Photo: Patrik Borecky “Rusalka,” alone among Dvořák’s operas, has managed to establish itself across the opera world, while his other ten have largely been ignored outside his Czech homeland. One or two have managed to keep a small toehold on the international stage, but only just. It is a strange state of affairs, especially in the case of “The Jacobin.” {…}
(Photo Credit: Javier del Real) On October 16, 2023, Spain’s eminent performing arts company, Teatro Real, returned to New York City for a gala concert at the newly-reopened David Geffen Hall. The program was comprised of a selection of classical and flamenco works, passionately delivered by the Orchestra of the Teatro Real, under conductor Juanjo Mena, and special guest artists. {…}
(Credit: Martin Sigmund) The Staatsoper Stuttgart has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera Premieres Paul Dessau’s “Die Verurteilung des Lukullus” opens the season. The complex work stars Friedemann Röhlig, Alina Adamski, Torsten Hofmann, Elliott Carlton Hines, Maria Theresa Ullrich, Linsey Coppens, Philipp Nicklaus, Heinz Göhrig, Jasper Leever, Laia Vallés, Clare Tunney, {…}
(Credits: © Dario Acosta / © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical / © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment / © Tatiana Vlasova / © Dario Acosta) The Wiener Konzerthaus has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a variety of concerts from some of the world’s greatest performers. For the purpose of this article, we will only focus on the vocal {…}
(Credit: Iko Freese/drama-berlin.de) Komische Oper Berlin has announced that it will stream a production of Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt.” The opera will star soprano Sara Jakubiak, tenor Aleš Briscein, and baritone Günter Papendell. The cast also includes Maria Fiselier, Georgina Melville, Adrian Strooper, and Ivan Turšić. Ainārs Rubiķis conducts the production by Robert Carsen, which was filmed on Sept. 30, {…}
(Credit: Piotr Beczała official website) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for the premiere of Calixto Bieito’s production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The company announced that Piotr Beczała will replace Charles Castronovo in the role of Don José. Castronovo was recently hospitalized due to COVID-19 and is currently recovering. Therefore, he will not be able to make all scheduled rehearsals. {…}
Wild rides abound when you take the trail less taken, and in this column, we’ve taken some crazy trips. But in this installment of “Off the Beaten Track,” the album we’ll explore provides us a chance to settle down and reflect. Elyse Anne Kakacek’s sophomore album, “formless” speaks of loss, hope, and joy—themes that permeate our existence during this historic {…}
(Credit: © Dario Acosta) Soprano Anna Netrebko will perform a double recital at the Philharmonie de Paris on Nov. 11, 2020. The soprano will give the first recital at 5:00 p.m CET, and the second one will follow at 8:30 p.m. at the Grande salle Pierre Boulez. Anna Netrebko will be joined onstage by the mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova. Giovanni Andrea Zanon {…}
Credits: (Dragana Branković / Intermusica Official website / Egils Silins official website) The Staatstheater Kassel has announced the complete casts for its 2020-21 season. Here is the full rundown. Premieres “L’Ultimo Sogno,” one act opera by Giuseppe Verdi and Carlo Ciceri will feature Vlada Borovko in the role of Violetta Valéry, Giordano Lucà as Alfredo Germont, while Cozmin Sime and {…}
(Credit: Boris Streubel) The famed German mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel will appear in the role of Klytämnestra in Richard Strauss’ opera “Elektra” at the Wiener Staatsoper on September 8, 2020. Doris Soffel is one of the leading Wagnerian and Straussian singers, having taken on such roles as Kundry in “Parsifal,” Ortrud in “Lohengrin,” and Fricka and Erda in the composer’s iconic {…}
(Credit: Národní divadlo official website) The entire 62-member chorus of the Opera of the National Theater in Prague has been sent into a two-week quarantine after it was revealed that several members of the ensemble had contracted COVID-19. As a result, the performance of the Bedřich Smetana’s opera “Libuše” has been canceled. Janáček’s opera “Jenůfa” and Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka” will {…}