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Business, News

Icelandic National Opera Appoints General Director

https://operawire.com/icelandic-national-opera-appoints-general-director/

The Icelandic National Opera has appointed Finnur Bjarnason as its General Director for a five-year term. Bjarnason is set to take up his new position on Thursday. Regarding the new institution the new director said an Icelandic opera will strengthen the opera sector in general and increase opportunities for professional singers in Iceland. The new company will offer 12 full-time {…}

News

Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s ‘UR_’ Set for UK Premiere at Royal Opera House

https://operawire.com/anna-thorvaldsdottirs-ur_-set-for-uk-premiere-at-royal-opera-house/

(Photo by Anna Maggý) The Royal Opera House will present the UK premiere of Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s chamber opera “UR_” in a new production running May 27 to June 2, 2027, at the Linbury Theatre. “UR_” was composed by Thorvaldsdottir, who also created the work’s narrative, words, and phonetic textures, with title and additional text by Mette Karlsvik. The {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Washington Performing Arts 2025-26 Review: Danish String Quartet & Danish National Girls’ Choir

https://operawire.com/washington-performing-arts-2025-26-review-danish-string-quartet-danish-national-girls-choir/

  Different music languages, 50 young voices and a string quartet merged into one for their final concert in the United States this season. Two outstanding music ensembles, the Danish String Quartet & Danish National Girls’ Choir, presented an unusual staged performance, sponsored by Washington Performing Arts, in downtown Washington D.C. at Church of the Epiphany for a capacity audience. {…}

Opera Meets Film, Special Features

Opera Meets Film: When Justice Becomes A Curse in Poul Ruder’s ‘Selma Ježková’

https://operawire.com/opera-meets-film-when-justice-becomes-a-curse-in-poul-ruders-selma-jezkova/

Photo Credit: Miklos Szabo/Lincoln Center (2011) Having composed the internationally celebrated work, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘ (1988), an opera which has gained a truly canonical spot in theatrical repertoire thanks to its global embrace, Danish composer Poul Ruders was and remains on the cutting-edge of opera today. With five operas to his name, among them ‘The Thirteenth Child‘ (2016) and ‘Kafka’s {…}

News

Bill Skarsgård Trained With Opera Singer for ‘Nosferatu’

https://operawire.com/bill-skarsgard-trained-with-opera-singer-for-nosferatu/

(Credit: Focus Features) Opera seems to be a dominating force in Hollywood with the likes of Ariana Grande and Angelina Jolie training operatically to prepare for roles in “Wicked” and “Maria.” Now Bill Skarsgård has revealed that to prepare for the film “Nosferatu” he also trained with opera singer Ásgerður Júníusdóttir. According to an interview with USA Today, the actor {…}

News

Óður to Set World Record With Triple Opera Performance on Culture Night

https://operawire.com/odur-to-set-world-record-with-triple-opera-performance-on-culture-night/

Reykjavik’s Óður ensemble will break a world record during this year’s Culture Night by presenting three full-length operas in succession. Soprano Sólveig Sigurðardóttir, tenor Þórhallur Auður Helgason, baritone Áslákur Ingvarsson, and bass Ragnar Pétur Jóhannsson will present back-to-back performances of Adam’s “Le postillon de Lonjumeau,” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” and “L’elisir d’amore.” They are joined at the piano by Sigurður {…}

News

Iréne Theorin & Christopher Ventris Lead ‘Die Walküre’ at Icelandic Opera

https://operawire.com/irene-theorin-christopher-ventris-lead-die-walkure-at-icelandic-opera/

(Credits: Chris Gloag / Tanja Niemann) The Icelandic Opera has announced that it will stage Wagner’s iconic work “Die Walküre.” The opera will star Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde, Ólafur Kjartan Sigurõarson in the role of Wotan, Christopher Ventris as Siegmund, Claire Rutter as Sieglinde, Christa Mayer as Fricka, and Kristinn Sigmundsson in the role of Hunding. Eva Ollikainen conducts the {…}

News

Canadian Opera Company Announces New Podcasts

https://operawire.com/canadian-opera-company-announces-new-podcasts/

The Canadian Opera Company’s podcast, “Key Change” will continue with new episodes in April. Co-hosted by classical singer and culture critic Robyn Grant-Moran alongside Canadian stage director and dramaturg Julie McIsaac, the spring episodes will examine opera’s relationship with its varied creators, critics, performers, and other collaborating artists. The podcast will include American opera and theatre director Yuval Sharon, Canadian {…}