(Credit: Gregor Hohenberg) Opera Krakowska has announced that Aleksandra Kurzak will perform Verdi’s “Aida” during the 2025-26 season. The company said, “We are happy to announce that the wonderful soprano Aleksandra Kurzak has joined the cast of the November performances of the opera ‘Aida!’” Kurzak will perform the work three times on Nov. 15, 18 and 21, 2025. The Polish {…}
The Royal Ballet and Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Oliver Mears. Anna Netrebko and Aleksandra Kurzak share the title role. Freddie De Tommaso and Gerald Finley also star. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 7, 2025 Speranza Scappucci conducts Verdi’s “I vespri siciliani” in a revival of Stefan Herheim’s production. Marina {…}
Semperoper Dresden has unveiled its 2025-26 season. New Productions It opens with Verdi’s “Falstaff,” conducted by Daniele Gatti and directed by Damiano Michieletto with a cast starring Nicola Alaimo, Lodovico Ravizza, Yijie Shi, Eleonora Buratto, Rosalia Cid, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Nicole Chirka, among others. Performance Dates: Oct. 5 – Oct. 24, 2025 Next up is Hans Abrahamsen’s “The Snow Queen.” {…}
The Festival Puccini has announced its 2025 season featuring five of the composer’s most famous works. “Tosca” will open the festival with a star-studded cast. Aleksandra Kurzak, Carmen Giannattasio, Eleonora Buratto, and Valentina Boi will alternate the title role alongside Roberto Alagna, Michael Fabiano, Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi, Mikolaj Zalasinski, and Ivan Inverardi. Giorgio Croci conducts Alfonso Signorini’s production. Performance {…}
(Credit: Grand Théâtre de Genève) This week the Grand Théâtre de Genève is set to open a new production of Giordano’s “Fedora,” a rarely performed work that has become a showcase for a star soprano in recent years. This week Aleksandra Kurzak will sing her first Fedora, adding yet another demanding role to her growing diverse repertoire. Over the past {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced its 2025 season. Verdi’s “Nabucco” will get a new production. Stefano Poda will direct the new production. Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Youngjun Park, Luca Salsi, and Igor Golovatenko lead the cast that includes Anna Pirozzi, Maria José Siri, Anna Netrebko, and Olga Maslova as Abigaille, Francesco Meli and Galeano Salas as Ismaele. The cast is rounded out by Roberto {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to hear a world premiere recording of a new opera. There are also three solo albums including one historic recording and one from a great diva of our time. Here is a look! Jacqueline Pentatone releases the new {…}
(Photo credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) This season’s premiere of Met Opera’s “Tosca” features Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, in the titular role, marking her 100th Met performance. Her Met debut was in 2004 as Olympia in Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” and her performances leading up to this season have all been unforgettable, especially Kurzak as Tosca. Her voice alongside tenor {…}
On Sept. 25, 2024, Aleksandra Kurzak celebrated her 100th performance at the Metropolitan Opera. The Met said, “The opening performance of this season’s run of ‘Tosca’ marked Kurzak’s 100th Met performance. This season, the company also celebrates the 20th anniversary of her debut on December 10, 2004, as Olympia in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” As noted the soprano made her {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond/Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Puccini’s “Tosca” for 13 performances. The production, which runs between Sept. 25 and Jan. 23, will feature three casts. The opening cast in September–October, will star soprano Aleksandra Kurzak in the title role alongside tenor SeokJong Baek and baritone George Gagnidze. Xian Zhang and Marco Armiliato conduct. OperaWire raved {…}
The International Opera Awards has revealed its 2024 awards. The awards ceremony is set to place at the Bayerische Staatsoper on Oct. 2, 2024.BBC Radio 3’s Petroc Trelawny will again host the awards ceremony. There will also be performances featuring opera stars and singers from the Bayerische Staatsoper Young Artists programme. Here is a rundown of all the categories: CONDUCTOR – Thomas {…}