(Credit: Jennifer Taylor / Met Opera) This week the Met revives “Rigoletto” for the second time this season. The company has assembled yet another star cast that includes one of the most anticipated debuts of the season, Pene Pati. Pati will bring his acclaimed Duke of Mantua, a role he has performed all over the world including at the Wiener {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) This week, the Metropolitan Opera will premiere a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” after 36 years. Michael Mayer’s new production will replace Sonja Frisell’s legendary production and with it, the Met has lined up one of the most anticipated Aida’s of her generation, Angel Blue. Over the past seasons, the Met has been preparing {…}
(Credit: Grand Théâtre de Genève) This week the Grand Théâtre de Genève is set to open a new production of Giordano’s “Fedora,” a rarely performed work that has become a showcase for a star soprano in recent years. This week Aleksandra Kurzak will sing her first Fedora, adding yet another demanding role to her growing diverse repertoire. Over the past {…}
This week the Teatro alla Scala opens its 2024-25 season with “La Forza del Destino.” The Dec. 7 opening is considered one of the most important evenings in opera as the opera will be streamed and broadcast live around the world and will feature some of the most important opera stars currently performing. It will also include a rising star, {…}
On Nov. 20, the Teatro San Carlo is set to open its 2024-25 season with a new production of “Rusalka.” The company has assembled an all-star cast including Asmik Grigorian and Adam Smith, among many other notable names. But the evening is even more special as Georgian Mezzo superstar Anita Rachvelishvili will make a return to the opera stage. After {…}
(Credit: Ludwig Olah/Semperoper Dresden) This week the Berlin State Opera is set to open its production of Strauss’ epic opera “Die Frau Ohne Schatten.” The work is rarely performed because of the immense cast and orchestra it requires so it is always a special work to hear it when it is presented. With this revival, the Berlin State Opera has {…}
This week the Seattle Opera is set to world premiere “Jubilee” created by Tazewell Thompson and with vocal arrangements by Dianne Adams McDowell and orchestrations by Michael Ellis Ingram. The work tells the story of the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers that came together after the emancipation and the end of the Civil War. The work features important spiritual and and {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) On Sept. 23, the Metropolitan Opera will open its 2024-25 season. The season opening is always one of the most glamorous events of the opera season on a worldwide scale. And to commemorate the occasion this year, the company will present Jeanine Tesori’s “Grounded” to the legendary stage for the first time with an {…}
(Credit: Vincent Pontet/Paris Opera) This week the Paris Opera opened its 2024-25 season with Verdi’s final work. The production featured some of the greatest interpreters of the opera as well as an array of singers new to the work. Among them was Olivia Boen who was making a double debut. The American soprano not only made her role debut as {…}
(Credit: Meigui Zhang Facebook) This week the San Francisco Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season with a production of “Un Ballo in Maschera,” an opera that has not been performed at the company in 10 years. For this new production, the San Francisco Opera has assembled an all-star cast that includes Meigui Zhang, a rising star in the {…}
This week the Salzburg Festival opens a new production of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” with an all-star cast that includes some of the best performers of the work. Among them is Kathryn Lewek, who will be taking on the challenge of portraying all four heroines, something that has always been seen as rare and complex. In preparation for the roles, Lewek {…}