(Credit: Stefan-Brion) The Edinburgh International Festival has announced its 2024 season, entitled “Rituals That Unite Us.” “Reasserting the need for reconciliation and the value of shared experiences in today’s increasingly disconnected world, the curated programme of live music, theatre, opera and dance celebrates the practices, traditions and festivities that give us meaning and connect us – as a festival, a {…}
Seattle Opera has announced that Chris Burkett will be its next Director of Development. Burkett assumed the role in October 2023 and has been with the company since 2018 when he was hired as an Individual Giving Officer. Then in 2021, he took over the role of Associate Director of Development for Individual Giving. “I am honored to be entrusted {…}
Saint Thomas Church announced its holiday concerts. First up is Händel’s “Messiah” The performance will feature the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys as well as New York Baroque Incorporated. Performance Dates: Dec. 5 & 7, 2023 Next up is “Christmas on Fifth Avenue.” The Music Advancement Program String Ensemble of The Juilliard School will join the Boys of the {…}
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has announced that Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla will take up the role of Associate Artist from December 2023. Gražinytė-Tyla is currently the Principal Guest Conductor and was the Music Director of the CBSO from 2016 to 2022. In a statement, Gražinytė-Tyla quoted Daniel Barenboim who said some years ago: “Music can lift our feelings and imagination to {…}
Mezzo-soprano Ana Ibarra has joined GoDirect for general management. Ibarra has developed an international career and has performed at such theaters as Gran Teatro del Liceu, Teatro Real de Madrid, Canadian Opera Company, Mariinsky Theatre, La Monnaie de Bruselas, Dutch National Opera, Theater an der Wien, English National Opera, Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, Vlaamse Opera, Wielki Theater, Opera de {…}
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced changes to its opening night of “La Bohème” on Nov. 14, 2023. The company said, “Due to the national strike, called by the trade unions for the renewal of the national collective labor contract of the Opera and Symphonic Foundations, it is not possible – at the present time – to guarantee {…}
(Credit:Jānis Ķeris) Aivis Greters has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor at Gothenburg Opera. He will take over the position from the fall of 2024 to 2027. This season the young conductor is leading several opera productions including “Nabucco,” “Don Giovanni,” “Der Fliegender Holländer,” and “Tosca.” The new position comes at the start of an important 2023-24 season which will see his {…}
Jan Latham-Koenig has joined Felsner Artists for general management. Latham-Koening is an internationally renowned conductor who works with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Wiener Symphoniker, Tonhalle Zurich, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Japan Philharmonic. He is the Music Director at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and the {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will get to experience a gay-themed albumm as well as the critical edition of one verismo’s beloved operas. Infinite Refrain – Music of Love’s Refuge Signum Classics releases Randall Scotting’s latest album. This duet album is a musical journey that {…}
The traditional Cav/Pag double-bill has a flaw: “Pagliacci” overshadows “Cavalleria Rusticana.” As a result, “Cavalleria,” like an amuse-bouche, is a warmup for a more exciting opera. This bias in the Cav/Pag pairing seems illogical. Both operas are set in rural Italian/Sicilian villages, feature true-to-life characters, love triangles, and culminate in utter tragedy. Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” stands as the first opera {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast for its production of Mozart’s “Die Entführung aus dem Serail.” The company said that the role of Kostanze will be sung by Sofia Fomina who will be replacing Jessica Pratt on Dec. 15, 18, 21, and 26, 2023. Fomina first sang the role of Kostanze at the Bayerische Staatsoper and has since performed {…}