The Teatro Comunale di Ferrara has partnered with COM2, a training organization accredited by the Emilia Romagna region, to launch “Cantante 5.0,” a free training program leading to the Regional Qualification of Singer. The program is approved by the Emilia Romagna region and co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus 2021 2027. In addition to training new vocal artists, the {…}
(Photo: Ben van Duin) For its final presentation of the season, the Dutch National Opera brought together a stellar cast under the musical direction of Fabio Luisi, conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra, with stage direction by Jetske Mijnssen for a new production of Verdi’s emotionally and politically complex opera “Simon Boccanegra” in the revised 1881 version with its text by Arrigo Boito. And it did {…}
The China Now Music Festival will present two programs under the theme “Chasing Dreams” in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The first program, “Chasing Dreams: Bard East/West Ensemble and The Rift, a Chamber Opera,” features “Written in Stone: The Rift,” a chamber opera by composer Huang Ruo and playwright David Henry Hwang exploring the story behind Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans {…}
(Photo Credit: Jan Reiser) The supervisory board of Theater und Philharmonie Essen has appointed Julien Chavaz as the new Intendant of the Aalto Musiktheater and the Essener Philharmoniker, effective for the 2028-29 season. Chavaz, currently Generalintendant of Theater Magdeburg, will lead both divisions through summer 2033. The appointment follows the April announcement of Peter Theiler as interim Intendant for the {…}
Vocal ensemble The Lyons Mouth took the main prize at the 2026 York International Young Artists Competition, along with the Friends of York Early Music Festival award. The group, a vocal consort founded in 2024 by singers who met while studying at the University of York, will receive a professional recording contract from Linn Records, a £1,000 cash prize, a {…}
Yale Schwarzman Center has unveiled its fall 2026 season. Here are the vocal performances on offer. Soprano Camille Zamora brings “Desde el Alma | From the Soul” to Commons, joined by pianist Pablo Estigarribia and bandoneon player Héctor Del Curto for a program exploring tango, bolero, and canción. Performance Date: Sept. 25, 2026 Ruckus presents “Eternity’s Begun: Early American Hymns {…}
Ronnie Scott’s has announced its August-September 2026 program for “Ronnie Scott’s Classical,” the classical series at Upstairs at Ronnie’s. The series is curated jointly by violinist Lizzie Ball and Ronnie Scott’s Artistic Director James Pearson. Here are the vocal performances on offer. Five-time Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble The Swingle Singers present an evening of a cappella arrangements spanning jazz, {…}
Photo Credits: Hudson Opera/RB Schlather (2017) Within contemporary American opera, there are many works whose lifespan betrays its contents. Even historical significance can’t save opera from being forgotten if it fails to find its audience. Works like Carlisle Floyd’s ‘The Passion of Jonathan Wade‘ (1962), Thea Musgrave’s ‘Simón Bolívar‘ (1994), Dorothy Moore’s ‘Frederick Douglass‘ (1985), Stewart Wallace’s ‘The Bonesetter’s Daughter‘ {…}
Sarasota Opera has unveiled its 2026-27 Signature Events season, a series of fundraising events supporting the company’s productions, artist training programs, community outreach, and Sarasota Youth Opera. The season opens with the Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival at the Sarasota Opera House. Performance Date: Sept. 26, 2026 “The Curtain Raiser” follows at Michael’s On East, marking the opening of {…}
(Photo: MOF) Macerata Opera Festival’s (MOF) 62nd season opened with a new production of Verdi’s “Nabucco” featuring videos of natural aesthetics that illuminated Sferisterio Arena’s historical grounds and Macerata, Italy’s rich and vibrant culture. Belgian Stage Director Paul-Émile Fourny made his MOF debut and conductor Fabrizio Maria Carminati led a stellar cast including Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar as Nabucco, Alessandro Scotto di {…}
The Premio Abbiati del Disco has announced the 2026 winners. Here are the vocal winners. The opera category awards were given to Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” by Warner Classics featuring Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres, Il Pomo d’Oro, and Maxim Emelyanychev and Mieczysław Weinberg’s “The Idiot” by Unitel featuring Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Krzysztof Warlikowski and Wiener Philharmoniker. Marina Comparato and Gianni {…}