877 search results for…

Special Features

Inspired by Mortier: The Ongoing & Long-Lasting Impact of the Pietrasanta in Concerto Festival

https://operawire.com/inspired-by-mortier-the-ongoing-long-lasting-impact-of-the-pietrasanta-in-concerto-festival/

(Photo: Bernard Rosenberg) The Pietrasanta in Concerto Festival combines a unique and distinctive, artist-centered, and community-driven approach to a classical music festival, in contrast with more traditional models. This philosophy extends to nurturing future talent through live performances and masterclasses in local venues to prioritize deep understanding and cultural immersion over superficial social media engagement and pre-planned repertoire that might {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Smetana Festival Litomyšl 2026 Review: The Devil’s Wall

https://operawire.com/smetana-festival-litomysl-2026-review-the-devils-wall/

(Photo: František Renzaj) The Devil’s Wall is a large granite outcrop that overlooks the Vltava River in southern Bohemia. Below its jagged rock faces, a boulder field flows down the steep-sided valley to the river. It is a magical and mysterious place which today is part of a national park. Unsurprisingly, it is also a place of myth and legend. {…}

News

Wexford Festival Opera Announces Partnership with British Airways

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-announces-partnership-with-british-airways/

(Credit: © CLIVE BARDA ArenaPAL) The Wexford Festival Opera has announced a new partnership with the airline, British Airways. Under this new partnership, British Airways will be the Festival’s official airline and production sponsor for Mascagni’s “Iris,” the highly anticipated production that will open the 2026 Festival on Oct. 15 in Wexford’s National Opera House. Beyond the stage, British Airways {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Soprano Amy Ní Fhearraigh On Her Rising Profile & Her Role As Cora In The World Premiere Of The Curing Line At The Kilkenny Arts Festival

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-amy-ni-fhearraigh-on-her-rising-profile-her-role-as-cora-in-the-world-premiere-of-the-curing-line-at-the-kilkenny-arts-festival/

(Photo: Roberto Santos-Luy) Having just watched the splendid Irish soprano Amy Ní Fhearraigh, one of Ireland’s rising stars, in her role debut as Donna Anna in Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s production of “Don Giovanni” as well as being scheduled to review her next role as Cora in the world premiere of Michael Gallen’s award-winning new opera “The Curing Line” at {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Riccardo Frizza on ‘I Puritani,’ his Royal Opera House Debut, Bellini & ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/q-a-riccardo-frizza-on-i-puritani-his-royal-opera-house-debut-bellini-aida/

Riccardo Frizza, the Musical Director and Artistic Director of the Bergamo Donizetti Opera Festival and Honorary Conductor of the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir, is widely regarded as one of today’s leading conductors, regularly collaborating with the world’s most prestigious opera houses. He has conducted at many of the major theaters in the world Teatro Comunale, Bologna, ABAO Bilbao {…}

Business, News

Opera Carolina Announces New General Director

https://operawire.com/opera-carolina-announces-new-general-director/

Maestro Stefano Vignati, currently Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Carolina, will become the company’s General Director. Vignati recently conducted the Puccini Festival Torre del Lago production of “Turandot” during a tour of China, opening centennial celebrations in Xiamen, Chongqing, and Wuhan in the presence of Christopher L. Green, United States Consul General in Wuhan. This summer, he will {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Stage Director Fabio Ceresa on Directing ‘Il pomo d’oro’ at This Summer’s Innsbruck Festival

https://operawire.com/q-a-stage-director-fabio-ceresa-on-directing-il-pomo-doro-at-this-summers-innsbruck-festival/

(Photo: Fabio Ceresa) One of the highlights of this summer’s Innsbruck Early Music Festival will undoubtedly be a fully staged production of Antonio Cesti’s opera from 1668, “Il pomo d’oro,” to a libretto by Francesco Sbarra. Written for the Austrian Empress, Margaret Theresa’s 17th birthday in a specially constructed outdoor theater in Vienna, it has been described as the empire’s {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Styriarte Festival 2026 Review: Die Schöpfung

https://operawire.com/styriarte-festival-2026-review-die-schopfung/

(Photo: Nikola Milatovic) When traveling to Graz for the summer Styriarte festival, one might expect the grand choral architecture of Joseph Haydn to echo through a stunning cathedral in the old town center. The reality, however, arrived as a complete surprise. The festival’s flagship production unfolded beneath an imposing double-facade Science Tower, surrounded by trendy contemporary apartments boasting container-style structures. {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Peter Whelan on Händel’s ‘Tolomeo,’ the Caramoor Festival & Early Music

https://operawire.com/q-a-peter-whelan-on-handels-tolomeo-the-caramoor-festival-early-music/

Olivier Award winner, Peter Whelan, is known as one of the most dynamic and versatile exponents of historical performance of his generation. He is currently the Artistic Director of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Curator for Early Music of Norwegian Wind Ensemble. In addition to taking up the role of Artistic Partner with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland in January 2026 and {…}