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. {…}

News

Cast Change: Galina Cheplakova Joins Bayerische Staatsoper’s ‘La bohème’

https://operawire.com/cast-change-galina-cheplakova-joins-bayerische-staatsopers-la-boheme/

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that Galina Cheplakova will sing the first two performances of “La bohème.” Cheplakova will sing on Dec. 14 and 17, 2025. The soprano recently made her debut with the company in “La Traviata” this past summer. She also made her Met Opera debut in “The Queen of Spades.” Cheplakova has performed with Opera Australia, Opéra {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Review: Andrea Chénier

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2025-26-review-andrea-chenier/

(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” is a glorious opera. Full of lush melodies, an elegant libretto, tense dramatic set pieces, and a propulsive pace it always baffles me how little attention it has gotten at the Metropolitan Opera in recent years. Since premiering in 1921, it has had 186 performances with the most recent prior to {…}

News

Boris Pinkhasovich Cancels ‘Tosca’ at Mikhailovsky Theatre

https://operawire.com/boris-pinkhasovich-cancels-tosca-at-mikhailovsky-theatre/

The Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg has announced a cast change. The company said, “We regret to announce that Boris Pinkhasovich has withdrawn from the performance of ‘Tosca’ on 14 November due to health reasons. The role of Baron Scarpia will be performed by Alexander Kuznetsov.” However, the company did note that Pinkhsaovich would perform on Nov. 23 in a {…}

Special Features

Editorial: Does The Metropolitan Opera’s General Manager Have a Russia Problem?

https://operawire.com/editorial-does-the-metropolitan-operas-general-manager-have-a-russia-problem/

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) At the start of the War in Ukraine, General Manager Peter Gelb made a proclamation, “We can no longer engage with artists or institutions that support Putin or are supported by him—not until the invasion and killing has been stopped, order has been restored, and restitutions have been made.” The statement was clear as {…}

News

Peter Gelb Continues Attacks on Anna Netrebko in Anticipation of Royal Ballet & Opera Return

https://operawire.com/peter-gelb-continues-attacks-on-anna-netrebko-in-anticipation-for-royal-ballet-opera-return/

In what is becoming strangely predictable, any article about Anna Netrebko is set to feature choice words from Metropolitan Opera general manager Peter Gelb. In a recent Telegraph article, Gelb continued his attacks on the soprano. While the Metropolitan Opera’s general director refused to comment on her return to the Royal Ballet and Opera House when asked by the Telegraph, {…}

News

American Tenor Lawrence Brownlee to Open New Season at State-Funded Zaryadye Hall in Moscow

https://operawire.com/american-tenor-lawrence-brownlee-to-open-russias-zaryadye-halls-new-season/

The list of international artists returning to Russia continues to grow. This time, American tenor Lawrence Brownlee will take the stage at the Zaryadye Hall in Moscow, Russia. The Zaryadye Hall is a State Budgetary Institution of Culture of the City of Moscow, which is run by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Ministry of Culture. Brownlee will be the headliner of {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Constantine Orbelian on the New York City Opera, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Future Albums

https://operawire.com/q-a-constantine-orbelian-on-the-new-york-city-opera-dmitri-hvorostovsky-future-albums/

In 2024, the New York City Opera named Constantine Orbelian the Executive Director of the company while still continuing as the Music Director. The company has gone through a series of challenges since it reopened in 2016 and has not had a linear season. However, it has continued to perform at Bryant Park every summer, bringing classic works to the {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist of the Week: Victoria Karkacheva

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-victoria-karkacheva/

On July 18, the Bayerische Staatsoper will open a new production of Fauré’s rarely performed work “Penelope.” Based on the famed Homer epic poem, The “Odyssey,” the work, will receive a new production by Andrea Berth and will star the rising mezzo-soprano Victoria Karkacheva. The Russian will not only make her role debut in the title role, but she will {…}

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

Cast Change: Galina Cheplakova Joins Bayerische Staatsoper’s ‘La bohème’

Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Review: Andrea Chénier

Boris Pinkhasovich Cancels ‘Tosca’ at Mikhailovsky Theatre

Editorial: Does The Metropolitan Opera’s General Manager Have a Russia Problem?

Peter Gelb Continues Attacks on Anna Netrebko in Anticipation of Royal Ballet & Opera Return

American Tenor Lawrence Brownlee to Open New Season at State-Funded Zaryadye Hall in Moscow

Q & A: Constantine Orbelian on the New York City Opera, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Future Albums

Artist of the Week: Victoria Karkacheva