Cassandra Wright, Izabelle Zammit Win Top Prizes From 2026 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

https://operawire.com/cassandra-wright-izabelle-zammit-win-top-prizes-from-2026-joan-sutherland-richard-bonynge-foundation/

Soprano Cassandra Wright has won the 2026 Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award, taking home the competition’s top prize on the eve of Dame Joan Sutherland’s 100th anniversary. Wright, 32, from Cairns, Queensland, received the $40,000 first prize, the $5,300 Best Mozart Aria Prize, and the $1,000 Audience Choice Award, for a combined total of $46,300. She performed {…}

News

Obituary: German Soprano Anny Schlemm Dies at 97

https://operawire.com/obituary-german-soprano-anny-schlemm-dies-at-97/

On August 20, 2026, German soprano Anny Schlemm died at the age of 97. Born on Feb. 22, 1929 in Neu-Isenburg, her parents ran a hairdresser salon there and her father, Friedrich Schlemm, was sent to voice teacher in Frankfurt by the tenor Franz Völker who also lived in Neu-Isenburg. After being trained as a singer he moved to Halle to {…}

News

Andrew Owens Saves ‘La Boheme’ Performance at Festspielhaus Baden Baden

https://operawire.com/andrew-owens-saves-la-boheme-performance-at-festspielhaus-baden-baden/

(Credit: Michael Gregonowits) On August 23, tenor Andrew Owens saved a performance of “La Bohème” at the Festspielhaus Baden Baden. The company revealed that shortly after Act one of the opera began, tenor Benjamin Bernheim was unable to continue singing due to health reasons. Owens, who happened to be in the audience, spontaneously stepped in to sing the role of {…}

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Obituary: Legendary Soprano Ileana Cotrubaș Dies at 87

https://operawire.com/obituary-legendary-soprano-ileana-cotrubas-dies-at-87/

Legendary soprano Ileana Cotrubaș has died at the age of 87. Born in Galați, Romania on June 9, 1939, Cotrubaș grew up in a musical family with her father, Vasile a tenor in an amateur choir. At the age of nine, she began her musical career becoming a member of the children’s radio choir and at the age of 11, {…}

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Obituary: David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists Programme, Dies at 63

https://operawire.com/obituary-david-gowland-artistic-director-of-the-royal-operas-jette-parker-artists-programme-dies-at-63/

The Royal Ballet & Opera has announced the death of David Gowland, who passed away on August 9, 2026 after a long battle with cancer. In a statement, the company said, “The Royal Opera is deeply saddened to hear of the death of David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Jette Parker Artists Programme, at the age of 63. As the {…}

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Obituary: David Hockney Passes Away at 88

https://operawire.com/obituary-david-hockney-passes-away-at-88/

Designer and artist David Hockney passed away on June 11. He was 88. Hockney was born on July 9, 1937 in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He studied art at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. After graduating, he taught at Maidstone College of Art, and went on to teach at several universities in the U.S. He {…}

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Mezzo-Soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas Receives 2026 Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award

https://operawire.com/mezzo-soprano-xenia-puskarz-thomas-receives-2026-dame-heather-begg-memorial-award/

(Credit: Marielle Aube) Mezzo-soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award, administered by Melba Opera Trust on behalf of the trustees of Dame Heather Begg’s estate. The award carries a grant of AUD $25,000 to support the next stage of her artistic development. Brisbane-born, Puskarz Thomas holds degrees from the Queensland {…}

Business, News

Evan Rogister Appointed Music Director of Deutsche Oper am Rhein

https://operawire.com/evan-rogister-appointed-music-director-of-deutsche-oper-am-rhein/

(Credit: Susanne Diesner) The Deutsche Oper am Rhein has appointed German-American conductor Evan Rogister to be its General Music Director, effective from the 2027-28 season. He will assume the position simultaneously with Ina Karr, the new Artistic Director. Rogister has conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Opernhaus Zürich, Semperoper Dresden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Glyndebourne {…}

Season Announcement

Anita Rachvelishvili, Sonya Yoncheva, Ermonela Jaho, Dimitri Platanias & Brian Jagde Lead Greek National Opera’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/anita-rachvelishvili-sonya-yoncheva-ermonela-jaho-dimitri-platanias-brian-jagde-lead-greek-national-operas-2026-27-season/

The Greek National Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. Dimitra Galani, Savina Yannatou, and Yannis Palamidas lead the music theatre tribute “Even If You Go Away…: Tribute to Marianina Kriezi”, conceived and curated by Galani with supervising direction by Katerina Petsatodi. The GNO Children’s Chorus participates. Performance Dates: Oct. 1 – 7, 2026 The GNO travels to Carnegie Hall for {…}

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Cassandra Wright, Izabelle Zammit Win Top Prizes From 2026 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

Obituary: German Soprano Anny Schlemm Dies at 97

Andrew Owens Saves ‘La Boheme’ Performance at Festspielhaus Baden Baden

Obituary: Legendary Soprano Ileana Cotrubaș Dies at 87

Obituary: David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists Programme, Dies at 63

Obituary: David Hockney Passes Away at 88

Mezzo-Soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas Receives 2026 Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award

Evan Rogister Appointed Music Director of Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Anita Rachvelishvili, Sonya Yoncheva, Ermonela Jaho, Dimitri Platanias & Brian Jagde Lead Greek National Opera’s 2026-27 Season