https://operawire.com/viva-verdi-song-makes-oscar-shortlist/
The song “Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from the documentary “Viva Verdi!” has made the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Song. The song by Nicholas Pike is performed by operatic soprano Ana María Martinez and will compete against 15 songs for the 98th Academy Awards. Pike’s song was among 65 songs that were eligible in the category. Now members of the {…}
https://operawire.com/donatella-flick-lso-conducting-competition-announces-20-contestants/
(Credit: © Mark Allan) The Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition has announced the 20 young conductors selected for the 18th edition. The event will take place Dec. 2–4, 2o25 at LSO St Luke’s in London. Now in its 35th year, the biennial competition awards a £15,000 prize from Donatella Flick and offers the winner the opportunity to serve as Assistant {…}
https://operawire.com/aurora-orchestra-to-present-memory-with-lotte-betts-dean-and-brett-dean/
The Aurora Orchestra will present “Memory with Lotte Betts-Dean and Brett Dean” on Jan. 17, 2026 at Kings Palace. The showcase will feature the father and daughter pairing of composer-conductor Brett Dean and mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean as they present a program that features Aaron Copland’s “Simple Gifts,” John Adams’ “Shaker Loops,” Molly Drake’s “I Remember,” Radiohead’s “Harry Patch (In Memory {…}
https://operawire.com/azrieli-music-arts-and-culture-centre-announces-4-winners-of-2026-music-prizes/
The Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC) has announced the four laureates of the 2026 Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP). Georgian-Israeli composer Hana Ajiashvili earned the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music for her 2022 work “Riddle,” a setting of Yehuda Halevi’s poetry exploring persecution and resilience. Meanwhile, American composer and thereminist Dalit Hadass Warshaw won the Azrieli Commission for Jewish {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-stefka-evstatieva-passes-away-at-78/
Soprano Stefka Evstatieva has passed away. She was 78 years old. Evstatieva was born on May 7, 1947 in Bulgaria. She studied voice at the State Academy of Music in Sofia. Her career began in 1971 at the Ruse Opera, where she made her debut as Amelia in “Un ballo in maschera.” She joined the Sofia National Opera in 1978 {…}
https://operawire.com/roh-music-director-jakub-hrusa-receives-czech-medal-of-merit-in-the-field-of-arts/
(Photo credit: Lenka Hatasova) Conductor Jakub Hrůša has received the Medal of Merit in the Field of Arts from Czech President Petr Pavel. The state honor was presented on October 28, 2025, in the historic Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle during the national celebration marking the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak state. “I deeply value the highest honor of the {…}
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 {…}
https://operawire.com/finn-sagal-wins-gerda-lissner-foundations-2025-art-song-competition/
The Gerda Lissner Foundation has announced the winners of its 2025 Art Song Competition. First prize, and $10,000, went to baritone Finn Sagal, with soprano Magdalena Kuźma getting Second prize and the corresponding $7,000. Finally, soprano Jennifer Robinson won Third prize and $4,500. Sagal, Kuźma, and Robinson will be featured in the Winners Concert on April 29, 2026, at Zankel {…}
https://operawire.com/croatian-national-theatre-renews-artistic-directors-contract/
The Croatian National Theatre has appointed Dr. Iva Hraste-Sočo for a second term as Artistic Director. The Government of the Republic of Croatia announced the news, stating that Hraste-Sočo would take the job from Sept. 2, 2026, to Sept. 2, 2030. In her first term, Hraste-Sočo achieved a series of strategic and artistic advances that firmly positioned the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb {…}