https://operawire.com/obituary-soprano-margaret-jane-wray-dies-at-62/
On Dec. 2, 2025, American dramatic soprano Margaret Jane Wray died at the age of 62. Born on Dec. 17, 1962, who began her career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist program in the mid to late 1980s. Wray was a winner of the 1989 Richard Tucker Award. She made her debut at the Met in 1987 {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-famed-tenor-gary-lakes-dies-at-75/
On Nov. 11, 2025, Heldentenor Gary Lakes died at the age of 75. Born on Sept. 26, 1950, in Woodward, Oklahoma, and raised in Irving, Texas, Lakes studied at Southern Methodist University. He made his professional debut with the Seattle Opera in the role of Froh in 1981 in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold.” In 1986 he went on to make his {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-american-soprano-benita-valente-dies-at-91/
On Oct. 24, soprano Benita Valente died at 91. Born on Oct. 19, 1934, in Delano, California, she was first noticed by a high-school teacher who recommended lessons with Lotte Lehmann in Santa Barbara. She went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Martial Singher and later with Margaret Harshaw, where she graduated in 1960. {…}
https://operawire.com/antonio-poli-adela-zaharia-saioa-hernandez-roberta-mantegna-gregory-kunde-headline-teatro-comunale-di-bolognas-2026-season/
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has anounced its 2026 season. Here is a look at the operatic performances. Roberto Abbado conducts Mozart’s “Idomeneo” in a production by Mariano Bauduin. Antonio Poli, Francesca Di Sauro, Mariangela Sicilia, Salome Jicia, and Leonardo Cortellazzi star. Performance Dates: Jan. 24-Feb. 1, 2026 Adela Zaharia and Julia Muzychenko star in Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Liparit {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-legendary-soprano-roberta-alexander-dies-at-76/
On Oct. 14, 2025, soprano Roberta Alexander died at the age of 76. Born on March 3, 1949, in Lynchburg, Virginia, Alexander’s parents both studied music at Virginia State College, where they were pupils of Undine Smith Moore. She grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and she went on to study music at Central State University, the University of Michigan, {…}
https://operawire.com/q-a-nicolo-balducci-talks-about-his-voice-the-roles-that-are-making-him-a-countertenor-in-demand/
(Photo: Guiseppe Tricarico) Countertenor Nicolò Balducci first came to attention at the 2022 Early Music Festival in Innsbruck, where he won 3rd prize as well as the Young Artist Award in its Cesti singing competition. Three years later, he is now an established singer with an impressive CV, boasting a wide repertoire of roles from operas of the baroque era, {…}
https://operawire.com/mascarade-opera-emerging-artists-programme-announces-fall-2025-program/
(Credit: Jacopo Cane) The Mascarade Opera Emerging Artists Programme has unveiled its fall 2025 season offerings. The program provides artists with specialized training and performance opportunities over the course of two years, culminating in the second year with partnerships with major German opera houses and leading agencies. The season will open with “Night of Stars,” an evening of arias and {…}
https://operawire.com/angela-gheorghiu-magdalena-kozena-sabine-devieilhe-brian-mulligan-jennifer-holloway-gaelle-arquez-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will be able to hear several rarely performed baroque works as well as a Wagner work and a celebration of Angela Gheorghiu’s landmark recordings. Arvo Pärt: And I heard a voice Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis and their leader Jaan-Eik Tulve release a {…}
https://operawire.com/valerie-eickhoff-joins-intermusica-for-management/
(Credit: Kiki Liu) German mezzo-soprano Valerie Eickhoff has joined the Intermusica’s Vocal & Opera roster for worldwide management. Eickhoff is the winner of the 2024 Opus Klassik New Talent of the Year and was the subject of Juliane Sauter’s documentary film “Primadonna or Nothing,” alongside Renata Scotto and Angel Blue. The mezzo has performed at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Royal Danish {…}