Oliver Mears Addresses Anna Netrebko’s Return to the Royal Ballet & Opera

https://operawire.com/oliver-mears-addresses-anna-netrebkos-return-to-the-royal-ballet-opera/

In anticipation of the opening night of the Royal Ballet and Opera’s new production of “Tosca,” Oliver Mears is addressing the casting of Anna Netrebko. In a new interview with the New York Times, Mears said it was the right time to bring the soprano back after six years and noted that it is her artistry that distinguishes her. He {…}

News

Cast Change: Luca Salsi Joins ‘Rigoletto’ at the Royal Opera House

https://operawire.com/cast-change-luca-salsi-joins-rigoletto-at-the-royal-opera-house/

(Credit: MarcoBorrelli) The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its production of “Rigoletto.’ The company said that Luca Salsi replaces Daniel Luis de Vicente in the title role. Salsi is a renown Verdi interpreter who has performed the role at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Teatro La Fenice, among others. {…}

News, Season Announcement

Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Lisette Oropesa, Emily D’Angelo, Aigul Akhmetshina, Malin Byström, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Angel Blue & Charles Castronovo Lead Royal Opera’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/anna-netrebko-elina-garanca-lisette-oropesa-emily-dangelo-aigul-akhmetshina-malin-bystrom-stanislas-de-barbeyrac-angel-blue-charles-castronovo-lead-royal-operas-2026-27-season/

The Royal Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. New Productions Evgeny Titov directs a new production of Wagner’s “Parsifal,” conducted by Jakub Hrůša. Stanislas de Barbeyrac sings the title role, with Ekaterina Gubanova as Kundry, Christian Gerhaher as Amfortas, Brindley Sherratt as Gurnemanz, and Mark Stone as Klingsor. Performance Dates: Oct. 1–17, 2026 Philipp Stölzl directs a new production of {…}

News, Season Announcement

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Elīna Garanča, Philippe Jaroussky, Marina Rebeka, Ermonela Jaho, Ailyn Pérez, Pretty Yende, Rachel Willis-Sørensen & Freddie De Tommaso Lead Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’ 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/anna-netrebko-jonas-kaufmann-sonya-yoncheva-elina-garanca-philippe-jaroussky-marina-rebeka-ermonela-jaho-ailyn-perez-pretty-yende-rachel-willis-sorensen-freddie-de-tommaso-lead-theatre-des/

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances: Opera – Staged Lorenzo Passerini conducts Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in a production by Oliver Mears. The cast includes Ailyn Pérez, Roberto Alagna, Lionel Lhote, and Nicola Ulivieri. Performance Dates: Nov. 2-15, 2026 Pretty Yende, Amitai Pati, Florian Sempey, and Sulkhan Jaiani lead Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de perles.” Marc Minkowski conducts {…}

News

Cast Change: Francesco Pio Galasso Jumps into ‘La Gioconda’

https://operawire.com/cast-change-francesco-pio-galasso-jumps-into-la-gioconda/

The Greek National Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “La Gioconda.” The company said, “We announce that the role of Enzo Grimaldo will be performed by the tenor Francesco Pio Galasso in all performances of ‘La Gioconda.’ The tenor Arsen Soghomonyan will not participate in the production.” Galasso has performed at the Teatro San Carlo di {…}

News

Royal Opera House’s ‘Tosca’ Headed to Cinemas

https://operawire.com/royal-opera-houses-tosca-headed-to-cnemas/

(Credit: Marco Brenner) The Royal Opera House is set to bring Puccini’s “Tosca” to cinemas on Oct. 1, 2025. The new production by Oliver Mears is conducted by Music Director Jakub Hrůša and stars Anna Netrebko, Freddie De Tommaso, and Gerald Finley. When the production opened on Sept 11, critics raved and said, Netrebko’s “‘Vissi d’arte’ was excellent, dripping with {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Royal Ballet & Opera 2025-26 Review: Tosca

https://operawire.com/royal-ballet-opera-2025-26-review-tosca/

(Credit: Marc Brenner) I’ve previously opined that Puccini’s Tosca is perhaps among the least plausible of tales in the repertory and that the problem with long-running or much revived productions is that, unless you can constantly attract new audiences, they can only stand the test of time for so long. This Oliver Mears’ exciting new production has the potential to {…}

News

Ukrainian Artists Criticize Royal Ballet & Opera for Hiring Anna Netrebko; Soprano’s Manager Responds

https://operawire.com/ukrainian-artists-criticize-royal-ballet-sopranos-manager-responds/

(Credit Vladimir Shirokov) As Anna Netrebko prepares her return to the Royal Ballet and Opera, MPs and Ukrainian artists have signed a letter against the soprano’s appearances. In a letter sent to the Guardian, the artists and MP claim that Netrebko is “a symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime responsible for war crimes.” They also question if the “Royal {…}

News

Royal Ballet & Opera Director Speaks Out About Palestinian Protest in Internal Email

https://operawire.com/royal-ballet-opera-director-speaks-out-about-palestinian-protest-in-internal-email/

The Royal Ballet & Opera House Artistic Director, Oliver Mears, is speaking out about the Palestinian protest on July 19 after he attempted to grab a Palestinian flag being unfurled by an actor during the curtain call. In a recent internal email to the company obtained by the Times and Guardian, Mears described the entire incident as “a messy and {…}

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Oliver Mears Addresses Anna Netrebko’s Return to the Royal Ballet & Opera

Cast Change: Luca Salsi Joins ‘Rigoletto’ at the Royal Opera House

Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Lisette Oropesa, Emily D’Angelo, Aigul Akhmetshina, Malin Byström, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Angel Blue & Charles Castronovo Lead Royal Opera’s 2026-27 Season

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Elīna Garanča, Philippe Jaroussky, Marina Rebeka, Ermonela Jaho, Ailyn Pérez, Pretty Yende, Rachel Willis-Sørensen & Freddie De Tommaso Lead Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’ 2026-27 Season

Cast Change: Francesco Pio Galasso Jumps into ‘La Gioconda’

Royal Opera House’s ‘Tosca’ Headed to Cinemas

Royal Ballet & Opera 2025-26 Review: Tosca

Ukrainian Artists Criticize Royal Ballet & Opera for Hiring Anna Netrebko; Soprano’s Manager Responds

Royal Ballet & Opera Director Speaks Out About Palestinian Protest in Internal Email