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. {…}
(Credit: Fabrizio Sansoni) This week the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is opening its 2023-24 season with an audacious production of “Mefistofele” directed by Simon Stone. Headlining the production is John Relyea in the title role. Relyea is no stranger to the role of Mefistofele as he has performed both the Berlioz and Gounod works on several occasions in leading theaters. {…}
This past month the Salzburg Landestheater premiered a new production of “Aida” with a cast of rising stars and well-established singers. Now as the production continues its run, a new Amneris is taking over the rest of the run. Julia Rutigliano will make her role debut as Amneris, a role that the mezzo notes is a milestone. In a statement {…}
This week the Lithuanian National Opera is set to bring a new production of “Aida” this week with one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. Kristine Opolais will make her debut with the company in the title role of Aida, a work she last performed completely 15 years ago in Riga. The last time she performed a part {…}
This week the Dallas Opera is set to world premiere “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” The opera was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19. For the production, Grammy Award–winning baritone Lucas Meachem will star as journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby who awakes from a coma unable to move or speak. Based on a memoir from 1997, the {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl) This week, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s latest work “Intelligence” will make its world premiere at the Houston Grand Opera (HGO). Moreover, this production represents an extension of the long-standing relationship between Heggie and HGO, as the company has also showcased the first performances of “End of the Affair (2004),” “Three Decembers (2008),” “Pieces of 9/11 (2011),” {…}