Benjamin Bernheim Asmik Grigorian, Juan Diego Florez, Elīna Garanča & Cecilia Bartoli Lead Salzburg Festival’s 2024 Season

(Credit: © SF / Peter Rigaud) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2024 Season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Strauss’ “Caprricio” is set to be performed in concert form with Elsa Dreisig and Bo Skovhus as Countess and Count. The cast also includes Sebastian Kohlhepp (Flamand), Konstantin Krimmel (Olivier), Mika Kares (La Roche), Ève-Maud Hubeaux (Clairon), {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Obituary: Conductor Robert Hart Baker Dies at 69

On Nov. 25, 2023, conductor Robert Hart Baker died at the age of 69. Born on March 19, 1954, the conductor went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music for preparatory division, the Academie Internationale d’ete, the Mozarteum Conservatory in Salzburg, Horace Mann School, Harvard University, Yale University, and York College of Pennsylvania He was a student of Herbert {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Oper Frankfurt Announces Cast Change for ‘Aida’

Oper Frankfurt has announced a cast change for its production of “Aida.” The company said that Ekaterina Sannikova will take over the title role in performances on Dec. 6, 8, and 10 replacing the originally scheduled Guanqun Yu. Sannikova has performed with the Marrinsky Theatre and Astrakhan Opera Theatre and is an Operalia Special Prize and Monte Carlo Competition Grand Prix {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Boston Lyric Opera’s ‘Svadba’ Wins Top Opera America Prize for Digital Excellence

Opera America revealed the 2023 awards for Digital Excellence in Opera. The winners included Boston Lyric Opera’s film “Svadba,” has won the top prize for Artistic Creation in Opera America’s 2023 Digital Excellence in Opera Awards. “Svadba,” which is available for free on BLO’s YouTube page, was adapted from Serbian composer Ana Sokolović’s striking libretto and a cappella score. The {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Genesis Moreno & Diego Silva Headline Ópera de Bellas Artes’ ‘Elisir d’Amore’

The Ópera de Bellas Artes in Mexico City has opened its production of Donizetti’s famed comedy “L’Elisir d’Amore” this December. The staging of the Bel Canto classic, which opened on Dec. 5, 2023, stars soprano Génesis Moreno as Adina in her role debut. She performs alongside Diego Silva as Nemorino, Noé Colín as Dulcamara, Juan Carlos Heredia as Belcore, and {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Teatro Real de Madrid 2023-24 Review: Rigoletto

(Credit: Javier del Real) A woman’s whimper, a stifled scream, echoes in the dark. She flees into the theatre, amidst the stalls, chased by a few men in ominous rabbit masks. She seeks refuge on stage, terrified in front of the bright red curtain, the pack hunts her down, overpowers her. The trombones attack the prelude, with haunting repeated notes, {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Metropolitan Opera 2023-24 Review: Florencia en el Amazonas

The Spanish language is pretty preponderant in the United States of America with a recent census stating that over 42 million people in the country aged five and older speak the language at home. It’s the second most learned language following English, with over 8 million students. And yet, it took until 2023 for the Metropolitan Opera to finally, and {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Tiara Abraham, Andrew Gellen, Lukas Palys, & Detola Badmus are Among the Winners of the 2024 YoungArts Award

YoungArts announced its 2024 YoungArts award winners. This article features classical voice winners only. A complete list of the 2024 winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12 can be found here. In the classical voice category the winners include sopranos Tiara Abraham, Grace Chung, Olivia Gonzales, Theo Hsu, Ava Maha, Milena Manocchia, Esther Puderbaugh, Felicity Robles, and Viveka {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Bradyworks & Chants libres Announce the World Premiere of ‘Information’

Bradyworks, in co-production with Chants libres have announced the world premiere of the new bilingual chamber opera “Information.” Tim Brady and Mishka Lavigne’s “Information” is set in Montreal in October 1970 focusing on issues such as the F.L.Q October Crisis, abortion rights, and the role of journalism in society. The production features Canadian vocalists mezzo-soprano Marie-Annick Béliveau, baritone Pierre Rancourt, tenor David Menzies, {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Trinity Church Wall Street Names New Music Director

Trinity Church Wall Street has announced that Melissa Attebury will be its new Director of Music. In her new role, Attebury will be the principal conductor of The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, NOVUS NY, and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra. Attebury joined the company in 2006 as a member of the choir and teaching artist. She has also served as {…}

Dec 6, 2023

Q & A: Bass Giorgi Manoshvili on How He Moved From Folk Music to Opera

In 2022, the Georgian bass, Giorgi Manoshvili, made a big impression performing the role of Caliban in Halévy’s opera “La Tempesta” at the Wexford Festival Opera. He also thrilled the audience with a recital on the main stage. This year, he returned to the festival and, once again, was a big hit with audiences. He did this while learning his {…}