Elīna Garanča, Piotr Beczała, Christopher Purves Headline Second Half of Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Philharmonia Orchestra has unveiled the second half of its 2024-25 season. (To check out the first half, click here.) Here is a rundown of the vocal and operatic performances on offer. Riccardo Muti will conduct Verdi’s Requiem with a star-studded quartet of singers. Soloists include Juliana Grigoryan, Elīna Garanča, Piotr Beczała, and Ildebrando d’Arcangelo. Performance Date: March 27, 2025 {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Trump Uses Pavarotti’s Recordings at Chaotic Pennsylvania Town Hall

Twice-impeached and 34-time convicted felon Donald Trump is at it again playing Pavarotti during a Presidential campaign event. This time at a town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania on Oct. 14, the former President played recordings of Luciano Pavarotti after his town hall was cut short after two attendees needed medical attention. According to reports, Trump was being asked questions from {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Gasometer to Serve as Interim Stage for Royal Swedish Opera During Renovations

(Photo credit: Markus Gårder) The Royal Swedish Opera has announced Gasometer will be its stage while the opera house’s renovations take place. The unique gas clock in Stockholm is currently being constructed into a stage space for opera, ballet, and classical music. Gasometer is housed in a former industrial building in the Norra Djurgårdsstaden, a part of Stockholm which has {…}

Oct 15, 2024

William Kentridge Named Artist in Residence at Bergen International Festival

The Bergen International Festival has named William Kentridge the Artist in Residence for the 2025 season. The festival announced that Festival Director Lars Petter Hagen invited two of the South African artist’s stage productions to Bergen. The Bergen International Festival 2025 will open with Kentridge’s latest performance, “The Great Yes, The Great No,” which had its world premiere this past {…}

Oct 15, 2024

2024 Tokyo International Conducting Competition Announces Winners

(Photo courtesy of Min-On Concert Association) The 2024 Tokyo International Conducting Competition, organized by Min-On Concert Association, dropped its curtain at the Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo yesterday. Thirty-five-year old Greek candidate Kornilios Viktor Michailidis was awarded 1st Prize as well as the Orchestra Award, bagging home 2 million Japanese Yen cash prize. A graduate of the Jacobs School {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Berlin State Opera Announces Cast Change for ‘Romeo et Juliette’

(Credit: Facebook/Elsa Dreisig-Paris Opera) The Berlin State Opera has announced a cast change for its production of Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette.” The company said that Elsa Dresig and Maria Kokareva will take over the role of Juliette replacing Aida Garifullina, who was originally announced. Driesig will sing the role on Nov. 10, 20, 21, and 24 while Kokareva will sing the {…}

Oct 15, 2024

PBS Great Performances Announces Two Major Broadcasts

(Photo by Chris Lee) PBS Great Performances is set to showcase two special presentations. First up is “Great Performances – Émigré: A Musical Drama with the NY Phil” on Oct. 25, 2024 at 9 p.m. The showcase is directed by Mary Birnbaum and conducted by Long Yu with music by Aaron Zigman and a libretto by Mark Campbell. Performers include {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Giulio Gari Foundation Announces 2024 Winners Gala

The Giulio Gari Foundation has announced its 2024 Winners Gala. Scheduled for Oct. 20, 2024, at the Blessed Sacrament Church in New York City, the event will feature Jonathan Kelly, the Met Opera Assistant Conductor, at the piano alongside five artists. Performers include winners baritone Trevor Haumshilt-Rocha, soprano Magdalena Kuzma, mezzo-soprano Gabrielle Beatag, baritone Blake Denson, and soprano Mei Giu {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Encompass New Opera Theatre to Host Musical Salute Gala

Encompass New Opera Theatre’s Artistic Director Nancy Rhodes and The Board of Trustees have announced its 2024 music gala. The evening hosted by Midge Woolsey of Thirteen/WNET and WQXR Radio, will feature recollections, tributes, and entertainment by well-known musical theatre personalities, as well as stars of stage and screen. The main event will see Brian Stokes Mitchell will present Tony {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Brooklyn Art Song Society to Present ‘Histories II: Medieval

The Brooklyn Art Song Society is set to present “Histories II: Medieval.” The concert will be performed on Nov. 3, 2024, at Roulette in Downtown Brooklyn. “Histories II: Medieval” will showcase medieval-inspired works by modern composers including Samuel Barber’s “Hermit Songs,” Libby Larsen’s Irish and Gnostic texts (Donal Oge, The Magdalene), and Gilda Lyons’ “Songs of Lament and Praise.” The {…}

Oct 15, 2024

The World’s First Augenmusik Opera “Mascagni a Cerignola” Premieres

John Dante Prevedini and Raffaele Sorbo’s Augenmusik opera “Mascagni a Cerignola,” has made its world premiere. Augenmusik, or eye music, is a form of notated music that is also visual art. The technique has been used by various influential composers since the Middle Ages, but has never been used to compose an opera until now. The new opera, “Mascagni a {…}