(Credit: Victor Santiago) Francesco Meli has received the Croce d’Oro di San Giorgio. The tenor took to social media to announce the news and said, “An unexpected award, crowning a career that began over twenty years ago! Happy and Honored, I thank the Liguria Region and the President Giovanni Toti for choosing me and considering me worthy of this honor. {…}
(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to celebrate its New Year with a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” The opera will be directed by English director Carrie Cracknell. Cracknell will explore themes that could not be more relevant today: gendered violence, abusive labor structures, and the desire to break through societal boundaries. The opera will {…}
On Site Opera has announced its production of “The Immersive Coffee Cantata Experience—a reimagining of Bach’s Coffee Cantata.” Bach’s short comic opera, “Coffee Cantata” (“Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht,” BWV 211) is set in the Zimmerman’s coffee house in Leipzig, Germany. It tells the story of Lieschen, sung by soprano Christine Lyons, (cover, Teryn Kuzma) a spirited young woman who adores {…}
Opéra de Lille has appointed Barbara Eckle as its new director. She will take over the position on July 1, 2025. Eckle will succeed Caroline Sonrier, who has been the director of Opéra de Lille since 2003. Sonrier will continue in her position until June 2025. Eckle will be tasked with preparing the artistic programming for seasons 25-26 and beyond. {…}
Cincinnati May Festival has announced that Matthew Swanson is the new director of choruses. He begins his tenure on June 1, 2024. “I am honored to serve the members of the May Festival Chorus and our broader community as Director of Choruses. The May Festival, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops have been continuing sources of inspiration since I {…}
The Greek National Opera will present the Greek premiere of Nadia Boulanger’s “La Ville Morte” this January. The production, which will be presented on the Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, will be showcased in co-production with Catapult Opera. The work, which was scheduled to premiere in 1914 in Paris, was never staged due to {…}
Catherine Malfitano has released a statement regarding Matthew A. Epstein’s health. The soprano took to social media and said, “Matthew is conscious, breathing on his own, talking, feeling very much better, and hopes to be home soon.” The news comes days after Malfitano confirmed that Epstein was still alive following false reports that he had died. In her previous statement, {…}
The Festival Verdi has announced its 2024 season. The festival will take place in Parma and Busseto from Sept. 21 and Oct. 21, 2024. Opera The season opens with the Verdi Street Parade at the Parma, Centro storico and Oltretorrente. Performance Date: Sept. 21, 2024 Verdi’s “Macbeth“ will be presented at the Teatro Regio di Parma in its French version {…}
(Credit: Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala) The Teatro alla Scala’s opening night production is always a major event. But this year’s “Don Carlo” had particular high expectations to fulfill. The major reason for this was undoubtedly the A-list cast, headlined by two of the world’s most famous divas Anna Netrebko and Elīna Garanča. But they were also flanked by {…}
(Photo credit: GFN Productions Inc) The ArtChoral Ensemble, is set to perform “Hallelujah – Timeless Melodies for the Soul,” on Jan. 13, 2024 at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. Under the direction of Matthias Maute the ensemble takes the audience on a choral journey into emotional crossovers between music and poetry. Leonard Cohen’s hymn, “Hallelujah” is paired with works by {…}
(Photo credit: Liz Linder) Blue Heron, the Gramophone-award winning vocal ensemble, presents “Renaissance Portraits” at the First Church in Cambridge, Congregational on Jan 20. “Renaissance Portraits” consists of musical portraits of personalities portrayed in music from Italian sources by Johannes Ciconia, Guillaume Du Fay, Gilles Binchois, Antoine Busnoys, Heinrich Isaac, and other composers. The program was originally conceived as a {…}