Photo: Unison Media “Con Alma” was performed at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC’s Trusteeship Chamber on March 14th, 2023. This once-in-a-lifetime experience, presented by VisionIntoArt, and Death of Classical, in partnership with Carnegie Hall, showcased the album “Con Alma” by composer Paola Prestini and Mexican singer and composer Magos Herrera. Performers from the Young People’s Chorus of NYC, led by Artistic {…}
Viennese soprano Judith Halasz has died unexpectedly, according to Halasz’s husband, conductor Robert Papocsi. The soprano was a member of the Vienna State Opera for many years, where she took on roles such as Papagena in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte,” Woglinde in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” and “Götterdämmerung,” Najade in “Ariadne auf Naxos” by Strauss, and more. Halasz performed at festivals and {…}
Komische Oper Berlin has announced an upcoming production of Hans Werner Henze’s oratorio, “The Raft of the Medusa,” to be held at a hangar in the former Templehof Airport. The unconventional choice in staging comes as the company’s current home undergoes renovations over the next six years, with the company making Schiller Theater a temporary venue, along with other locations {…}
Photo: Heather Bobeck Giacomo Puccini’s “ll trittico.” Is there any other example of such a special trilogy of one-act operas in the canon? (One that comes to mind is a triptych by Paul Hindemith, though the work is rarely performed.) But “Il trittico” was written while Puccini was at the height of his talents, and he composed three one-act operas as a {…}
The Festival de Úbeda has announced its 35th season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal performances. María Rey-Joly performs a concert dedicated to Maria Callas’s 100th anniversary with Antoni Comas and Albert Boadella. Performance Date: May 20, 2023 Marta Mathéu, Gemma Coma, David Alegret, and Josep Miquel Ramón star in Mozart’s Requiem with Salvador Mas {…}
Opera de Paris presented their classic production of “Lucia di Lammermoor,” by Andrei Serban, which has been in their repertoire since 1995. In nearly thirty years, the best sopranos have incarnated the titular role at the Bastille. Names like June Anderson, Mariela Devia, Sumi Jo, and Natalie Dessay. Roberto Alagna performed Edgardo when the opera premiered. This time, the French {…}
The Dutch National Opera has released its lineup for the 2023-24 season. This season features many fan-favorite operas and premieres. Only vocal pieces are listed down below. Kicking things off is Kurt Veill’s “Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny.” Evelyn Herlitzius, Alan Oke, and Thomas Johannes Mayer are among the cast. Markus Stenz conducts with Ivo van Hove directing. Performance {…}
Soprano Alžběta Poláčková will perform the title role in Dvořák´s “Armida” at the National Theater Opera in Prague. Alongside Poláčková is bass František Zahradníček as Hydraot, baritone Svatopluk Sem, bass Štefan Kocán. They are joined by the National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra led by Robert Jindra. Jindra will make his debut conducting as music director of the National Theatre Opera. {…}
The London Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. For this article, here is a look at the vocal performances. Barbara Hannigan and Fleur Barron lead a concert that includes music by Haydn, Strauss, Ligeti, Luigi Nono, and Claude Vivier. Performance Dates: Sept. 14 & 17, 2023 Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” will be conducted by Barbara Hannigan. The concert will also {…}
Ouroboros Opera is set to present Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” in Chicago’s Rosehill Cemetery. Baritone Lucas Bouk makes his title role debut beside baritones Jeremiah Strickler as Leporello, Zachary Mendenhall as Masetto, Timothy Krueger as Commendatore, sopranos Katherine Bruton as Donna Anna, and Jessie Lyons as Donna Elvira, respectively. Kay Flynn sings Zerlina, and tenor Vincent McPherson plays Don Ottavio. Alexandra {…}
The Hildegard Behrens has announced that the 2023 awardee is Canadian tenor Matthew Cairns. The tenor is a first-year in the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and was a Grand Finals winner in the Met’s 2022 Laffont Competition. This season, he made his Met debut as the Messenger in “Aida” and covered Bob Boles in “Peter Grimes.” This season he {…}