(Photo Credit: Jean-Louis Fernandez) Reviewing a new opera is always a hard task. Beyond the many difficulties of reflecting on an extremely elaborate piece of work, after only one or two hearings, there is also a major difficulty for the critic when addressing unavoidable questions like, “is the new work any good?” This often transforms itself into a more dangerous {…}
The Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation has unveiled its plans for Mozart Week 2024. Rolando Villazón will launch the festivities in a concert alongside the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg under Roberto González-Monjas. The showcase will feature arias by Mozart and Salieri as well as his famed “Jupiter” Symphony. Performance Date: Jan. 24, 2024 Next up is a concert featuring Villazón alongside Ulrich Leisinger and {…}
The Berlin Philharmonic has announced its 2023-24 Season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Iván Fischer conducts Michael Nagy in works by Jörg Widmann and Gustav Mahler. Performance Date: August 26, 2023 Alexander Rudin, Alexander Melnikov, Nadezhda Pavlova, and Olga Pashchenko perform works by Sergei Rachmaninov. Performance Date: August 27, 2023 Robin Ticciati conducts Wu Wei Sheng, Karen {…}
This week, audiences can check out exciting new releases from major artists. There is also a world premiere recording of a rarely performed opera. Home Decca releases the new album from Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre and the acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8. The album includes a world premiere, “All Seems Beautiful To Me,” and a new recording of Whitacre’s deeply moving {…}
The International May Festival has announced its 2023 season at the Staaststhater Wiesbaden. Opera Uwe Eric Laufenberg stars in “Flieg, Gedanke, auf goldenen Schwingen.” Performance Date: April 30, 2023 Elissa Huber, Aaron Cawley, Erik Biegel, and Fleuranne Brockway Leoš Janáček’s “Die Sache Makropulos” while Christopher Bolduc, Julian Habermann, Aaron Cawley, Ralf Rachbauer, and Darcy Carroll star in Janáček’s “Aus einem {…}
The Berlin Philharmonic has announced a cast change for Oct. 20, 21, and 22 concerts. The orchestra said, that soprano Julie Fuchs, unfortunately, had to cancel her participation in the concerts under the baton of François-Xavier Roth due to illness. As a result, her part in Claude Debussy’s “La Damoiselle élue” will be taken over by Anna Prohaska. A press release {…}
The Berlin State Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a new Ring Cycle. The Ring Cycle Daniel Barenboim conducts a new production of Wagner’s epic The Ring Cycle by Dmitri Tcherniakov. Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” is set to star Michael Volle, Lauri Vasar, Siyabonga Maqungo, Rolando Villazón, Claudia Mahnke, Anett Fritsch, Anna Kissjudit, Johannes Martin Kränzle, Stephan Rügamer, Mika Kares, {…}
(Credit: Staatsoper Unter den Linden / Marcus Ebener) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin has announced its Barocktage. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal works only. Here is a look. Baritone Adam Kutny kicks off the festival with the children opera “Theseus’ Reise in die Unterwelt.” Carolina Nees is the moderator. Performance Dates: Nov. {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Andrew Eccles/Decca / Javier del Real / Dario Acosta / Ray Burmiston) The Berlin Philharmonic has announced its 2021-22 season, spotlighting some of the world’s greatest performers. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works. Here is the full slate: The Bundesjugendchor presents works by Brahms, Schumann, di Laso, Harvey, Rihm, and {…}
(Credits: www.opera-online.com / © Katrin Penschke) The Musikfest Berlin has announced its 2021 slate. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. The Inaugural concert will feature the Bundesjugendchor performing choral works by Brahms, Schumann, di Lasso, Harvey, Hofmeyr, Rihm, Denner, and MacMillan. Anne Kohler conducts. Performance date: Aug. 28, 2021 Famed American soprano {…}
(Credits: Operabase official website / Jiyang Chen / Simon Pauly / Ray Burmiston / Opus 3 Artists official website) The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Baritone Matthias Goerne presents works by Richard Wagner alongside conductor Manfred Honeck. Performance date: Aug. 29, 2021 Soprano Diana {…}