Sligo Baroque Festival 2025 Review: Viva Vivaldi!

(Photo: Donal Hackett) Following a busy weekend of events that included recitals, concerts, a workshop and an opera, the Sligo Baroque Festival concluded with a concert dedicated to the music of Vivaldi at the city’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in front of a packed audience. Entitled “Viva Vivaldi!,” the program included a number of orchestral and vocal works by the composer that culminated with a performance of his Gloria RV589. Dani {…}

Sep 11, 2025

Innsbruck Early Music Festival 2025 Review: Il Giustino

(Photo: Birgit Gufler) Each year, the Innsbruck Early Music Festival presents its Oper: Jung, an opera performed by singers in the early stages of their careers, who recently made strong impressions at the festival’s Cesti competition. It is an event that rarely disappoints. Not only are the productions of a very high standard, but it is also exciting to watch {…}

Sep 2, 2025

Q & A: Nicola Cleary on the Sligo Baroque Music Festival

(Photo: Ferdia Durkin) On the evening of Friday, September 26th, the Sligo Baroque Music Festival kicks off this year’s festival with a concert entitled “Corelliana” by the Vespres d’Amadi Baroque Orchestra, directed by Dani Espasa, at the city’s St. John’s Cathedral. As its name suggests, it is a festival dedicated to baroque music in all its forms, including opera. Although {…}

May 14, 2025

Royal Danish Opera 2024-25 Review: Griselda

(Photo: Maria Albrechtsen Mortensen) The revival of interest in Vivaldi has seen numerous performances of his operas over recent years, of which his 1735 work, “Griselda,” has proven particularly popular. Reading through the libretto, however, may leave the reader slightly perplexed as to why a work with such an absurd plot, with little in the way of dramatic integrity and {…}

Aug 23, 2024

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Sarah Richmond on Her Forthcoming Role as Olga for Northern Ireland Opera

(Photo: Ross Kavanagh) This September, Northern Ireland Opera premieres its new production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin”, with its quality cast members directed by Cameron Menzies, and conducted by Dominic Limburg. This production looks certain to be another hit with local audiences, following its sell-out productions of “La Traviata” and “Tosca.” OperaWire met up with one of its stars, mezzo-soprano Sarah {…}

Jun 27, 2024

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées 2023-24 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Vincent Pontet) Paris is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games, and a variety of Olympic-themed events are taking place throughout the city. In this context, Antonio Vivaldi’s opera “L’Olimpiade” is a must-see, with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées showcasing a new production by Emmanuel Daumas. Belgian soprano Jodie Devos, who recently passed away untimely, was originally scheduled to {…}

Jun 24, 2024

Teatro La Fenice 2023 – 24 Review: Bajazet

(Photo: Michele Crosera) Having laughed, smiled and clapped its way through the opening night of Teatro La Fenice’s production of Vivaldi’s “Bajazet,” the audience greeted the artists at the final curtain with warm applause. However, it was not a reaction shared by everyone; the final notes had barely been played before some members of the audience were beating their way {…}

May 10, 2024

Irish National Opera 2023-24 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Ros Kavanagh) Intricate and convoluted plots are not exactly rare in operas of the 17th and 18th centuries. Usually revolving around mistaken identities, complex love triangles, misunderstandings and deliberate deceptions that precipitate extreme emotions, their narratives career forward, plunging the protagonists into life-threatening and life-changing situations in which the gods, heroes and mythical characters often play their part. Vivaldi’s {…}

Apr 22, 2024

Q & A: Soprano Rachel Redmond on Her Forthcoming Role as Aminta in Vivaldi’s ‘L’Olimpiade’

(Photo: Christopher Wallace) In 2021, OperaWire reviewed a splendid concert presentation of Handel’s “Ariodante” at the Göttingen Handel Festival. With a strong cast, which included star names such as Marie Lys and Emily Fons. Quality performances were certainly expected, and they did not disappoint. However, it was soprano Rachel Redmond, whom I had previously never heard sing, in the role {…}

Apr 15, 2024

John Ottman Will Direct Antonio Vivaldi Biopic

John Ottman is slated to direct a film based on composer Antonio Vivaldi. Variety is reporting that the editor, composer, director and producer will team up with film and music industry executive David Franco to develop a dramatic biopic based on the life of the world-renowned Italian composer. Written by Kevin Lund and TJ Scott, the project has been long-gestating {…}

Aug 14, 2023

Innsbruck Early Music Festival 2023 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Birgit Gufler) After 13 years in the post, Alessandro De Marchi brings his tenure as the artistic director of the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music to a close with a program dominated by the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Not only do many of the festival’s events feature his music, including the festival’s closing concert “Lieto Fine,” but all three {…}