(Photo Credit: andre uspensky) Russian Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina is being hailed as one of the most exciting opera singers in a generation. Called “The New Netrebko” by renowned critic David Mellor, she sings with a rare, coloratura mezzo voice. A luminary of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, she debuted at just 21-years-old at the Royal Opera House in the {…}
The origin of this opera, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s famous novel, “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” is based on a true story. The first half is based on Goethe himself, and the second half is based on his friend’s life. It was among the most popular books of the latter half of the 18th Century, almost 100 years before Massenet {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Gwyn Hughes Jones, Elizabeth Llewellyn, and Simon Bailey star in Britten’s “Peter Grimes” with Martyn Brabbins conducting David Alden’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 21–Oct. 11, 2023 Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe” returns to the company with Chris Hopkins conducting the production by Cal McCrystal. Samantha Price, Ellie Laugharne, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Marcus Farnsworth, John Savournin, {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to perform “Maria Stuarda,” the second installment of Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy. The company will present a new production by Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen, which is a co-production with Teatro San Carlo (Naples) and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (Valencia). Enrique Mazzola, a specialist in the bel canto repertoire, will conduct the Donizetti masterpiece. The {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2023 season featuring operas, concerts, recitals, and Mozart programs. Opera Raphaël Pichon will conduct Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in a new production by Martin Kušej. Andrè Schuen, Adriana González, Sabine Devieilhe, Krzysztof Bączyk, and Lea Desandre star. Performance Dates: July 27-August 28, 2023 Verdi’s “Macbeth” will be conducted by Franz Welser-Möst and directed {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Vedi’s “Rigoletto” for 14 performances. The opera, which is set to run between Nov. 10 and Dec. 29, will showcase Benjamin Bernheim in his highly anticipated company debut as Duke. He will share the run with Stephen Costello. Baritone Quinn Kelsey and soprano Rosa Feola will reprise their roles of Rigoletto and Gilda {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) San Francisco Opera’s production of “Eugene Onegin” took audiences back in time to the Russia of Alexander Pushkin’s classic poem. Robert Carsen’s scenic rendering gave us a cross-section of the world as it was, with peasants and privileged, the drama of duels, balls, and bedrooms. Spread before the audience, in blush pink and dark blue, peachy yellow {…}
(Credit: Tristram Kenton/Royal Opera House) Double-crossing, licentiousness, and the sad demise of a once popular showman: that was all going on down the road in Westminster while the Royal Opera House revived Damiano Michieletto’s double bill of “Cavalleria rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” Sightings of former prime minister Theresa May and former Johnson ally Michael Gove – himself ignominiously sacked by Johson {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season with productions, four world premieres, two European premieres, six new productions, and four family operas. The season opens with a revival of Bizet’s “Carmen” with Jordan de Souza conducting a cast that includes J’Nai Bridges, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Lukasz Golinski, and Adriana González. Performance Dates: Sept. 3 – 22, 2022 Engelbert {…}
(Credit: Andrey Uspensky) Opéra National de Paris has announced that mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina will perform the role of Rosina in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” for the performances between May 30 – June 10, 2022. Akhmetshina joins a cast that includes René Barbera in the role of Count Almaviva, Renato Girolami as Bartolo, Alex Esposito as Don Basilio, Katherine Broderick {…}
(Credit: Klaus Frahm) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its upcoming December 2021 performances. Mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel will give a concert singing lieder by Gustav Mahler and Kurt Weill. Performance date: Dec. 2, 2021 Soprano Anja Harteros gives a concert featuring Wagner’s “Wesendonck-Lieder” and “Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde.” The orchestra will also present Richard Strauss’ “Tod und Verklärung” op. {…}
