The Polish National Opera is set to present its New Year’s Eve Silver gala entitled “A Night in Paris” on Dec 31, 2021. The gala will showcase the greatest opera hits in masterful renditions by Aleksandra Kurzak, Patrycja Kwiecień, Piotr Buszewski, and Szymon Mechliński accompanied by the Chorus and Orchestra of the Polish National Opera. Music Director Patrick Fournillier will {…}
(Credit: Les Grandes Voix official website) Les Grandes Voix has announced the upcoming concerts in February 2022. Tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak will give a special concert at the Philharmonie de Paris on Feb. 14, 2022. The two singers will perform arias and duets from Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda,” Puccini’s “Tosca,” Verdi’s “Aida” and “Don Carlo,” {…}
(Credit: © Stade de France) The performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Stade de France scheduled for June 18, 2022 has been canceled. The opera was initially scheduled for Sep. 19, 2020, but was postponed due to ongoing COVID-19 worries. The presentation was set to star Roberto Alagna as Don José, Aleksandra Kurzak as Micaëla, and Béatrice Uria-Monzon in the {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Puccini’s masterpiece “Tosca” returns to the Metropolitan Opera for 15 performances. The opera, which is set to open on Dec. 2, 2021, will first star Sondra Radvanovsky reprising her acclaimed turn which OperaWire said put her on, “a different level as Puccini’s Tragic Heroine.” She will be joined by Brian Jagde and George Gagnidze. {…}
Opéra de Paris has announced cast changes for its production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.” The company noted that Sydney Mancasola is currently ill and will not be able to sing the performances on Oct. 16, 21, 24, and 27, 2021. As a result, the role of Adina will be performed by Mané Galoyan on October, 16, Pretty Yende on October {…}
Poland’s Opera Wroclaw has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, numerous debuts, and star-studded casts. Here is a look at the new season. New Productions The season opens in a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca” directed by Michael Gieleta. Lianna Haroutounian, Giorgi Sturua, and Ambrogio Maestri lead the first cast and Ewa Vesin, Tadeusz Szlenkier, and Mikołaj Zalasiński leading {…}
Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège in Belgium has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Here is the full slate. Opera Verdi‘s “La Forza del Destino” will star Marcelo Álvarez as Don Alvaro, María José Siri as Donna Leonora, and Simone Piazzola as Don Carlo di Vargas. The cast also {…}
The Opéra de Monte-Carlo has announced its 2021-22 season featuring concerts, recitals, and operatic productions. Angela Gheorghiu opens the season in a recital with pianist Jeff Cohen. The program will include works by Durante, Paisiello, Bellini, Donizetti, Tosti, Respighi, Schumann, R. Strauss, Rachmaninov, Rameau, Martini, Debussy, Massenet, Brediceanu, Stephanescu, Flotow, and Satie. Performance Date: Oct. 8, 2021 Aleksandra Kurzak leads {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Kasskara/DG / Operabase official website / Staatsoper Berlin official website) The Staatsoper unter den Linden in Berlin has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Beethoven’s “Fidelio” will open the season. The opera stars Roman Trekel, Matthias Goerne, Pavel Černoch, Andreas Schager, Simone Schneider, {…}
PBS has announced that it will be broadcasting Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak’s performance from the Met Stars Live in Concert series on June 4, 2021. The showcase, which took place in August 2020, featured the famed opera couple live from Èze in France performing music by Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini, Gounod, Verdi, and Léhar, among others. In his OperaWire review {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli has announced a semi-staged production of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” which is set to run throughout mid-May. The production will be directed by Marina Bianchi and will star Ailyn Pèrez and Aleksandra Kurzak in the role of Violetta, Leonardo Caimi and Ivan Magrì as Alfredo, and George Gagnidze as Giorgio Germont. Karel Mark {…}