(Credit: Luciano Romano) On Oct. 4, the Teatro San Carlo will present a production of “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The production, which is sold out, will star Anna Netrebko in her anticipated role debut as Amelia, alongside Piero Pretti as Riccardo and Ludovic Tézier as Renato. They will be joined by Elizabeth DeShong, who will make her house debut and {…}
(Credit: Marco Brenner) The Royal Opera House is set to bring Puccini’s “Tosca” to cinemas on Oct. 1, 2025. The new production by Oliver Mears is conducted by Music Director Jakub Hrůša and stars Anna Netrebko, Freddie De Tommaso, and Gerald Finley. When the production opened on Sept 11, critics raved and said, Netrebko’s “‘Vissi d’arte’ was excellent, dripping with {…}
(credit:Vladimir Shirokov) Olena Zelenska is speaking out about her disappointment with the Royal Opera House contracting Anna Netrebko. On a podcast with The Times, the first lady of Ukraine said, “Allowing Putin ally Anna Netrebko to sing at The Royal Opera House was not a betrayal, but was deeply saddening.” She used the Metropolitan Opera as an example for firing {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2025-26 cinema season. The company will feature five performances in cinemas, including two operatic performances. The first operatic performance will be Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” conducted by Speranza Scapucci in a production by Gilbert Deflo. The cast includes Matthew Polenzani (Riccardo), Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Sara Blanch (Oscar), and Elizabeth {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has announced the theatrical release of “La Scala: The Force of Destiny.” The 90-minute feature-documentary directed by Anissa Bonnefont will be released on the Nov. 2 in theaters in France. The film is the first documentary co-produced under a new partnership between RAI Documentari & France Télévisions. This feature documentary produced by Federation Studios (Myriam Weil) {…}
(Credit: Marc Brenner) I’ve previously opined that Puccini’s Tosca is perhaps among the least plausible of tales in the repertory and that the problem with long-running or much revived productions is that, unless you can constantly attract new audiences, they can only stand the test of time for so long. This Oliver Mears’ exciting new production has the potential to {…}
In anticipation of the opening night of the Royal Ballet and Opera’s new production of “Tosca,” Oliver Mears is addressing the casting of Anna Netrebko. In a new interview with the New York Times, Mears said it was the right time to bring the soprano back after six years and noted that it is her artistry that distinguishes her. He {…}
Joseph Calleja is coming to the defense of Anna Netrebko as she prepares her return to the Royal Opera House. In a recent article by the Observer about her return the tenor said, “First of all, nobody is a prophet,” the tenor stated “If my president calls for me to give a performance, am I supposed to have a time {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) At the start of the War in Ukraine, General Manager Peter Gelb made a proclamation, “We can no longer engage with artists or institutions that support Putin or are supported by him—not until the invasion and killing has been stopped, order has been restored, and restitutions have been made.” The statement was clear as {…}
(Credit: Arena di Verona/ENNEVI) ZDF and 3Sat is set to broadcast the Arena di Verona’s “Nabucco” on August 30, 2025 The performance, filmed from the 2025 Verona festival, features Anna Netrebko in her acclaimed turn as Abigaille in Stefano Poda’s production. Netrebko is joined by Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Galeano Salas, Christian Van Horn, and Francesca Di Sauro. Picnahs Steinberg conducts production. {…}
In what is becoming strangely predictable, any article about Anna Netrebko is set to feature choice words from Metropolitan Opera general manager Peter Gelb. In a recent Telegraph article, Gelb continued his attacks on the soprano. While the Metropolitan Opera’s general director refused to comment on her return to the Royal Ballet and Opera House when asked by the Telegraph, {…}