The Olivier Awards has announced the 2025 nominees. Here is a list of the opera categories. The nominees for Best New Opera Production are “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle” from the English National Opera, “Festen” from the Royal Opera House, “L’Olimpiade” from the Irish National Opera and Royal Opera House, and “The Tales Of Hoffmann” from the Royal Opera House. The nominees {…}
(Photo: Marc Brenner) Mark-Anthony Turnage is among the front rank of living British opera composers. With “Festen”, which opened at The Royal Opera last week, he now has five to his name, with a sixth to follow at Glyndebourne this autumn in the form of “The Railway Children” – a less harrowing subject than this adaptation of Thomas Vinterberg’s 1995 {…}
Aldeburgh Festival has announced its 2025 edition. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is “A Visit to Friends,” a new opera by Collin Matthews and William Boyd. It stars Lotte Betts-Dean, Susanna Hurrell, Marcus Farnsworth, Edward Hawkins, and Gary Mattewman. Jessica Cottis conducts and Rachael Hewer directs. Performance Date: June 13 & 14, 2025 James {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Bas Wiegers conducts Michael Jarrell’s “Kassandra” with actress Dagmar Manzel and the Ensemble Modern. Performance Date: July 23, 2025 Salvatore Sciarrino’s “Macbeth” will be conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni. Cody Quattlebaum, Alice Rossi, Leonardo Cortellazzi, Iris van Wijnen, and Davide Giangregorio. Performance Date: July 25, {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the season. Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” will open the season with a cast that includes Luca Micheletti, Ying Fang, Huw Montague Rendall, Jacquelyn Stucker, and Ginger Costa-Jackson. Performance Dates: Sept. 2-15, 2024 Verdi’s “La Traviata” will feature two casts. The first cast will be headlined {…}
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 {…}
Having recently become a Knight and awarded the prestigious, “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres,” baritenor Michael Spyres has quickly arisen as one of modern opera’s central luminaries, sensuously consonant with others like the ineffable Sondra Radvanovsky, the Puccini grande dame Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Susan Graham, Mikhail Kruglov, Allan Clayton, Elīna Garanča, and Javier Camarena to name only a {…}
American conductor Matthew Straw has joined the roster of Maestro Arts roster. He will be managed by Rachel van Walsum. Straw’s conducting career has been marked by notable achievements. In 2022, he made his debut with the Rochester Philharmonic and served as Associate Conductor at Des Moines Metro Opera. As an assistant conductor, he has also worked with such organizations {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Botio’s “Mefistofele” with Simon Stone directing. Michele Mariotti conducts a cast that includes John Relyea, Maria Agresta, and Joshua Guerrero. Performance Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 2023 Michele Mariotti conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” with Anna Pirozzi, Vittorio Grigolo, and Erwin Schrott. Performance Dates: Dec.9-14, 2023 Damiano Michieletto directs Mozart’s “Die {…}
The Konzerthaus Dortmund has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Lahav Shani open the season with Hila Baggio. The concert will include music by Paul Ben-Haim, Betty Olivero, and Gustav Mahler. Performance Date: Sept. 3, 2023 Anna Lucia Richter and Ammiel Bushakevitz perform a recital of music by Wolkenstein, {…}
Kazuki Yamada/courtesy of CBSO The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has unveiled its 2023-24 season, and it’s full to the brim with opportunities to hear some of the world’s finest music and musicians. With over 12 months of programming, the Orchestra has something for everyone. The Orchestra will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the City of Birmingham Symphony {…}