Malin Byström & Michael Weinius Lead Dutch National Opera’s ‘Tristan und Isolde’

https://operawire.com/malin-bystrom-michael-weinius-lead-dutch-national-operas-tristan-und-isolde/

(Credit: © Hugo Thomassen) The Dutch National Opera is set to revive a production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde.” The production by Pierre Audi will be conducted by Tarmo Peltokoski, who leads his first complete run of Wagner’s revolutionary work. The cast will include soprano Malin Byström, who makes her role debut as Isolde and Michael Weinius as Tristan. They {…}

Business, News

Festival Aix-en-Provence Announces New General Director

https://operawire.com/festival-aix-en-provence-announces-new-general-director/

(Ctedit: © Lea Meienberg, 2023) Ted Huffman has been appointed General Director of the Festival Aix-en-Provence, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The news was announced after it was approved by Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, Sophie Joissains, Mayor of the City of Aix-en-Provence, Martine Vassal, President of the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence and the Conseil départemental des Bouches-du-Rhône and Renaud Muselier, President of {…}

News, Streaming

Anna Netrebko, Ludovic Tézier, Matthew Polenzani & Martina Serafin Lead Opéra National de Paris’ 2025-26 Cinema Season

https://operawire.com/anna-netrebko-ludovic-tezier-matthew-polenzani-martina-serafin-lead-opera-national-de-paris-2025-26-cinema-season/

The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2025-26 cinema season. The company will feature five performances in cinemas, including two operatic performances. The first operatic performance will be Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” conducted by Speranza Scapucci in a production by Gilbert Deflo. The cast includes Matthew Polenzani (Riccardo), Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Sara Blanch (Oscar), and Elizabeth {…}

Editorials, Reviews

‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

https://operawire.com/don-giovanni-is-one-of-the-greatest-works-ever-written-why-is-it-so-hard-for-directors-to-get-right/

(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Festival Aix-en-Provence 2025 Review: The Nine Jewelled Deer

https://operawire.com/festival-aix-en-provence-2025-review-the-nine-jewelled-deer/

One of the legacies of Pierre Audi’s tenure as director of the Aix-en-Provence Festival is the festival’s commitment to a continuous challenging of what opera can mean. His provocations extended from calling filmic versions of Stravinsky’s ballets operas, to a rendition of Mahler’s Symphony No.2 directed by Romeo Castellucci, or even, last season, a musical of William Kentridge’s “The Great {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Lisette Oropesa, Sara Blanch, Magdalena Kožená, Juan Francisco Gatell & ANgela Brown Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/lisette-oropesa-sara-blanch-magdalena-kozena-juan-francisco-gatell-angela-brown-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to watch the world premiere recording of a Rossini work as well as listen to two solo recitals. They will also get a chance to rediscover a Wagner Ring Cycle, which has been remastered. Here is a look {…}

News

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Wins Birgit Nilsson Prize

https://operawire.com/festival-daix-en-provence-wins-birgit-nilsson-prize/

President of the Birgit Nilsson Stiftelsen, Susanne Rydén announced that the 2025 Birgit Nilsson Prize of 1 million dollars has been awarded to the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. The prestigious French Opera Festival is currently preparing for its 77th edition this summer and becomes the first festival to receive the Prize which will be presented on Oct. 21 by His Majesty King {…}

News

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Names Advisor for 2025 Edition

https://operawire.com/festival-daix-en-provence-names-advisor-for-2025-edition/

Following the death of director Pierre Audi, Bernard Foccroulle has been selected as an advisor for artistic and managerial inquiries for the festival’s 2025 edition. Per a press release, the decision was agreed to by the Festival’s President, Paul Hermelin, in conjunction with the different regional government organizations. Foccroulle directed the festival from 2007 to 2018. Audi had been appointed {…}

News

FEDORA Announces Nominees for 2025 Awards

https://operawire.com/fedora-announces-nominees-for-2025-awards/

FEDORA has announced the nominees for its 2025 prizes. This year’s Opera Prize nominees include “Hôtel Moctezuma,” which is inspired by works by Vivaldi and Alejo Carpentier. It is characterized as an “existential multilingual opera-thriller on the representation of women, decolonization, and climate change.” As of this writing, the work has reached half of its 10,000 euro goal. It is {…}

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Malin Byström & Michael Weinius Lead Dutch National Opera’s ‘Tristan und Isolde’

Festival Aix-en-Provence Announces New General Director

Anna Netrebko, Ludovic Tézier, Matthew Polenzani & Martina Serafin Lead Opéra National de Paris’ 2025-26 Cinema Season

‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

Festival Aix-en-Provence 2025 Review: The Nine Jewelled Deer

Lisette Oropesa, Sara Blanch, Magdalena Kožená, Juan Francisco Gatell & ANgela Brown Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Wins Birgit Nilsson Prize

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Names Advisor for 2025 Edition

FEDORA Announces Nominees for 2025 Awards