The Houston Grand Opera has announced the semifinalists for the 32nd annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias. The event, which will take place on Feb. 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Wortham Theater Center. Sopranos led the semifinalists with a total of seven participants – Tatiana Carlos, Lindsey Chinn, Amani Cole-Felder, Caitlin Gotimer, Emily Kern, {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago is set to revive Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” marking the 16th time the Lyric has presented the work. Ana María Martínez will bring her signature Cio-Cio San to the company for the first time opposite Brian Jagde. The production will also star Lianna Haroutounian who will make her Lyric debut and Brandon Jovanovich portraying Butterfly and {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/ Metropolitan Opera) Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” is set to return to the Metropolitan Opera with two of the world’s greatest interpreters. Fall Cast The season premiere will open with Hui He in a role she has performed all over the world at such venues as the Arena di Verona, Opernhaus Zurich, Teatro Real de Madrid, the Dallas Opera, {…}
(Credit: Svetlana Loboff / Opera National de Paris) On Sept. 14, 2019, the Paris Opera presented “Madama Butterfly” at the Bastille. One of the most beloved and famous operas of all time, it seemed like a very good choice to open a season. But what should have been a wondrous event was derailed by two factors: Robert Wilson’s production and {…}
The Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria has announced its 2019-20 season. For this article, we will only showcase vocal concerts. Here is a look. Gunther Herbig conducts Estefania Perdomo in Mateo’s Cantata and Brahms Symphony No.1. Performance Date: Nov. 15, 2019 Ana María Martinez and Joel Prieto star in Noche Espanola with Karel Mark Chichon conducting. Performance Date: Dec. 13, {…}
(Photo Credit: Cory Weaver) Long before I arrived in Los Angeles, I read Edward Rothstein’s “New York Times” review of the LA Opera’s previous production in 1994 of Manuel Penella’s “El Gato Montès” and what he said there about LA Opera’s mounting of Zarzuelas as a “conscious effort to attract Hispanic audiences to the opera house.” Curious, I bought CDs {…}
As the 2018-19 season comes to an end, the opera season continues with festivals and many companies opening new productions. With a ton of selections to choose from, we eventually whittled it down to the 10 Must-See productions, as we did internationally. Here is a look at the operas you cannot miss this summer in the U.S.. 10. Hérodiade – New Amsterdam {…}
“Dreamers,” an oratorio, composed by Jimmy Lopez, Libretto by Nilo Cruz, brought today’s immigration drama to the stage at Cal Performances, UC Berkeley. Composer and Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen led the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, the UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus, Volti, a professional vocal and new music ensemble, and soprano Ana-Maria Martinez in the world premiere of the work to an {…}
The Baden-Baden Festival has announced its 2019-20 season with a number of great performers and concerts. For this article, we have only concentrated on vocal and opera events. here is a look. Fall Festival John Neumeier directs Gluck’s “Orfeo et Eurydice” with Alessandro de Marchi conducting. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-19, 2019 Dorothee Mields sings a program centered on Der Orpheus-Mythos {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2019-20 seasons which will feature a total of 19 operas and the entire Ring Cycle in an all-new production. Bellini’s “I Puritani” opens the season in a production by Laurent Pelly. Elsa Dreisig takes the leading role with Javier Camarena and Francesco Demuro sharing the role of Arturo. Riccardo Frizza conducts the {…}
Every year the Metropolitan Opera throws in some surprises, whether in repertoire or in casting choices. Sometimes those casting choices are curve-balls that include important returns to the stage. This season, OperaWire is spotlighting six major artists that have not performed on the Met stage in years and will be pleasant surprises to hear and see in 2019-20. Kate Lindsey {…}