Lisette Oropesa, Brian Jagde, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Clay Hilley & Benjamin Bernheim Lead Accademia di Santa Cecilia’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/lisette-oropesa-brian-jagde-rachel-willis-sorensen-clay-hilley-benjamin-bernheim-lead-accademia-di-santa-cecilias-2026-27-season/

The Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia have announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances. Concerts Daniel Harding conducts Vincent Huguet’s production of Wagner’s “Siegfried” with Clay Hilley, Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, Michael Volle, Wolfgang Koch, Falk Struckmann, Anna Kissjudit, Elisabet Strid, and Lysa Menu. Performance Dates: Oct. 21-27, 2026 Alexander Soddy conducts Elsa Benoit in a program of music by Dukas, {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Lise Davidsen, Angel Blue, Francesca Dotto, Wallis Giunta & Raffaele Pe Lead new CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/lise-davidson-angel-blue-francesca-dotto-wallis-giunta-raffaele-pe-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week, audiences can hear a recital by one of the most famous sopranos of our time and discover several baroque works by rarely performed composers. They can also get a glimpse at one of the upcoming operas at the Metropolitan Opera. Here are {…}

Opera Meets Film, Special Features

Opera Meets Film: A 1960s Thriller Born Anew in Stephen Schwartz’s ‘Séance on a Wet Afternoon’

https://operawire.com/opera-meets-film-a-1960s-thriller-born-anew-in-stephen-schwartzs-seance-on-a-wet-afternoon/

(Photo: David Bazemore) Now that 2025 has come and gone, and we are facing a new year of possibilities, it’s best to take a quick review of the stories we’ve explored together in the last years before 2026 really begins. While there has been a good deal of historical articles like the cinematic presence of Maria Callas and Wagner, there’s {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Kaufman Music Center 2026 Review: The 2026 George & Nora London Competition Finals

https://operawire.com/kaufman-music-center-2026-review-the-2026-george-nora-london-competition-finals/

(Photo: Beth Bergman) On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Kaufman Music Center hosted the finals of the George and Nora London Foundation Competition. Ten up-and-coming vocalists from the U.S. and Canada took the stage, hoping to win cash prizes and earn bragging rights in one of the top singing contests. Since 1971, the George and Nora London Foundation Competition has {…}

News, Season Announcement

Lisette Orospesa, Asmik Grigorian Lise Davidsen, Rolando Villazón, Michael Fabiano, Brian Jagde, Ailyn Pérez, Aigul Akhmetshina Star in Metropolitan Opera’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/lisette-orospesa-asmik-grigorian-lise-davidsen-rolando-villazon-michael-fabiano-brian-jagde-ailyn-perez-aigul-akhmetshina-star-in-metropolitan-operas-2026-27-season/

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. The company opens the season with a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth,” starring Lise Davidsen, Quinn Kelsey, Freddie De Tommaso, and Ryan Speedo Green. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a production by Louisa Proske. Performance Dates: Sept. 22-Oct. 20, 2026 The Metropolitan Opera will present the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s “Lincoln in the {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Music Director David Stern on Leading Palm Beach Opera into the Future

https://operawire.com/q-a-music-director-david-stern-on-leading-palm-beach-opera-into-the-future/

(Credit: Tom Watson) In 2024, Palm Beach Opera appointed David Stern to be the organization’s Ari Rifkin Music Director. Stern, the son of iconic violinist Isaac Stern, had been with the company since 2015 as its Chief Conductor after leading positions at Israeli Opera and Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland. The conductor has had a major international career, performing with {…}

News

Leon Botstein Was in Contact With Epstein After Accusations Resurfaced; Emails Show Epstein Was Opera Aficionado

https://operawire.com/leon-botstein-in-contact-with-epstein-after-accusations-resurfaced-emails-show-epstein-was-opera-aficionado/

Newly reviewed emails from the Jeffrey Epstein Files are indicating that Leon Botstein was aware of previous allegations against Epstein. According to an email uncovered by the Times Union on Jan. 4, 2015, Botstein offered Epstein words of condolences a day after The Guardian published a story about Epstein’s ties to then-Prince Andrew. The email read, “When I sent you {…}

Special Features

Best of 2025: OperaWire’s Staff Selects Their Favorite Performances of the Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2025-operawires-staff-selects-their-favorite-performances-of-the-year/

The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to look back and reflect at what was and what will remain in our memories. As per usual, OperaWire has compiled the favorite performances of the year from many of our contributors. We won’t keep you waiting, here’s a look at the Staff Picks for the best performances of 2025. {…}