Superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has announced that she is canceling her concerts and recording of Bizet’s “Carmen” due to Grammy Award-winning conductor John Nelson‘s health. In a post on Instagram DiDonato wrote, “I am heartbroken to hear the news of John Nelson’s health which has made necessary his withdrawal from our planned concerts and recording of “Carmen.” She stated that Nelson {…}
Anja Harteros is out of the Bayerische Staatsoper‘s production of “Tristan und Isolde.” The company said that she will be replaced for the April performances by Elena Pankratova. For the July shows, Anja Kampe will replace Harteros. This isn’t the first of Harteros’ cancelations at Bayerische this past year. Harteros had canceled her July 19, 2022 recital performance. Harteros’ next {…}
Los Angeles Master Chorale has announced that its GALA 2023 will honor composer Germaine Franco and LA Arts Recovery Fund. The showcase, scheduled for April 14, 2023, at Walt Disney Concert Hall, will kick off at 7 p.m. There will be a 6 p.m. reception in Blue Ribbon Garden and dinner at 8 p.m. Franco is the first female Artistic {…}
The Semperoper Dresden is set to premiere Rolando Villazón’s production of “La Sonnambula” on March 19, 2023. The opera, which will be conducted by Evelino Pidò, will star Emily Pogorelc, Maxim Mironov, Rosalia Cid, Georg Zeppenfeld, and Nicole Chirka. “In the current production, Villazón reveals the resentments lurking behind picturesque facades in a self-contained rustic rural village community, whose entrenched {…}
OperaVision has announced its March 2023 streaming slate. First up is a Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée that hails from November 2022. The showcase stars Karolina Bengtsson, Nombulelo Yende, Hyoyoung Kim, Helene Feldbauer, Cláudia Ribas, Jarrett Porter, and pianists Yuna Saito and Felice Venanzoni. Streaming Dates: March 9 – Sept. 9, 2023 That will be followed up by Cimarosa’s “Il Matrimonio {…}
The Association for Opera in Canada has announced some changes to its board for the upcoming years. The organization unveiled that the members rotating off the board include Calgary Opera General Director Heather Kitchen, “member-at-large” Alexandra Skoczylas, and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman. Board members that were elected for one term during the 2023-24 season include: Michael Mori, General Director, Tapestry Opera {…}
Am I repeating myself? Time heals, it is often said. But I cannot imagine how much time the Ukrainian people, as well as many Russians, will need to heal the wounds inflicted by the vile, criminal actions and decisions of one regime. But time is also sobering. And after this year, it still hurts a lot, but I’m not afraid {…}
The Never Again Association has launched a new initiative, ‘Music Against War,’ which invites musicians to join in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and those affected by war the world over. To symbolize support, the Association has created an emblem for the anti-war campaign, created by the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts graduate, Witold Popiel. ‘Music Against War,’ dovetails with {…}
The Merola Opera Program has unveiled the names of the 2023 Merola Artists. The 29 artists include: Sopranos Georgiana Adams, Wheaton, Illinois Juliette Chauvet, Avignon, France Caroline Corrales, St. Louis, Missouri Shan Hai, Beijing, China So Ry Kim, Daejeon, South Korea Olivia Prendergast, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mezzo-sopranos Lucy Joy Altus, New York, New York Joanne Evans, London, United Kingdom Simona Genga, Toronto, Ontario Natalie Lewis, Severna Park, Maryland Contraltos Cecelia Steffen McKinley, Sterling, Virginia {…}
As part of its 60th season, Connecticut’s Fairfield County Chorale will celebrate Latin American music with “When Folklore Meets Choral.” Music Director David Rosenmeyer is set to lead soloists Pedro Sequera and Oscar Vallejo alongside the Norwalk High School Chamber Singers, directed by Steven Oliveri, and the Future Natives Project through “Misa Criolla.” Ariel Ramirez’s work fuses themes from the {…}
The St. Louis Bach Festival has released its 2023 season lineup. This article will only mention the performances including vocal-related works. Starting things off is the Young Artist Showcase. The Bach Society Young Artist Award Recipients soprano Erica Ancell and mezzo-soprano Theresa Flore will be joined by program alumni tenor Anthony Heinemann and bass Chris Stanfill to present operatic and {…}
