During the 2026 New Year’s Honours, several classical musicians were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire. The highest honor of Commander was given to conductor Richard Haworth Farnes, who was the Music Director of Opera North from 2004 to 2016, and has led productions at the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival {…}
The Philharmonie Luxembourg has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. The Orchestra and Coro del Teatro alla Scala will be conducted by Riccardo Chailly in music by Verdi and Rossini. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2025 Sir John Eliot Gardiner will conduct the Luxembourg Philharmonic in Mendelssohn’s “Musik zu Ein Sommernachtstraum” and “Die erste Walpurgisnacht.” Sam Cobb, Rebecca Hardwick, {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” will star Teona Todua, Karolina Bengtsson, Kelsey Lauritano, Taehan Kim, Sakhiwe Mkosana, Magnus Dietrich, Andrew Kim, Bianca Tognocchi, Elizabeth Reiter, Liviu Holender, and Sebastian Geyer. Thomas Guggeis conducts the production by Mariame Clément. Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2025-Jan. 17, 2026 Alexander Tsymbalyuk leads Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” with Karolina {…}
(Photo credit: Bort, Williams, & Porter) The 2025 Leeds Lieder Festival has announced its programming. The 20th anniversary season taking place under the artistic direction of Joseph Middleton. This year’s theme is “Song, the Secret of Eternity.” Recitals Mezzo-soprano Patricia Nolz and pianist Joseph Middleton present the first recital, “Lunchtime Opening.” Performance Date: April 5, 2025 Baritone Florian Boesch performs {…}
The Verbier Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Verbier Festival Orchestra and Barbara Hannigan perform works by Berlioz, Haydn, Copland, Rodgers, and Bill Elliot. Performance Date: July 17, 2025 Thomas Hampson and Ksenija Sidorova perform works by Schubert and Weill. Performance Date: July 20, 2025 The VF Academy Atelier Lyrique and {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Elim Chan conducts the First Night at Proms with soloists Sophie Bevan and Isata Kanneh‐Mason. The program includes Handel, Ben Nobuto, Beethoven Bruckner, and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: July 19, 2024 British choral groups The King’s Singers and VOCES8 present a Prom that showcases {…}
Alice Coote has joined the roster of Askonas Holt for general management. Coote will be managed at Askonas Holt by Nicholas Moloney in collaboration with IMG Artists in North America. Coote is one of the great mezzos of her generation who has performed at every major opera house and received an OBE in 2018 for her services in music. This {…}
Wigmore Hall has announced its 2024-25 season from September to December. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Jakub Józef Orliński and il Pomo d’Oro open the season with Beyoind. Performance Date: Sept. 12, 2024 Véronique Gens, Fleur Barron, Laurence Kilsby, Stéphane Degout, Susan Manoff, and Julius Drake perform a Faure song gala. Performance Date: Sept. 13, 2024 Laurence {…}
The 75th Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts has been announced featuring chamber, orchestral and vocal concerts. Here is a look at the vocal events. Gweneth Ann Rand, Simon Lepper, and Rachel Jones perform Messiaen’s “Harawi – Chant d’amour et de mort.” Performance Date: June 8, 2024 Rt Revd Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich preacher, Aldeburgh {…}
Photo: © Marco Borrelli Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” is one of those operas that is larger than life. Arguably, two operas in one night. Everything sounds like the realization of romanticism’s epic promise and showcases the musicians’ talents overflowing in the hall. It is hard to not expect a lot from a performance of Berlioz’s opera with a revolutionary and Romantique {…}
Talent agency Intermusica has announced that mezzo-soprano Alice Coote will join its roster. Nicholas Moloney, Senior Artist Manager for Vocal and Opera will manage Coote. Coote is set to appear with such organizations as the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra at the BBC Proms, Salzburg, Berliner Festspiele, Festival Berlioz, and Opéra Royal (Château de Versailles). Next season she will perform at {…}