Jonas Kaufmann, Saioa Hernández, Lise Davidsen & Sonya Yoncheva Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2023-24 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2023-24 season. New Productions The first new production of the season will be Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Stefano Montanari conducts the production by Evgeny Titov. The cast will include Huw Montague Rendall, Mattia Olivieri, Elsa Dreisig, Maria Bengtsson, Louise Alder, Konstantin Krimmel, Avery Amereau, and Dorothea Röschmann. Performance Dates: Oct. 30, 2023-July 17, 2024 {…}

Jan 12, 2023

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: L’Elisir d’Amore

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) Last month the Metropolitan Opera opened its final run of Sonja Frisell’s legendary “Aida” staging. The production, which opened in 1988, remains somewhat of a splendor for its lush and detailed sets. As I noted in my recent review, I have never been the biggest fan of this particular mise-en-scène, but on this revival, {…}

Mar 23, 2022

Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanovsky, Benjamin Bernheim & Anja Harteros Lead Opernhaus Zürich’s 2022-23 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2022-23 season with 12 new productions and numerous revivals. Premieres Eric Cutler, Christof Fischesser, Tomasz Konieczny, Katie van Kooten, Patricia Bardon, and Camilla Nylund star in Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” The new production by Andreas Homoki will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Performance Dates: Sept. 18-Oct. 29, 2022 Offenbach’s “Barkouf” will see Jérémie Rhorer conduct the {…}

Jan 27, 2022

Saioa Hernández Leads Berlin State Opera’s ‘Tosca’

The Berlin State Opera is set to revive a production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production by director Alvis Hermanis will see Saioa Hernández take her acclaimed interpretation of the title role and will be joined by Fabio Sartori as Cavaradossi. Ambrogio Maestri rounds out the cast as the villainous Scarpia and Andrés Orozco-Estrada conducts all but the final performance. Julien {…}

Jan 24, 2022

Royal Opera House Muscat 2022 Review: Rigoletto

On Jan. 22, the Royal Opera House Muscat presented its final performance of “Rigoletto.” On this evening, the opening cast returned in Franco Zeffirelli’s final production. The result was a performance filled with excellent singing that sometimes lacked drama and felt disconnected from the glorious production. A Return to Old Times Ambrogio Maestri led the cast singing the title role. {…}

Dec 14, 2021

Jonas Kaufmann, Maria Agresta, Annalisa Stroppa & Ambrogio Maestri Lead Free Streams From Semperoper Dresden

(Credit: Semperoper Dresden official website) The Semperoper Dresden has announced that it will stream the 2016 double-bill production of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” The operas star Maria Agresta, Liudmyla Monastyrska, Annalisa Stroppa, Stefania Toczyska, Tansel Akzeybek, Alessio Arduini, Jonas Kaufmann, Ambrogio Maestri and Dimitri Platanias. Christian Thielemann conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden. This Unitel recording is made available in {…}

Dec 5, 2021

Anna Netrebko, Javier Camarena, Roberto Alagna & Nadine Sierra Lead Teatro Colon’s 2022 Season

The Teatro Colon de Buenos Aires has announced its 2022 season featuring opera, concerts, and great performers. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Verónica Cangemi, Alexandra Grigoras, Saimir Pirgu, Behzod Davronov, Giuliana Gianfaldoni, María Belén Rivarola, Alfonso Mujica, Armando Noguera, Fernando Radó, Lucas Debevec Mayer, Juan Font, Felipe Carelli, Sergio Spina, and Iván Maier. Alain Guingal conducts the {…}

Nov 16, 2021

Jorge de León Leads Bilbao Opera’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and ‘Pagliacci’

On Nov. 16, 2021, the Bilbao Opera is set to present the double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” The production will star Jorge de León in both works as Turiddu and Canio. The tenor will be joined Ekaterina Semenchuk as Santuzza, Ambrogio Maestri as Alfio, Belén Elvira as Lola, and Elena Zilio as Mamma Lucia in Mascagni’s work. Meanwhile, {…}

Jul 8, 2021

Maria Bayankina, Brandon Jovanovich, Ambrogio Maestri Headline Verbier Festival’s ‘La Fanciulla del West’

(Credit: Oxana Ivleva) The Verbier Festival is set to present a concert performance of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” on July 20, 2021. The showcase will star Maria Bayankina in the role of Minnie. She will be joined by Brandon Jovanovich as Dick Johnson and Ambrogio Maestri as Jack Rance. Other cast members in the performance will include Germán E. {…}

Jun 26, 2021

Kristine Opolais, Aleksandra Kurzak, Charles Castronovo & Rame Lahaj Lead Opera Wroclaw’s 2021-22 Season

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 {…}

Jun 19, 2021

Michael Fabiano, Jessica Pratt, Hui He, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Ainhoa Arteta Headline ABAO Bilbao Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The ABAO Bilbao Opera in Spain has announced its 2021-22 season. The season opens with a production of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” starring Jessica Pratt, Michael Fabiano, Elena Zhidkova, and Simón Orfila. The opera will be directed by Vincent Huguet and conducted by Carlo Montanaro. Performance Dates: Oct. 23 – Nov. 1, 2021 Next up “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” will be {…}