Opera in the Heights (OH) has named Kathryn Frady to the position of Interim General Director. She will take over for Eiki Isomura and lead the organization through the 2025-26 season. “Kathryn Frady brings a rare, fresh and comprehensive understanding of opera—as an opera producer and artistic director, acclaimed soprano, and visionary stage director,” said OH’s chair of the board, {…}
The Opera Crown Tbilisi International Voice Competition is set to take place from Nov. 3 – 8, 2025. The competition, which is in the midst of accepting applications through Oct. 1, 2025, will require contestants to sing two arias with piano for its first rounds and then require finalists to sing two arias with orchestra for the final section of {…}
The Israeli Opera’s performance of “Turandot” on July 1, 2025 was interrupted by a Houthi missile. According to Opera Magazine, the missile was fired at Tel Aviv, and as a result, the opera house asked audiences to remain in their seats while the missile was intercepted. The missile was intercepted from Yemen. According to the Associated Press, Israel’s Defence Minister {…}
On June 29, 2025, Welsh Tenor Stuart Burrows died at the age of 92. Born on Feb. 7, 1933, in South Wales, Burrows sang soprano as a boy from his bedroom window to neighbours on the street below. He went on to give his first solo performance as a congregation member at the local Bethel Chapel. Burrows was a rugby player who {…}
The Shanghai Opera House has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Tristan und Isolde,” which will launch Bayreuth in Shanghai. Last week, the company announced that soprano Nina Warren will make her house debut as Isolde in the 2022 Bayreuth Festival production, directed by Roland Schwab. Nina replaces Song Qian, a soloist of the Shanghai Opera House, {…}
(Photo: © Sofia Opera & Ballet) Sofia Opera & Ballet celebrated the opening night of their annual Wagner Festival on June 26, 2025 with director Plamen Kartaloff’s new production of “Tannhäuser.” Academic Professor Kartaloff is a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and as director of Sofia Opera & Ballet his mission is to make a conscious shift in {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced that Maria Jose Siri will take over Anna Netrebko’s performances in “Aida” on August 10 and 17, 2025. The company also noted that Yusif Eyvazov will replace Brian Jagde on July 13, 2025 in the role of Radames. Siri opened the production on June 20 and is well known for her interpretation of Aida, {…}
The Teatro Real has announced a cast change for its concert performances of “I Lombardi alla prima crociata.” The company said that Lidia Fridman will sing the role of Giselda, replacing the originally announced Anna Pirozzi. Fridman took to social media and said, “So happy to share this special news with you. This July, I will make my Spanish debut {…}
(Credit: Met Opera / James Heffernan) Soprano Gilda Cruz-Romo has died at the age of 85. Cruz-Romo was born on Feb. 12, 1940, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and went on to study at the Mexico City Conservatory. In 1962, she made her debut in Mexico City as Ortlinde in “Die Walküre.” In 1969, she made her New York City Opera debut {…}
Opéra de Québec will present the world premiere of “Pierrot entre 3 Lunes” and with this premiere comes a dream come true for two close friends. The showcase, set for July 31 and August 2, 2025 features a transposition of Schönberg’s “Pierrot Lunaire” with new compositions by Rachel Fenlon, who not only performs in the show, but is joined by {…}
San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Orchestra, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 6 have reached a new agreement. The two-year contract, which has a term from August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026, increases wages and enhances retirement packages during each year of the contract, as well as increasing the collaboration between the orchestra and company in {…}