(Photo: ) Giuseppe Verdi’s “I vespri siciliani” recounts the story of a historical revolution: the uprising of the Sicilian people against their French rulers in 1282, leading to the liberation of the island from their occupation. The political narrative is intertwined with the personal lives of the main characters. Duchess Elena, whose brother was killed by the French, seeks vengeance {…}
(Photo: Olivier Metzger) French soprano Julie Fuchs has been busy thrilling opera audiences all over Europe with her wide-ranging repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary. She is currently making her American debut in the title role of Händel’s “Partenope” at San Francisco Opera. A lifelong singer, Fuchs began her musical training in Avignon before going on to study at the Conservatoire {…}
(Photo Credit: Cassandra Hannagan) Audience-members arriving at Sydney’s Angel Place Recital Hall for Pinchgut Opera’s latest production, Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas,” walked in on a boxed theatrical space in which ensemble-members crossed and re-crossed the stage folding linen. While some audience-members were to be heard wondering what the folding signified, the repeated activity, minutes before the opera started, could {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the extension of its Intendant and General Generalmusikdirektor. The company noted that Bayerische Staatsoper’s Generalmusikdirektor Vladimir Jurowski will extend his contract until 2028 with an option to renew for a further year and Intendant Serge Dorny will renew his contract until 2031. In a statement, Dorny said, “I would like to thank Minister of State Blume {…}
The San Francisco Opera is set to celebrate Pride month. The company will celebrate on June 26 as all ticket holders for that evening’s performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” are welcome to enjoy Pride Night at the Opera which includes a pre-performance Pride exhibit hosted by the Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Community and a Best Pride {…}
The Lirico Tullio Serafin competition has announced the roles for Rossini’s “La Cenerentola.” The opera, which will be performed at the Festival “Vicenza in Lirica” in September, will see Luis Magallanes as Don Ramiro, Eugenio Maria Degiacomi as Don Magnifico, Floriana Cicio as Clorinda, Caterina Dellaere as Tisbe, Tamar Ugrekhlidze as La Cenerentola, and Huigang Liu as Alidoro. The parts were decided {…}
On June 13, 2024, the Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition held its finals at the De Geer Hall in Norrköping, Sweden. The first prize went to Swedish soprano Matilda Sterby, while the second prize went to South Korean soprano Celine Mun. The third prize was awarded to Swedish mezzo-soprano Mathilda Bryngelsson while the audience prize was given to South Korean {…}
The Washington National Opera has unanimously elected Andy Pharoah as the Board of Trustees’ next President. Pharoah has served on the Board for more than seven years, having joined the WNO Board of Trustees in October 2016 and the Executive Committee of the Board in May 2017. Pharoah has chaired the Marketing and Audience Building Committee during his tenure. He will {…}
Opéra Royal du Château de Versaiilles has announced new productions with the Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal for its 2024-25 season. Raphaël Pichon will conduct “Vespro della Beata Vergine.” The work stars Perrine Devillers, Zachary Wilder, Robin Tritschler, Antonin Rondepierre, Nicolas Brooyymans, Etienne Bazola, and Renaud Brès. Performance Date: Sept. 22, 2024 Lauranne Oliva, Juliette Mey, Léo Vermot-Desroches, and Halidou Nombre headline {…}
On June 14, 2024, the Metropolitan Opera presented its second program to its Carnegie Hall series which is set to go on tour later this month. The program combined the works of Wagner, Debussy, and Bartók. The result was an uneven opening half and a second half that was perhaps one of the best operatic performances of the entire Met {…}
Wild Arts has announced its 2024 summer season. There will be three programs. First up is the “Opera Evenings,” which will feature works by Gershwin, Mozart, Rossini, Lehár, Tchaikovsky, and Händel, among others. Performers include Galina Averina, Martha Jones, Xavier Hetherington, and Timothy Nelson. The showcase will be presented at Kent, Dorset, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Surrey, Somerset, {…}