https://operawire.com/obituary-dame-felicity-lott-dies-at-79/
On May 15, Dame Felicity Lott has died at the age of 79. The news comes days after the soprano gave an interview with the BBC in which announced she had terminal cancer. Born on May 8, 1947 in Cheltenham to a family of amateur musicians, Lott grew up as a lover of all things French and read French and {…}
https://operawire.com/felicity-lott-makes-announcement-regarding-her-health/
Dame Felicity Lott has revealed that she has terminal cancer. The legendary singer announced the news in a recent interview with the This Cultural Life on BBC Radio 4 noting that she learned of her illness weeks after arranging a charity auction of her gowns to raise money for hospices. She told the This Cultural Life, “It’s quite ironic, really, {…}
https://operawire.com/salle-cortot-unveils-june-2026-slate/
Salle Cortot has announced its June 2026 slate. Here are the vocal performances on offer. First up is the Wigmore Hall French Song Exchange 2026, dedicated to the honor of Dame Felicity Lott who founded the exchange alongside François Le Roux. The showcase will feature such artists as Aneska Diament, Déborah Salazar, Margo Jacquart, Carmen Lázaro Alemany, Clover Kayne, Matthew {…}
https://operawire.com/simon-keenlyside-ellen-pearson-to-headline-closing-night-of-life-victoria/
There will be two major performances to close out LIFE Victoria’s 2025-26 season. At 7 p.m. on May 26, 2026, mezzo-soprano Ellen Pearson and pianist Francesca Lauri, both associated with the Oxford International Song Festival, will make their LIFE Victoria debuts with a recital exploring the theme of youth through works by Satie, Fauré, Hahn, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Lehmann, and {…}
https://operawire.com/aigul-akhmetshina-headlines-the-stage-of-legends-a-gala-evening-at-carnegie-hall/
On June 3, 2025, Carnegie Hall will present “The Stage of Legends: A Gala Evening at Carnegie Hall.” The event kicks off at 6 p.m. local time and features dinner on the famed Stern Auditorium / Perelman stage as well as a musical interlude starring mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina and pianist Jonathan Lakeland. Akhmetshina is set to appear at the Met {…}
https://operawire.com/roderick-williams-fatma-said-louise-alder-florian-boesch-among-headliners-of-leeds-lieder-festivals-20th-season/
(Photo credit: Bort, Williams, & Porter) The 2025 Leeds Lieder Festival has announced its programming. The 20th anniversary season taking place under the artistic direction of Joseph Middleton. This year’s theme is “Song, the Secret of Eternity.” Recitals Mezzo-soprano Patricia Nolz and pianist Joseph Middleton present the first recital, “Lunchtime Opening.” Performance Date: April 5, 2025 Baritone Florian Boesch performs {…}
https://operawire.com/opera-national-de-paris-2024-review-la-fille-du-regiment/
(Photo: Elisa Haberer / Opéra national de Paris) I sensed two ghosts on the stage of Opéra Bastille last night. Don’t worry—they were as nice as ghosts can be. In fact, they were so congenial that they enhanced the operatic experience, turning what would have been a merely jolly evening into a thought-provoking one. The problem is, no matter how {…}
https://operawire.com/julie-fuchs-lawrence-brownlee-lead-paris-operas-la-fille-du-regiment-stream/
(Credit: Elisa Haberer/ONP) On Nov. 6, 2024, Opera de Paris Play is set to present Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment.” The production will be streamed in Laurent Pelly’s legendary production. It sets the comedy during the 1914 war rather than the Napoleonic Wars and modernizes the piece without sacrificing a single ounce of its brio. Julie Fuchs leads the cast in {…}
https://operawire.com/leeds-lieder-festival-announces-2024-lineup/
(Photo credit: Christian Kleiner & Theo Williams) The Leeds Lieder Festival has announced the 2024 event schedule. For its 20th anniversary celebration soprano Nikola Hillebrand, Joseph Middleton and Oliver Casanovas Nuevo perform the “Schubertiade lunchtime opening recital.” Performance Date: April 14, 2024 The “Young Artists Schubertiade” features Richard Stokes and the Leeds Lieder Young Artists. Performance Date: April 14, 2024 {…}