A Legacy in Harmony: The 2025 Birgit Nilsson Prize Honors Aix-en-Provence & Pierre Audi

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The sudden death of Pierre Audi in May this year lent a moving note to the presentation of the Birgit Nilsson Prize in Stockholm on October 21. The prize, which has been awarded every three years since 2009, now went to the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, where Audi had been artistic director since 2018 – a deeply fitting tribute to a man {…}

News

Obituary: Legendary Director Pierre Audi Dies at 67

https://operawire.com/obituary-legendary-director-pierre-audi-dies-at-67/

Famed director Pierre Audi has died at the age of 67. Born in Beirut, Audi went on to study at Oxford and founded the Almeida Theatre in London in 1979, as well as its International Festival of Contemporary Music, which he directed until 1989. In 1988, he was appointed the Artistic Director of Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam where he {…}

News

Philharmonie de Paris Honors Pierre Boulez With its ‘2025 Boulez Year’ Celebration

https://operawire.com/philharmonie-de-paris-honors-pierre-boulez-with-its-2025-boulez-year-celebration/

(Photo credit: Martin Schalk) The Philharmonie de Paris in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture presents “2025 Boulez Year.” This selection of events will celebrate the centenary of the birth of composer and conductor Pierre Boulez. Soprano Sarah Aristidou performs in Boulez’s “Pli selon pli, portrait de Mallarmé” with Les Siècles led by conductor Franck Ollu. Performance Dates: January {…}

News

Obituary: Oper Köln Baritone Claudio Nicolai Dies at 91

https://operawire.com/obituary-oper-koln-baritone-claudio-nicolai-dies-at-91/

Recognized baritone Claudio Nicolai has died at the age of 91. The baritone died on May 11 in his home in the Canary Islands in La Palma. Born March 7, 1929 in Kiel, Germany, Claudio was baptized Claus Hennecke. His father was in the Navy and became an admiral staff officer during World War II. The baritone started his career {…}

News

Obituary: Baritone Claudio Desderi Passes Away

https://operawire.com/obituary-baritone-claudio-desderi-passes-away/

Italian baritone Claudio Desderi has passed away. The baritone, known for his buffo roles, was the son of Italian composer Ettore Desderi and came to fame after his 1969 debut at the Edinburgh Festival in Rossini’s “Il Signor Bruschino.” From there he became a fixture at Salzburg, Glyndebourne, and Pesaro in Mozart and Rossini roles. However, he would have his biggest breaks {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Deutsche Oper Am Rhein 2017-18 Review – La Cenerentola: Winning Ensemble Cast in Classic Ponnelle Production Remains Pleasing to Audiences

https://operawire.com/deutsche-oper-am-rhein-2017-18-review-la-cenerentola-winning-ensemble-cast-in-classic-ponnelle-production-remains-pleasing-to-audiences/

The story of “Cinderella” is one told in many iterations and for good reasons. It’s a feel-good story that is certainly uplifting during trying times. The well-traveled Jean-Pierre Ponnelle version of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” made a stop this past Sunday at Deutsche Oper Am Rhein in Dusseldorf and it’s not often you witness as many ovations in the opera house {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist of the Week: Malin Byström

https://operawire.com/arrtist-of-the-week-malin-bystrom/

(Credit: Marco Borggreve) This week the Dutch National opera open a revival production of “Tristan und Isolde” by the late Pierre Audi. Every time that the Wagner work is presented is special as it one of the most challenging in the repertoire and therefore rarely performed. For this revival, the Dutch National Opera has chosen a well-known Wagnerian tenor and {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Prof. Mark Tucker & Prof. Isolde Kittel-Zerer on Reviving Hasse’s ‘Artaserse’ at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg

https://operawire.com/q-a-prof-mark-tucker-prof-isolde-kittel-zerer-on-reviving-hasses-artaserse-at-hochschule-fur-musik-und-theater-hamburg/

Prof. Mark Tucker is a distinguished interpreter of the Baroque repertoire with a prestigious career performing and recording under conductors such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, and René Jacobs. For over 20 years, he has taught at Hochschule für Musik und Theater (HfMT) Hamburg, specializing in Italian vocal repertoire from 1600 to 1800 within the Historical Performance Practice {…}

News

Cast Change: Anja Kampe Replaces Nina Stemme in Bayerische Staatsoper’s ‘Parsifal’

https://operawire.com/cast-change-anja-kampe-replaces-nina-stemme-in-bayerische-staatsopers-parsifal/

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Parsifal.” The company said that Nina Stemme has withdrawn from the production and will be replaced by Anja Kampe. Kampe is a well-known Wagnerian soprano who has performed at the Bayreuth Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne LA Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and Bayerische Staatsoper. She is set to join a {…}

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A Legacy in Harmony: The 2025 Birgit Nilsson Prize Honors Aix-en-Provence & Pierre Audi

Obituary: Legendary Director Pierre Audi Dies at 67

Philharmonie de Paris Honors Pierre Boulez With its ‘2025 Boulez Year’ Celebration

Obituary: Oper Köln Baritone Claudio Nicolai Dies at 91

Obituary: Baritone Claudio Desderi Passes Away

Deutsche Oper Am Rhein 2017-18 Review – La Cenerentola: Winning Ensemble Cast in Classic Ponnelle Production Remains Pleasing to Audiences

Artist of the Week: Malin Byström

Q & A: Prof. Mark Tucker & Prof. Isolde Kittel-Zerer on Reviving Hasse’s ‘Artaserse’ at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg

Cast Change: Anja Kampe Replaces Nina Stemme in Bayerische Staatsoper’s ‘Parsifal’