Franco Fagioli, Maria Grazia Schiavo, Valentina Naforniţa & Jean-François Borras Lead Opéra de Lausanne’s 2021-22 Season

Opéra de Lausanne has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look. Mozart‘s “Le Nozze di Figaro” opens the season. The opera stars Phillip Addis as Count Almaviva, Valentina Naforniţa as Countess Almaviva, Arianna Vendittelli as Susanna, and Robert Gleadow in the title role. The cast also includes Lucia Cirillo, Ruben Amoretti, Léa Desandre, Pablo Garcia Lopez, François Piolino, Sophie {…}

Apr 17, 2021

Pocket Opera Announces ‘Handel with Care’ Mini-Concert

San Francisco’s Pocket Opera has announced the second of its three virtual mini-concerts comprising the company’s aptly named PocketWatches series. “Handel with Care” features soprano Marcelle Dronkers and pianist Jefferson Packer performing arias from Handel’s “Agrippina,” “Alcina,” and “Rinaldo.” The concert will stream on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 3:00 P.M. PDT, on Pocket Opera’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The {…}

Feb 10, 2021

Elena Sancho Pereg, Xavier Sabata & Manel Esteve Headline ‘Carmina Burana’ at Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España

(Credit: Studioline Photography / Xavier Sabata official website / Ascolta Artists official website) The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced that it will perform a version of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” for two pianos and the percussion on Feb. 12-14, 2021. The showcase will be presented by the Coro Nacional, and the percussion section of the Orquesta Nacional {…}

Jan 10, 2021

Elena Sancho Pereg Joins ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ at Gran Teatre Del Liceu

(Credit: Studioline Photography) The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced that soprano Elena Sancho Pereg will perform the role of Stella in the upcoming production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on Jan. 18, 19, 25, 28 & 31, 2021. Soprano Adriana González must spend 10 days in preventive isolation, in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations. González will perform the role {…}

Sep 28, 2020

Katarina Bradić, Vlada Borovko & Egils Silins Lead Staatstheater Kassel 2020-21 Season

Credits: (Dragana Branković / Intermusica Official website / Egils Silins official website) The Staatstheater Kassel has announced the complete casts for its 2020-21 season. Here is the full rundown. Premieres “L’Ultimo Sogno,” one act opera by Giuseppe Verdi and Carlo Ciceri will feature Vlada Borovko in the role of Violetta Valéry, Giordano Lucà as Alfredo Germont, while Cozmin Sime and {…}

Feb 19, 2020

Anna Denisova, Patrick Terry & Brindley Sherratt Lead Opera North 2020-21 Season

(Image Source: Opera North Facebook Page) Opera North has just announced its 2020-21 Season, featuring seven operas. Performance venues include the Leeds Grand Theatre, Theatre Royal Newcastle, The Lowry, and the Theatre Royal Nottingham for the first six operas. “Parsifal” will be performed at the Leeds Town Hall, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, Sage Gateshead, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, {…}

Dec 13, 2019

Pittsburgh Opera To Present ‘Alcina’

The Pittsburgh Opera is set to present Handel’s “Alcina” The company will team up with Chatham Baroque which was founded in 1990 and has continued to excite local, national, and international audiences with dazzling technique and lively interpretations of 17th- and 18th-century music played on authentic period instruments. The opera will showcase a cast that includes Caitlin Gotimer in the {…}

Feb 27, 2018

4 Rare Operas That Mirella Freni Performed

Mirella Freni is one of the great sopranos of the 20th century. Born on Feb. 27, 1935, she conquered opera hearts with her refined soprano and luscious phrasing. There simply aren’t many with as glorious a sound as she produced in her best years. Freni is noted for being a cautious singer, straddling repertoire that often seemed a tad heavy {…}

Feb 13, 2018

5 ‘Soprano’ Roles That Joyce DiDonato Has Made Her Own

Joyce DiDonato is a fierce artist and one of the finest of the 21st century. She didn’t land at the number one spot of our top singers of 2017 list for no reason. DiDonato, born on Feb. 13, has been the champion of all people and in the opera world she has shown an ability to slip from one piece {…}

Aug 7, 2017

Santa Fe Opera 2017 Review – Alcina: Lead Singers & Director David Alden Lead Satisfying Performance

You can tell who the real Handel lovers are by those who remain for the entirety of a three hour and 40-minute performance. However, at Santa Fe Opera’s production of “Alcina” on August 2, the house remained mostly full all the way to the curtain call. When it comes to Baroque performed in the 21st century, it helps to rely on {…}

Jul 18, 2017

4 Of Vesselina Kasarova’s Iconic Roles

Vesselina Kasarova has had a career filled with many successes all around the world. Her repertoire has been extensive and she has collaborated with many of the great conductors and artists of her generation. To commemorate her birthday on July 18, let’s take a look at some of the recordings and roles that have defined her career and have made her {…}