(Photo: Vincent Pontet) If I were to rank the weakest opera libretti of all time, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Antoine-César Gautier de Montdorge’s “Les Fêtes d’Hébé ou Les Talents Lyriques” would certainly be in the top tier. Nevertheless, the opera-ballet possesses an allegorical charm that transcends the quality of its text—and it is a charm that is not solely musical. After {…}
Details of the 2025 Innsbruck Festival of Early Music have been made public. For the purposes of this article only vocal performances are featured. Concerts First Prize winner of the 2020 Cesti International Singing Competition Margherita Maria Sala performs works by Galuppi, Marcello, Vivaldi, Ristori, and Handel. Sala is accompanied by the Ensemble Locatelli led by Thomas Chigioni. Performance Date: {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Carnegie Hall and WQXR have announced the 14th season of “Carnegie Hall Live.” The showcase will feature numerous live concert radio broadcasts hosted by Jeff Spurgeon of WQXR and John Schaefer of WNYC. For the purposes of this article, only vocal performances will be spotlighted. William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants in a concert featuring the works {…}
Photo credit: Elisa Haberer / Opéra national de Paris Paris Opera’s production of Charpentier’s “Médée” is not bad, but throughout the performance, operagoers will be filled with a sensation of uneasiness. It is not necessarily because of its murderous plot, but because the production feels unsuited to its musicians. It leaves one with the feeling of wearing a garment lent {…}
The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Klaus Mäkelä conducts Orchestre de Paris with soloists Bertrand Chamayou, Olga Peretyatko, Pavel Petrov, Alexey Markov, and Bertrand Mandico. The program includes music by Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. Performance Dates: Sept. 6 & 7, 2023 Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Mass in {…}
Photo: Pablo Lorente Opéra Royal de Versailles’ “Dido and Aeneas” has, on paper, great musicians, a good stage director, good dancers, and even William Christie. But that was not enough to prevent leaving the theater frustrated. The principal point of frustration came from how poorly conceived the production itself was. This failure is exclusive to good and well-intentioned artists—those from {…}
Photo: William Beaucardet It was the third production of Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice” in Paris this season; still, it sounds like a completely different opera each time. Les Arts Florissants is arguably the most well-regarded historically informed group in France, so it was with not a little anticipation that I entered the Philharmonie de Paris building for this “Orphée.” First, {…}
The Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain, has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will highlight the vocal and operatic performances. The season opens with Verdi’s “Requiem.” James Gaffigan conducts a production by Romeo Castellucci starring Elena Tsallgova, Sara Mingardo, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Nahuel Di Piero, and the Escolania Mare de Déu dels Desemparats. Performance {…}
Radio France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is a look. Operas Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” spotlights Jodie Devos, Clara Guillon, Adèle Charvet, Marie Lenormand, Élodie Méchain, Antoine Normand, Régis Mengus, and Paul Gay. Mikko Franck conducts. Performance date: Oct. 1, 2021, Philharmonie de Paris {…}
(Credits: Operabase official profile / Operabase official profile / James Hole/Decca Records / GM Art & Music official website) Amigos de la Ópera have announced the program of fall vocal performances at the Teatro Colón de A Coruña, Spain. Here is a look at what to expect this fall. Opera Vincenzo Bellini‘s opera “I Puritani” will star Nadine Sierra, Xabier {…}
(Credits: RibaltaLuce Studio / © Christine Schneider / Michal Novak) The Festival of baroque and sacred music in Froville, France has announced its 2021 edition. The festival will take place from May 28 until July 6, 2021. For the purposes of this article, we will focus only on vocal performances. Here is the look. Mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux will perform works {…}