The winners of the 64th annual Musical America Artist of the Year Awards have been announced. Conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan has been named Artist of the Year for 2025. Hannigan made her conducting debut at age 40 at the Chatelet in Paris. She currently serves as the Principal Guest Conductor of Göteborgs Symfoniker, the Principal Guest Conductor of Orchester {…}
(Credit: Victoria Janashvilli) The Houston Symphony has announced a cast change for its Nov. 14 performance. The company said, “Angel Blue has regretfully withdrawn from this week’s performance of Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Beethoven 9 on Nov. 14. We are grateful to Ellie Dehn for stepping in on short notice!” For her part, Dehn said, “I’m thrilled to join Houston {…}
Angel Blue is set to make her Arena di Verona debut only three years after she canceled due to a incident relating to the use of blackface in “Aida.” The company noted that she will sing the role of Violetta in “La Traviata” in performances on June 27, July 5, and 11, 2024. Back in 2022, the soprano canceled her {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced its 2025 season. Verdi’s “Nabucco” will get a new production. Stefano Poda will direct the new production. Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Youngjun Park, Luca Salsi, and Igor Golovatenko lead the cast that includes Anna Pirozzi, Maria José Siri, Anna Netrebko, and Olga Maslova as Abigaille, Francesco Meli and Galeano Salas as Ismaele. The cast is rounded out by Roberto {…}
(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present the company premiere of Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov and librettist David Henry Hwang’s “Ainadamar.” The opera will premiere on Oct. 15 and will be directed and choreographed by Brazilian Deborah Colker. When OperaWire saw the production at the Detroit Opera, John Vandevert said, “The evening was realized {…}
The Metropolitan Opera season is only one week away and with a new season comes anticipated new productions and revivals and will showcase some of the world’s best singers. So without further ado here are OperaWire’s most anticipated productions of the 2024-25 season. Ainadamar As listed in the 10 operas to see this fall, the Osvaldo Golijov is one of {…}
(Photo: Tosca © ROH 2024) One of the more frequent criticisms aimed at opera singers, by those not acquainted in any way with the art form, pertains to what it is, exactly, they do other than sing. In OperaWire’s interview with the Cavaradossi of this production, Russell Thomas, the tenor said of many critics: “it’s a career that everybody who {…}
The Washington Chorus has announced its 2024-25 season. Dr. Eugene Rogers conducts Morris Robinson in music by Jessie Montgomery, Aaron Copland, and Carlos Simon/Dan Harder. rs. Performance Dates: Sept. 14, 2024 Dr. Eugene Rogers conducts Suzzette Ortiz. Performance Dates: Dec. 14-22, 2024 Dr. Eugene Rogers conducts Damian Norfleet and Monique Holmes-Spells in music by Leonard Bernstein, Nkeiru Okoye, Eugene Rogers, {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2024 Live in HD Summer Encores. First up is “La Bohème” starring Sonya Yoncheva, Michael Fabiano, Susanna Phillips, Lucas Meachem, Matthew Rose, and Alexey Lavrov. Marco Armiliato conducted the 2018 transmission. Screening Date: July 24, 2024 Then comes the 2014 production of “La Cenerentola” starring Joyce DiDonato and {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Elim Chan conducts the First Night at Proms with soloists Sophie Bevan and Isata Kanneh‐Mason. The program includes Handel, Ben Nobuto, Beethoven Bruckner, and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: July 19, 2024 British choral groups The King’s Singers and VOCES8 present a Prom that showcases {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” starring Corinne Winters, Joshua Guerrero, and Levi Hernandez. Performance Date: Nov. 24, 2024 Tamara Wilson, Edgardo Rocha, Stephanie Doche, and Meridian Prall star in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito.” Performance Date: March 1, 2025 Angel Blue, Kang Wang, and George Gadnize lead in Verdi’s “Luisa {…}