Ludovic Tézier did not mince words as he called out Slippedisc for its criticism of his cancelation of Wotan. In his article, Slippedisc blogger Norman Lebrecht wrote, “A sick baritone is feeling much better” and added, “Ludovic Tézier, who ducked out of the Paris Rheingold on the 29th of this month, is jumping in at Munich that same night. That {…}
Jonathan Heyward, the Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director, has extended his contract with the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. Heyward will remain with the ensemble through the 2029 season and his title will now include “Artistic Director” in addition to “Music Director.” “I feel such a profound connection to the musicians of this Orchestra and am thrilled to be {…}
(Image Courtesy of Verismo Communications) Music of Remembrance has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). The funding will support the company’s expanded version of Tom Cipullo’s “After Life,” which was originally commissioned and premiered by the company in 2025. The new version is set for performances in Seattle and San Francisco in May 2015. {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The company said, “In the performances of ‘Un ballo in maschera’ on January 26th and 29th and on February 1st, 5th and 8th, 2025, Ludovic Tézier will take on the role of Renato instead of Igor Golovatenko.” The news comes a few days {…}
Colorado’s Opera Steamboat has unveiled its 2025 season. First up is “Spirituals in Motion” featuring La’Shelle Allen. The performance will take place at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Performance Date: March 15, 2025 Next is “Falling in Love” with Cree Carrico and Aaron McAllister, also at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Performance Date: Sept. 26, 2025 Finally, the season ends with “All {…}
PENTATONE has announced that it will now be releasing mobile-optimized booklets for its releases. The feature will be available for a select range of works, though it will be expanded further over time. “At PENTATONE, we’re always thinking about the user experience, and this shift to mobile-optimized content is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure our audiences can enjoy every {…}
The Cleveland Orchestra has unveiled the dates for its holiday concert. The showcase, which opens on Dec. 13, 2025, runs through the 21st for a total of 12 performances, including five matinees at 2:30 p.m.; the remaining shows have start times of 7:30 p.m. Sarah Hicks will conduct the performance, which will also feature The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Blossom Festival {…}
The Bilbao Opera is set to present Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” for the third time in the company’s history. The performances come 13 years after the company last performed the famed work and will be shown on Jan. 18, 21, 24, and 27 at the Euskalduna Bilbao. The opera will star Gwyn Hughes Jones and Oksana Dyka in the title {…}
Calgary Opera is set to present Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” The opera, which is set to be performed on Feb. 1, 5, and 7, 2025, will be showcased in a Hollywood cinematic production at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. The all-Canadian cast will include John Fanning in his role debut as Don Pasquale, Lucia Cesaroni as Norina, John Tessier as Ernesto, {…}
The George and Nora London Foundation Competition has released updates regarding the 2025 final competition. This year, the final round of the competition for American and Canadian opera singers will be open to the public and will be made available via live stream. A dozen competitors will perform in the final round with pianist Lachlan Glen before a panel of {…}
The Kennedy Center’s public relations office has announced Kristen Turner in the role of Director of Public Relations for Classical Music. The position primarily serves the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and Washington National Opera (WNO), working closely with both the Executive Director of the NSO Jean Davidson, and the General Director of WNO Tim O’Leary as well as the WNO {…}
