(Photo: Michele Crosera) Venice’s Teatro La Fenice opened its 2025-26 season with a new production of “La Clemenza di Tito,” widely considered to be the least popular of Mozart’s mature operas. Its premiere in 1791 at the Estates Theatre in Prague received a lukewarm reception, with the Empress herself complaining that “nearly all of us fell asleep.” Albert Einstein’s assessment {…}
(Credit: Michele Crosera) The Teatro La Fenice is set to open its 2025-26 season with a production of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” on Nov. 20, 2025. The new production will be directed by Paul Curran and conducted by Ivor Bolton. The all-star cast will be led by Daniel Behle, who sings the role of Tito Vespasiano. He will be {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) In 1822, Rossini’s opera “Zelmira” premiered at Naples’ Teatro San Carlo to widespread acclaim and was quickly taken up by theaters across Europe, including Vienna, London and Paris. However, like most of the composer’s works, it quickly fell by the wayside and had to wait for over 100 years to be revived, with a performance in 1965 {…}
The Teatro Regio di Parma has announced its 2026 season. Fabio Biondi conducts Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” in a production by Shirin Neshat. The production stars Carlo Vistoli, Francesca Pia Vitale, and Nadja Mchantaf. Performance Dates: Jan. 23-31, 2026 Dmitry Korchak, Carlo Lepore, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, and Giuliana Gianfaldoni star in Bellini’s “Norma.” Renato Palumbo conducts the production by Nicola Berloffa. Performance {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Detlev Glanert ‘s “Die drei Rätsel” will be conducted by Dominic Limburg and directed by Brigitte Dethier. The production will star Martina Baroni, Philipp Jekal, Chance Jonas-O’Toole, Joel Allison, Padraic Rowan, Maria Vasilevskaya, and Alexandra Oomens. Performance Dates: Oct. 11, 2025-Feb. 15, 2026 Sir Donald Runnicles will {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. It’s a big week for releases with a leading tenor releasing a DVD, a major soprano making her debut album and several world premieres. There are also several rare pieces and a big verismo piece you have to hear. O Listen! To the {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced a cast change for its production of “Zelmira.” The company revealed that Pretty Yende will no longer perform the title role and will therefore be replaced by Anastasia Bartoli. Bartoli has performed at the festival in productions of “Eduardo e Cristina” and “Ermione.” She has also performed in a Concerto di Belcanto with the {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2025 season. The 46th edition of the event will take place from August 10 to 22, 2025. Operas The festival will open with a new production of “Zelmira,” conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti. The production will be directed by Spanish director Calixto Bieito, making his debut in Pesaro. Pretty Yende stars in the title {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2025 season. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” with Riccardo Frizza conducting a cast that includes Carmen Giannattasio, Angelo Villari, and Claudio Sgura. Paul Curran directs. Another cast includes Ann Petersen, Amadi Lagha, and Gustavo Castillo. Performance Dates: Jan. 24-30, 2025 Jessica Pratt, Giovanni Sala, Marko Mimica, and Lucas Meachem lead Donizetti’s {…}
(Credit: Wiener Staatsoper) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Macbeth.” The company said that Anastasia Bartoli and Liudmyla Monastyrska the role of Lady Macbeth replacing the originally scheduled Ekaterina Semenchuk. Bartoli will sing the role on Oct. 12. and 15 while Monastyrska will sing it on Oct. 17 and 21. Bartoli is known for her {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced cast changes for its productions of “Turandot” and “Macbeth.” The company noted that Saioa Hernandez will take over the title role, replacing Sondra Radvanovsky. Meanwhile, Radvanovsky has withdrawn from the role of Lady Macbeth and Anastasia Bartoli will sing it making her company debut in her stead. Hernandez recently performed the title role of “Turandot” {…}