British Youth Opera Announces New Chair

https://operawire.com/british-youth-opera-announces-new-chair/

Jan Younghusband, former head of music television at the BBC, has been appointed chair of ⁦the British Youth Opera. In her new position, Younghusband will bring her experience as head of music and events television at the BBC for 14 years and head of arts at Channel 4 for a decade before that. She started her career at Glyndebourne and worked {…}

News

Obituary: Margaret Neville Passes Away at 86

https://operawire.com/obituary-margaret-neville-passes-away-at-86/

Soprano Margaret Neville passed away on May 30. Margaret Mould, née Smith, was born in St Marys, Southampton. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1962, where she was the recipient of the Anne Lloyd scholarship for multiple years running. Once starting her performance career, she took the stage name Margaret Neville (her husband John’s middle name). She {…}

News

Staatsoper Stuttgart Artistic Director Honors Beate Ritter

https://operawire.com/staatsoper-stuttgart-artistic-director-honors-beate-ritter/

Following the passing of 41-year-old soprano Beate Ritter, Staatsoper Stuttgart Artistic Director Viktor Schoner has released a statement about the soprano and her ensemble work with the company from 2018 to 2024. He said, “The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ was her signature role. She portrayed it in over 150 performances in a wide variety of productions {…}

Interviews, News

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Samantha Hankey on Her Vocal Technique in the Role of Donna Elvira & Her Own Evolution as an Opera Singer

https://operawire.com/q-a-mezzo-soprano-samantha-hankey-on-her-vocal-technique-in-the-role-of-donna-elvira-her-own-evolution-as-an-opera-singer/

(Photo credit: Faymous) From the title role in “Carmen,” one of the most coveted mezzo roles, to Dorabella in “Cosi fan tutte,” a traditional soprano role, mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey sings it all. In her interview with OperaWire, Hankey discussed her nonconformist approach to repertoire and the technique behind her success. Hankey will be singing the role of Donna Elvira in {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist of the Week: Katarina Bradić

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-katarina-bradic-2/

(Credit: Stephan Rabold) This week, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin is set to present Bernard Foccroulle’s “Cassandra” for the first time. The work combines the figures of the ancient prophetess Cassandra and the popular researcher Sandra. The opera premiered in 2023 to rave reviews and now brings back some of the cast that created the work, including Katarina {…}

News

David Pickard & Gabriella Di Laccio Among King’s Birthday Honors

https://operawire.com/david-pickard-gabriella-di-laccio-among-kings-birthday-honors/

On Friday, June 13, 2025, for King Charles’ birthday, numerous operatic figures were honored and knighted. Among them was Alex Beard, CEO of the Royal Opera House, who was knighted. Meanwhile, David Pickard, former director of BBC Proms and General Director of Glyndebourne, was awarded an OBE, while soprano Gabriella Di Laccio and mezzo Ann Atkinson were awarded Member of {…}

News

Bryan Wagorn Joins Askonas Holt for General Management

https://operawire.com/bryan-wagorn-joins-askonas-holt-for-general-management/

Bryan Wagorn has joined the roster of Askonas Holt for worldwide general management. Wagorn is a Canadian-American pianist who performs regularly in Europe, North America, and Asia with the world’s leading instrumentalists and singers, including Nadine Sierra, Angel Blue, Joyce DiDonato, Midori, Pinchas Zukerman, Lise Davidsen, and Anthony Roth Costanzo. He has appeared at Tanglewood, Ravinia, Salzburg, Glyndebourne, Marlboro, the {…}

News, Season Announcement

Joyce El-Khoury, Davone Tines, Matthias Winckhler, & Núria Rial Star in L’Auditori’s 2025-26 Season

https://operawire.com/joyce-el-khoury-davone-tines-matthias-winckhler-nuria-rial-star-in-lauditoris-2025-26-season/

(Photo credit: Gisela Schenker) L’Auditori presents its 2025-26 season, “Renaixements.” For the purpose of this article only vocal works are included. Beethoven’s “Symphony” No. 9 stars Joyce El-Khoury, Silvia Tro Santafé, Elgan Llyr Thomas, and Davone Tines. They are joined by the Orfeó Català and the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) under the direction of Ludovic Morlot. {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Nina Stemme on Her Farewell to Isolde, her Philadelphia Orchestra Debut & Singing Wagner

https://operawire.com/q-a-nina-stemme-on-her-farewell-to-isolde-her-philadelphia-orchestra-debut-singing-wagner/

For years, Nina Stemme has been regarded as one of the great interpreters of the Wagner repertoire. Her Isolde has been widely admired by audiences around the world at some of the greatest theaters such as the Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne, and Berlin. In May 2004, she bid farewell to the role in a stage production, and now June 1, she {…}

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British Youth Opera Announces New Chair

Obituary: Margaret Neville Passes Away at 86

Staatsoper Stuttgart Artistic Director Honors Beate Ritter

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Samantha Hankey on Her Vocal Technique in the Role of Donna Elvira & Her Own Evolution as an Opera Singer

Artist of the Week: Katarina Bradić

David Pickard & Gabriella Di Laccio Among King’s Birthday Honors

Bryan Wagorn Joins Askonas Holt for General Management

Joyce El-Khoury, Davone Tines, Matthias Winckhler, & Núria Rial Star in L’Auditori’s 2025-26 Season

Q & A: Nina Stemme on Her Farewell to Isolde, her Philadelphia Orchestra Debut & Singing Wagner