(Photo: © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) The Wiener Staatsoper’s “Il Trittico” (seen June 21) was a frustrating experience due to the disparity between the excellent singers and the mediocrity of the staging. “Il Trittico” is one of Puccini’s best works both musically and dramatically. Tatjana Gürbaca’s production does not present Puccini’s three one-act operas as a sampler of contrasting {…}
(Photo: @Vivien Gaumand) “Carmen” is one of the most perfect operas in the repertoire. It features an inspired setting, a marvelous orchestration, spirited vocal parts, and most of all, intense drama. It was highly admired by no less than Gustav Mahler, who championed the work while Director of the Vienna Court Opera. It’s thought of as an indestructible work, a {…}
(Credit: Emily Doyle Moore) The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2027 season. John Fiore conducts Puccini’s “Turandot” with Paul Curran directing. Angela Meade, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Kathleen O’Mara, and Peixin Chen star. Performance Dates: July 2-August 28, 2027 Iván López Reynoso conducts Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” with Stephen Barlow directing. Sun-Ly Pierce, Jonah Hoskins, Luke Sutliff, Kevin Burdette, and William Guanbo Su {…}
The Ópera de Oviedo has announced its 2026-27 season. The season opens with Mahler’s “Sorrow” and Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” in a double bill.The productions stars Ana Ibarra, Anna Tobella, María Heres, Marina Pardo, Montserrat Serós, Ana Cabrera, and Andrea Jiménez. Diego Martin-Etxebarria conducts the production by Joan Anton Rechi. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-16, 2026 Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” will star Yolanda {…}
The Opéra de Montréal has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” featuring John Brancy, Ruben Drole, Kirsten LeBlanc, Anthony Gregory, Andrea Núñez, Sophie Naubert, Matthew Li, and William Meinert. Kensho Watanabe conducts a production by Stephen Lawless. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2025 The company will present the Talent Gala. Performance Date: Nov. 11, 2025 Atom Egoyan directs Janáček’s “Jenůfa” withNicole Paiement conductting. The {…}
The Fundación Baluarte has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances for the concert hall in Pamplona, Spain. Andoni Sierra conducts Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” with Raquel Andueza, Katharine Hawnt, and Jesús García Aréjula. Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2025 Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will be conducted by Christoph Prégardien and will showcase Deborah Cachet, Elvia Bill, David Fisher, and {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its Dec. 6 performance of “Il Trovatore.” The company said, “For tonight’s performance of Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore,’ the role of Manrico will be sung by Arturo Chacón-Cruz.” The Mexican tenor will replace the originally scheduled Gwyn Hughes Jones. This performance will mark Chacón-Cruz’s fourth performance at the Met following his surprise {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its Nov. 22 performance of “Il Trovatore.” The company said, “For tonight’s performance of Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore,’ the role of Manrico will be sung by Arturo Chacón-Cruz.” The Mexican tenor will replace the originally scheduled Michael Fabiano. This performance will mark Chacón-Cruz’s first full performance at the Met following his surprise {…}
Arturo Chacón-Cruz is set to return to the Metropolitan Opera in a future season. Following a historic performance on Nov. 17 when he made an unexpected Met debut in “Il Trovatore,” replacing Michael Fabiano in Act four, General Manager Peter Gelb has offered the tenor performances of “La Traviata.” Gelb announced the news on News 4 New York saying that he {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s Nov. 17 “Il Trovatore” performance saw two major debuts in the second part of the opera. Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz made an unexpected house debut as Manrico while Leah Hawkins made her role debut as Leonora. Chacón-Cruz replaced Michael Fabiano, while Hawkins replaced Angela Meade. Both Meade and Fabiano took to social media to announce that they could {…}
The Opera Awards which took place at the Bayerische Staatsoper on Oct. 2 has announced its 2024 winners. The top prize of Opera Company went to the Komische Oper Berlin while Simone Young took home the coveted Conductor of the Year award. Lisette Oropesa won the Female Singer of the Year while Benjamin Bernheim was awarded the Male Singer of {…}