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News

Bampton Classical Young Singers’ Competition 2023 Announces New Member of Judging Panel

https://operawire.com/bampton-classical-young-singers-competition-2023-announces-new-member-of-judging-panel/

Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers’ Competition 2023 has announced that Ingrid Surgenor is joining the judging panel. Surgenor, a senior coach at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and principal opera coach at the Royal Academy of Music, joins tenor Bonaventura Bottone and mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby on the panel. She has been {…}

News

Gran Teatre del Liceu Announces Cast Change for ‘Eugene Onegin’

https://operawire.com/gran-teatre-del-liceu-announces-cast-change-for-eugene-onegin/

The Grand Theatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of “Eugene Onegin.” The company said that Sam Carl will replace Andrea Mastroni in the role of Prince Gremin. The company said that Mastroni was forced to cancel due to personal reasons. Carl has previously appeared with the Glyndebourne Festival, Dutch National Opera, Opéra national de Lorraine, Concertgebouw {…}

News

Yaritza Véliz Wins Major Prize from San Francisco Opera

https://operawire.com/yaritza-veliz-wins-major-prize-from-san-francisco-opera/

San Francisco Opera has announced the winner of its Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars Competition for 2023. The organization revealed that Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz took home the honor for her portrayal of Cartina in “El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego,” the company’s first Spanish-language opera commission. She received the award via popular vote online between July {…}

IndieOpera

Wilton Music Hall to Present ‘FEAST’ Starring Stephanie Wake-Edwards

https://operawire.com/wilton-music-hall-to-present-feast-starring-stephanie-wake-edwards/

Wilton Music Hall is set to present the premiere of “FEAST” this September. The work stars mezzo-soprano Stephanie Wake-Edwards as Jess, who needs a promotion and engages in one more night of partying and feasting behind her partner’s back. Audiences will hear music by Purcell, Britten, Weill, and Wallen, as well as new music by Ben Comeau. Wake-Edwards is a {…}

News

Andrew Watts Named General & Artistic Director of International Vocal Competition ‘s-Hertogenbosch

https://operawire.com/andrew-watts-named-general-artistic-director-of-international-vocal-competition-s-hertogenbosch/

Photo credit: Sarah Hickson British countertenor Andrew Watts has been named the General and Artistic Director of International Vocal Competition ‘s-Hertogenbosch. He succeeds Ivan van Kalmthout, who has led the competition since 2018. His position begins on Sept. 1, one month before the start of the 2023 competition. Watts, who in addition to being an international performer is also a {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Cyrille Dubois & José Carreras Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/cyrille-dubois-jose-carreras-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

This week audiences will get to experience classic recordings as well as some new solo recitals and complete recordings of rarely performed operas. AMASS GRAMMY-nominated conductor Eugene Rogers brings to life Jocelyn Hagen’s setting of the Roman Catholic Mass in AMASS. This work stands apart from the Mass settings of other composers who have practiced this centuries-old genre, including Johann {…}

News

David Portillo Awarded 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence

https://operawire.com/david-portillo-awarded-2024-sphinx-medal-of-excellence/

(Credit: Kristen Hoebermann) David Portillo has been awarded the Sphinx Medal of Excellence for 2024. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization, recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx musicians. The award includes a $50,000 career grant and annually recognizes three artists who early in their career demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina on Discovering Her Own Voice

https://operawire.com/q-a-mezzo-soprano-aigul-akhmetshina-on-discovering-her-own-voice/

(Photo Credit: andre uspensky) Russian Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina is being hailed as one of the most exciting opera singers in a generation. Called “The New Netrebko” by renowned critic David Mellor, she sings with a rare, coloratura mezzo voice. A luminary of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, she debuted at just 21-years-old at the Royal Opera House in the {…}