This week audiences will get to hear two new recordings of complete operas and will also get to discover a new voice in the opera world. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. The Snow Queen Bayerisches Staatsoper Recordings releases Hans Abrahamsen’s “The Snow Queen” on DVD. The opera, which is an adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Andersen {…}
(Credit: © Ranald Mackechnie) The London Symphony Orchestra has announced the second half of its 2021-22 season at the Barbican and LSO St Luke’s, taking place between January and July 2022. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works. Soprano Siobhan Stagg, the London Symphony Chorus and London Symphony Orchestra perform works by Julian Anderson, Mahler, {…}
(Credit: Simon Van Rompay) La Monnaie Opera House in Brussels will stream Alban Berg’s opera “Lulu” until Jan. 24, 2022. The opera stars Natascha Petrinsky as Gräfin Geschwitz; Bo Skovhus in the roles of Dr. Schön & Jack The Ripper; Toby Spence as Alwa; Pavlo Hunka as Schigolch; and Barbara Hannigan in the title role. The cast also includes Lilly {…}
(Credit: Festival de Saint-Denis official website) The Festival de Saint-Denis has announced its 2022 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Selene Zanetti, mezzo-soprano Marianna Pizzolato, tenor Xabier Anduaga, and bass Gianluca Buratto perform Mozart’s “Ave Verum” and Rossini’s “Stabat Mater” alongside conductor Myung-Whun Chung, the Chœur de Radio France, and {…}
(Credit: Marco Borggreve) The Sten A Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture has announced the 2021 scholars. The awards went to soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan, artist Emanuel Röhss, and honorary scholar, actress, and producer Alicia Vikander. Each of the scholars will receive 300,000 Swedish kronor. The Sten A Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture is celebrating its 25 anniversary {…}
On Nov 2, 2021, Barbara Hannigan will reprise her signature turn in Berg’s “Lulu” in Krzysztof Warlikowski’s production for La Monnaie in Brussels. Hannigan’s first performances of the opera in 2012 saw her running into walls and on ballet pointes for almost the entire three-hour performance. Hannigan, incidentally, not a trained ballerina, met the significant physical and vocal demands of {…}
(Credits: Staatsoper Berlin official website / © Raphael Brand / Felix Broede / Marie Staggat) The Munich Philharmonic has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal performances only. Soprano Julia Lezhneva and contralto Sara Mingardo perform works by Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi alongside conductor Andrea Marcon and the Philharmonischer Chor München. {…}
(Credits: Shervin Lainez / Raphael Brand / Pia Clodi) The L’Instant Lyrique in France has announced its 2021-22 season featuring many leading singers from around the world. The season will open with sopranos Barbara Hannigan and Jeanne Gérard, mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska, and bass-baritone Yannis François alongside pianist Michalis Boliakis. Performance date: Sep. 27, 2021 Tenor Michael Spyres sings alongside pianist {…}
Radio France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is a look. Operas Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” spotlights Jodie Devos, Clara Guillon, Adèle Charvet, Marie Lenormand, Élodie Méchain, Antoine Normand, Régis Mengus, and Paul Gay. Mikko Franck conducts. Performance date: Oct. 1, 2021, Philharmonie de Paris {…}
Naxos UK has announced that it will now be distributing recordings from the Bayerische Staatsoper. This news follows the Bayerische Staatsoper’s recent revelation that it would be launching its own record label, BSOrec. Per a press release, all global physical and digital distribution of the recording label will be operated by NAXOS Music Group. BSOrec’s first recording will be Kirill {…}
(Photo Credits: In Art Management / © Jiyang Chen / Gillian Riesen / © Raphael Brand / LA Opera official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot) La Monnaie De Munt has announced its new 2021-22 season, consisting of 12 operas and seven recitals. Here is the full slate. Operas Kris Defoort and Peter van Kraaij’s opera “The time of our singing” {…}