Cucchi. Blessed with a never-ending supply of energy and ideas, she always has one project on the go with others in the {…}

Mar 20, 2025

Opera på Skäret Announces Cast for ‘Turandot’ Production

Sweden’s Opera på Skäret has announced the full cast for its production of “Turandot.” Puccini’s final opera takes the stage with two casts from July 26 through August 24, 2025. In the title role will be Lucyna Jarzabek and Léa Bianco Chinto. As Calaf audiences will see Errin Duane Brooks and James Lee. Kseniya Bakhritdinova-Kravchuk and Lilla Horti alternate as {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Sir András Schiff Cancels U.S. Engagements Due to Political Turmoil

Famed pianist and conductor Sir András Schiff has canceled all of his U.S. appearances in 2025-26. Per The Violin Channel, Schiff decided as a result of the political turmoil taking place in the “land of the free.” “Due to the recent and unprecedented political changes in the United States, I feel morally obligated to withdraw from all engagements in the {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Corinne Winters, Ryan McKinny, Angel Blue, Sasha Cooke, Arturo Chacón-Cruz Headline Houston Grand Opera’s 2025-26 Season

Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2025-26 season, titled “The Light We Hold.” The season opens with “Porgy and Bess” in a production by Francesca Zambello and starring Michael Sumuel, Angel Blue, Latonia Moore, Blake Denson, and Demetrious Sampson Jr. James Gaffigan conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 24 – Nov. 15, 2025 Corinne Winters headlines “Il Trittico,” taking on roles in each {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Q & A: Scott Guzielek on AVA’s 90th Anniversary & the Resilience of Opera

(Photo credit: AVA) In preparation for the “BrAVA Philadelphia! 90th Anniversary Celebration and Gala,” Scott Guzielek, President and Artistic Director of the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA), talked with OperaWire about the institution’s dedication to the arts for close to a century and its upcoming celebratory events. Guzielek started with the Academy in 2019 as Vice President and General Manager. {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Valery Gergiev Could Return to Spain in 2026

Valery Gergiev could return to Spanish theaters in 2026. Platea Magazine is reporting that Agencia Camera is coordinating a tour for Gergiev in Spain and is only waiting for the conductor and the Marrinsky Theatre to confirm. If confirmed, the performances will be the first for Gergiev in the West since 2022 when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Gergiev {…}

Mar 19, 2025

UCLA to Present ‘La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina’

(Photo: Todd Cheney) UCLA is set to present Francesca Caccini’s “La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina” on March 23, 2025. The showcase will take place at the UCLA William Andrews Clark Memorial Library in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the work, which is the first opera ever written by a woman. It will be presented by the Early {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Opéra National de Paris Teams up with Manatour for Virtual Tours Through Palais Garnier

The Opéra National de Paris is teaming up with Manatour to allow anyone to visit the famed Palais Garnier virtually. The virtual tour will allow audiences to make their way through the famed hall as if they were there. Audiences will also have access to their visit for up to 48 hours after each session. Visits will take place on {…}

Mar 19, 2025

Dr. Elizabeth Askren Releases ‘Magic Flute’ Comic Book

International conductor Dr. Elizabeth Askren has released the first installment of her new comic book series “Volume One: The Magic Flute.” The project came about as part of Askren’s “MaestraMagic!” mixed-media edutainment show that she created with her daughter Lily during the lockdown in 2020. “I created ‘MaestraMagic!’ in the spring of 2020 with my then seven-year-old daughter while homeschooling {…}