The Sarasota Opera is set to present Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” The production, which is set to be presented between March 7 and 29, 2026, will be revived for the first time since 2014. The company has only performed the work twice including in 1993. In a statement Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell said, “It is ‘Il Trovatore’s’ music that {…}
(Credit: Tom Watson) In 2024, Palm Beach Opera appointed David Stern to be the organization’s Ari Rifkin Music Director. Stern, the son of iconic violinist Isaac Stern, had been with the company since 2015 as its Chief Conductor after leading positions at Israeli Opera and Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland. The conductor has had a major international career, performing with {…}
Renée Fleming is set to take the stage of the 2026 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The soprano will perform a concert on June 19, 2026 alongside Béla Fleck. Fleming will collaborate with Fleck for “The Fiddle and the Drum,” featuring My Bluegrass Heart, an all-new collaboration between the legendary soprano and banjo luminary. In a statement says Planet Bluegrass’s Craig Ferguson {…}
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present a special program on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m. at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, Illinois. The showcase features music Director Chad Goodman leading the orchestra alongside the Elgin Master Chorale and soprano Laura Strickling and baritone Jesse Blumberg. The program opens with Valerie Coleman’s {…}
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Dalia Stasevska conducts Aphrodite Patoulidou in a program that includes music by Anna Meredith, Jean Sibelius, Luciano Berio, Aphrodite Patoulidou, Jean Sibelius, and Claude Debussy. Performance Dates: Oct. 2 & 4, 2026 Stéphane Denève conducts Julia Bullock in a program of music {…}
(Credit: Victor Santiago) The Maggio Musciale Fiorentino has announced the postponement of Francesco Meli’s masterclass. The company said that Meli will give his masterclass on March 30 instead of the original Feb. 21 date. Tickets will be valid for the new date. This season, Meli is set to perform a new production of “Nabucco” at the Teatro alla Scala, and {…}
The Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey has cancelled a scheduled performance with Brazilian male soprano Bruno de Sá. The male soprano took to social media and said, “Sadly, the Gala Concert in Ankara has been cancelled. Thank you so much for your understanding. But if you are a singer, I will be giving a masterclass on Thursday 19. Stay tune, {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced its 2026-27 season. Verdi’s “La Traviata” opens the season with a cast that includes Kathryn Lewek, Lucia Cesaroni, Long Long, Luke Norvell, Russell Braun, and Reginald Smith, Jr. Paolo Carignani conducts Arin Arbus’ production. Performance Dates: Sept. 18-Oct. 17, 2026 Laurence Kilsby, Joel Alison, Daniel Okulitch, Lauren Fagan, Martina Myskohlid, and Tracy Dahl lead {…}
Tenor Wolfgang Schmidt has died at the age of 69. Born in Melsungen near Kassel, he went on to study voice at the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik and won an award from the Hindemith Foundation for his special achievements. While still a student he performed frequently in concert, traveling through all of western Europe as well as to Poland, the {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced that David C. Ferguson will be conferred the title of General Director Emeritus at the conclusion of his current term as General Director. The COC Board Chair Marcia Lewis Brown said, “We are delighted to honor David’s lasting impact on the Canadian Opera Company through his exceptional contributions to its artistic and institutional legacy. {…}
(Photo: Lorenza Daverio) How is it possible that, until five years ago, nothing was known about Italian composer Umberto Giordano’s first work? This is the question that inevitably arises upon learning about the program that prompted this article. The answer seems simple if one considers that it was Giordano himself who chose to withdraw it from public life, as it {…}