Three new releases are set for this week. One of the the releases comes from last summer while another is a world premiere of an interesting new work. Lohengrin Piotr Beczala stars in Yuval Sharon’s acclaimed production of Wagner’s masterwork from last summer’s Bayreuth production. Anja Harteros, Waltraud Meier, Tomasz Konieczny, and Georg Zeppenfeld also star. Christian Thielemann conducts this {…}
This review covers two performances of “Tosca” at Opera de Paris — on 16th and 19th of May 2019. Jonas Kaufmann canceled his first three performances of Tosca in Paris. The audience was shocked. “Kaufmann cancels again!” “We were waiting for it for the whole season!” “We bought tickets in October!” “We were traveling to Paris just to see him!” The {…}
This weekend has a variety of repertory staples as well as rarely performed works. There are also two highly anticipated concert performances that should not be missed. A Streetcar Named Desire – Teatro Colón, Argentina Andre Previn’s masterpiece gets its Argentina premiere in a new production by Rita Cosentino. The production stars Orla Boylan, David Adam Moore, Sarah Jane McMahon, Eric Fennell, and Victoria {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has canceled performances of Puccini’s ‘”Tosca.” The Opera de Paris announced that Kaufmann had to “withdraw from the first three performances of ‘Tosca’ due to a violent coughing attack which makes it necessary for him to temporarily refrain from singing. The irritation was found very quickly and therefore the convalescence is expected to be very rapid. He looks {…}
The Salzburg Osterfestspiele has its 2020 festival concentrating on the works of Verdi and Beethoven. This season the festival will present a new production of “Don Carlo” directed by Vera Nemirova. Christian Thielemann will conduct the production, which is set to include a new prologue by Manfred Trojan; this in turn will replace the Act one Fontainebleau scene. The cast will include Yusif {…}
The HD phenomenon has taken hold of the opera world over the past few decades, even though video recordings of performances have been around for quite some time. But today it has become embedded as a major part of the operatic experience and some might argue that a number of productions in major theaters are directed with the high-definition video {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2019-20 season, featuring seven new productions and a number of stars. Here is a look at what the season will offer. New Production Patrick Lange conducts a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” by Uwe Eric Laufenberg. Lena Belkina stars in the title role with tenors Sebastien Gueze, Aaron Cawley, and {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2019-20 season, which will include six new productions and dozens of revivals with some of opera’s greatest stars. New Productions The first new production of the season will be Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” The production will be directed by Frank Castorf and will star Russell Thomas and Marcelo Alvarez as Don Alvaro. {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper revealed its 2019-20 season, which unsurprising features dozens of operas. Almost every single one is impeccably cast, but few standout as the must-see showcases of the season. 7 Deaths of Maria Callas Maria Callas is more than an operatic icon at this point – she’s a legend and this work seems intent on exploring that very nature {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2019-20 season, which is undeniably one of the biggest there is. It includes eight new productions to go along with a plethora of revivals. New Productions Jonas Kaufmann and Marlis Petersen headline a new production of Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt” with Simon Stone directing. Kirill Petrenko conducts the production which also stars Andrzej Filonczyk, Jennifer Johnston, {…}
This week, five CDs and DVDs are set for release with three starring major sopranos; the other is an award-winning documentary that became a box office hit. Here is a look at what audiences should expect this week. Mio Caro Handel German soprano Simone Kermes’ new album is dedicated to Handel and features popular arias such as “Ombra mai fu,” “Piangerò {…}