Amina Edris, Matthew Polenzani, Simone Piazzola Headline Canadian Opera Company’s ‘La Traviata’

The Canadian Opera Company is set to showcase Verdi’s “La Traviata” starting on April 23, 2022. The production will feature Amina Edris, Matthew Polenzani, Simone Piazzola, Jamie Groote, Jonah Spungin, Gregory Dahl, Midori Marsh, and Vartan Gabrielian. The creative team will include conductor Johannes Debus, director Arin Arbus, set designer Riccardo Hernández, puppet and costume designer Cait O’Connor, lighting designer {…}

Dec 14, 2021

Opéra National du Rhin Cancels ‘Carmen’ Due to COVID-19

(Credit: Visit Alsace official website) The Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg has announced the cancelation of a performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” on Dec. 15, 2021. “The health situation has deteriorated in the last few days among the teams participating in our production of ‘Carmen’,” said the opera house in an official statement. The opera was set to star Edgaras {…}

Oct 15, 2021

Matthew Polenzani, Amina Edris & Eri Nakamura Lead Canadian Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The Canadian Opera Company has announced casting for its upcoming mainstage productions at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for the 2021-22 season. The company will open with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” with Eri Nakamura in the leading role making her COC debut alongside Stephen Costello as Pinkerton. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts. Performance Dates: Feb. 4–25, 2022 The production of Verdi’s {…}

Oct 8, 2021

Opéra National de Bordeaux 2021-22 Review: Robert le Diable

(Credit: Pierre Planchenaul) “Robert le Diable” premiered at the París Opera in 1831. The immediate success of the piece led its composer, Giacomo Meyerbeer, to sudden international stardom. This opera set the standard for French Grand Opera, with the story divided into five acts, ballet numbers, great pompous chorus scenes, and the latest theatrical effects. It became the ultimate form {…}

Aug 3, 2021

Amina Edris, Pene Pati, Camille Schnoor, & Vanessa Goikoetxea Lead Opéra de Limoges’ 2021-22 Season

(Credits: Opéra de Limoges official website / Vincent Pontet) Opéra de Limoges has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. “Goyescas” features Vanessa Goikoetxea, Kévin Amiel, Armando Noguera, and Héloïse Mas. Robert Tuohy conducts. Performance dates: Nov. 7 – 9, 2021 Clémentine Bourgoin, Pierre Lebon, Flannan Obé, and Antoni Sykopoulos perform Olivier Py’s {…}

Jun 18, 2021

Renée Fleming, Diana Damrau, Angela Gheorghiu, Benjamin Bernheim, Erin Morley, John Osborn Lead Opéra National de Bordeaux’s 2021-22 Season

Opéra National de Bordeaux has announced its rich 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on vocal performances. Here is the full slate. Opera A semi-staged version of Meyerbeer‘s “Robert Le Diable” opens the season. The opera stars Erin Morley, Nicolas Courjal, Amina Edris, Nicolas Darmanin, Joel Allison, Paco Garcia, and John Osborn in the {…}

May 19, 2021

Joyce DiDonato, Jonathan Tetelman, Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Jakub Józef Orliński Headline Opéra National du Rhin’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © McQueen / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot / Jiyang Chen) Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Hans Abrahamsen’s “The Snow Queen” will spotlight Lauren Snouffer, Rachael Wilson, Helena Rasker, David Leigh, Michael Smallwood, Owen Willetts, Floriane Derthe, and Moritz Kallenberg. Robert {…}

May 18, 2021

Angel Blue, Renée Fleming, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Anita Rachvelishvilli, Matthew Polenzani Lead Opéra de Paris 2021-22 Season

(Photo Credits: Emma Birski / OnP) Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas “The Seven Deaths of Maria Callas” by Marina Abramovic will open the season. The showcase stars Nadezhda Karyazina, Selene Zanetti, Leah Hawkins, Adela Zaharia, Lauren Fagan, Gabriella Reyes, and Hera Hyesang Park. Yoel Gamzou conducts. Performance dates: Sep. 1 {…}

Feb 17, 2021

San Francisco Opera Announces Live Performances in 2021, Digital Premieres & Virtual Ring Cycle Festival

San Francisco Opera has announced that it will be returning to live performances starting in the Spring 2021. The company will present a 90-minute drive-in version of “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” directed by Matthew Ozawa starring Daniela Mack, Alek Shrader, Lucas Meachem, Laura Krumm, Philip Skinner, Kenneth Kellogg, and Catherine Cook. Roderick Cox makes his company debut at the podium. {…}

Nov 30, 2020

Luciano Pavarotti, Shirley Verrett, Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Matthew Polenzani, Janai Brugger Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

As we enter the final month of the year, opera companies and streams are coming in full force. This week’s selections undeniably favor lovers of the standard repertory and star power. There are a number of galas and recital showcases to look forward to as well. Here is a rundown of our top 10 operas to stream this week. Die {…}

Nov 11, 2020

Sondra Radvanovsky, Michael Fabiano, Janai Brugger Headline San Francisco Opera’s Live Gala, Company Announces Drive-in Productions

San Francisco Opera is set to stream “Celebrating the Voices of San Francisco Opera” on Dec. 4, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. PT. The virtual concert will feature a number of major artists including Janai Brugger, Ashley Dixon, Amina Edris, Sondra Radvanovsky, Michael Fabiano, Pene Pati, Artur Ruciński, Alfred Walker, Nicola Luisotti, and Members of the Company, performing from around the {…}