Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week audiences will get new opera recordings including one very famed contemporary Mexican work and two classic works. There are also some solo albums and choral works to look forward to. Eugene Onegin EuroArts releases a recording of the Teatro Real’s recent staging {…}
Opera Las Vegas has announced its 2026-27 season. The season opens with Rossini’s “L’italiana in Algeri” with Laurel Semerdjian (Isabella), Matthew Hanscom (Taddeo), Joshua Hughes (Mustafà), and former OLV/UNLV Studio Artist Christian Shelton (Lindoro). Performance Dates: October 2026 “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna” will be performed in collaboration with Mariachi Plata of the College of Southern Nevada. The project {…}
(Credit: Nicholas Pike Facebook) Ana María Martínez attended the Oscars on March 15 alongside the team of “Viva Verdi.” The soprano graced the red carpet alongside composer Nicholas Pike, who was nominated for Best Original Song for “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from the documentary “Viva Verdi.” Martínez was representing the opera community alongside Sonya Yoncheva, who was invited as a {…}
Ana María Martínez will grace the red carpet at the 2025 Oscars for her film “Viva Verdi!” The soprano will join Oscar nominee Nicholas Pike and director Yvonne Russo and producer Christine La Monte for annual awards ceremony on March 15, 2026. The film is nominated for Best Original Song for “Sweet Dreams of Joy” and Martínez joins Luciano Pavarotti {…}
Diane Warren is hitting back at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for excluding three songs from the Oscars broadcast. On Jan. 30, in a letter sent to all music nominees and obtained exclusively by Variety, the Academy announced that only two of the songs nominated for Best Original Song would be performed. The broadcast would include “Golden” {…}
Ana María Martínez will not perform at the Academy Awards after all. In a letter sent to all music nominees and obtained exclusively by Variety, the Academy noted that only two of the songs nominated for Best Original Song will be performed. The broadcast will include “Golden” from the animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters” and “I Lied to You” from {…}
(Credit: Ashkan Roayaee) In early January, “Sweet Dreams of Joy,” the song in the documentary “Viva Verdi,” was shortlisted in the 15 finalists. However, no one gave it a chance as the field included such stars as Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Billy Idol, Stephen Schwartz and Nine Inch Nails. But on Jan. 22, 2026, when the Academy announced the nominees {…}
On July 30, 2025, soprano Ana María Martínez returns to Ravinia for a special program with pianist Kevin Murphy. The performance marks the soprano’s third appearance with the festival following two notable showcases, both headed by conductor James Conlon. In 2007, the soprano was featured in a gala alongside famed tenor Plácido Doming and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Three years {…}
The LA Opera is set to present the company premiere of Golijov’s “Ainadamar.” The opera will be presented from April 26 through May 18 and will be led by Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados. Deborah Colker’s acclaimed production will be showcased. When the production was shown at the Detroit Opera and Metropolitan Opera, OperaWire said it was a “Special Experience” and {…}
The Ravinia Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The festival will present Opera for the Young’s “The Magic Flute.” Performance Date: June 28, 2025 Marin Alsop conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara. Performance Date: July 13, 2025 The CSO & Chorus will be conducted by Marin Alsop {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2025-26 season. The company will open with the Lyric Opening Concert & Gala. Performance Date: Oct. 10, 2025 The first production of the season will be Cherubini’s “Medea“ starring Sondra Radvanovsky in Sir. David McVicar’s production. She will be joined by Matthew Polenzani, Elena Villalón, Zoie Reams, and Alfred Walker. Enrique Mazzola {…}