This week the Boston Baroque is set to present a new production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” featuring multiple company debuts and role debuts. Among the major debuts is Sidney Outlaw, who will sing his first Don Giovanni. Outlaw has performed several Mozart works including Leporello in “Don Giovanni,” Guglielmo in “Cosi fan tutte,” and Figaro in “Le Nozze di Figaro.” {…}
This week a new production of Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda” is set to open at the famed Salzburg Easter Festival. The opera, which is rarely performed, required six of the greatest voices and the festival lined up a star cast including rising star Eve-Maud Hubeaux, who is set to portray her first Laura. Over the past years, the mezzo has become {…}
On March 10, 2024, Music of Remembrance will present the world premiere of “Phoenix,” a work that was inspired by the 16-year-old Nika Shakarami who joined other Iranian girls and citizens in protesting the death of Mahsa Amini and who died in the custody of the Iranian morality police after appearing in public without the mandated head covering. The new {…}
This week the Opera de Tenerife is set to present a new production of Dvořák’s most popular opera “Rusalka.” The work will include famed Spanish singers and will be directed by Brazilian director André Heller-Lopes, one of Latin America’s most popular opera directors. OperaWire spoke with Heller-Lopes regarding his ideas and inspiration for Rusalka. The following are the director’s thoughts {…}
This week the Teatro Manoel di Malta is presenting Rossini’s “Armida” one of the composer’s most difficult operas and one that has six tenors. This week as the company presents the opera, Anle Gou will sing two of the opera’s tenor roles bringing out his superb Rossini tenor. Gou, who recently spoke with OperaWire about the technical challenges of Rossini {…}
This week the Opera de Bellas Artes is set to revive Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” for the first time in 167 years. The company will showcase a cast of leading Mexican artists, including legendary tenor Ramon Vargas, who last year celebrated his 40th anniversary at the legendary Mexican theater. Throughout his illustrious career, Vargas has received raves for his “golden” tone {…}
This week, the Teatro La Fenice revives Puccini’s most popular opera, “La Bohème” with Celso Albelo in his role debut as Rodolfo. After 20 years performing around the world at some of the greatest theaters in the world, the role debut also represents the first time the Spanish tenor takes on an opera by Puccini. In anticipation of his debut {…}
This week Rosie Aldridge made her debut at the Berlin State Opera in the role of Kostelnička in Leoš Janáček’s opera “Jenůfa.” It is a role that she recently debuted in Stuttgart and later performs it this season at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. Looking at her debut, OperaWire had a chance to do a mini-interview with Aldridge. Here is {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) This New Year’s Eve the Metropolitan Opera is set to open a new production of Bizet’s beloved “Carmen.” The production will showcase one of the most sought-after Carmens currently performing in the world – Aigul Akhmetshina. Over the past years, Akhmetshina has performed the role at the Royal Opera House, Bashkir State Opera and {…}
(Credit: W.Hoesl) It’s been a year since Diana Damrau sang a role on the opera stage. Her last was in 2022 when she made her role debut as the Countess in “Capriccio.” Since then Damrau has been open about taking a step back from the dramatic Bel Canto roles and has noted that she does not want to sing “crazy {…}
(Credit: Brescia e Amisano) On Dec. 7, 2023, the Teatro alla Scala is set to open its 2023-24 season with a new production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” The opera, which has opened the theater on numerous occasions is one of the most beloved at the theater. For this special night, the company has enlisted an all-star cast including Francesco Meli. {…}