“To see the elephants. The lights. The action. I was sold. I didn’t understand why I had to go to school because I knew what I wanted right away. I thought it was the most amazing magical night ever.” That was mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught’s description of her first ever experience at the Arena di Verona as a 13-year-old. The Dundalk, {…}
As the 2017-18 season continues two major cast changes have been announced from Munich and London. At the Bayerische Staatsoper Margarita Gritskova will fill in for pregnant Anett Fritsch as Cherubino in the company’s new production of “Le Nozze Di Figaro.” The role will mark Gritskova’s debut with the company. This season will also see Gritskova make her role debut in {…}
This weekend, audiences not able to head to Munich will get a chance to see a live performance of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” from the Staatsoper. The performance kicks off at 9:45 p.m. CET, though the performance officially kicks off at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday July 9 and features Kirill Petrenko at the podium, leading the production by Romeo Castellucci. {…}
No opera house has more superstars on the roster next season than the Bayerische Staatsoper. Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann, arguably the two biggest stars in the opera world, will both appear in Munich in 2017-18, albeit in limited runs. Their appearances in America are limited to a total of eight shows between the two of them. In Munich, that {…}
This week sees the release of a world premiere recording as well as a DVD of one of Verdi’s most popular operas. It also sees another Verismo album. Check it out! Telemaco Simon Mayr’s “Telemaco” will be released by Naxos with members of the Bayersiche Staatsoper. Conducted by Franz Hauk, this marks the world premiere recording of the rarely performed {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has added a live stream to its series for 2017. The company announced that on March 18 opera-lovers from all around the globe will have the chance to experience tenor Jonas Kaufmann in Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier.” The tenor will star in director Philipp Stölzl’s new production alongside soprano Anja Harteros, in her role debut as Maddalena di Coigny, and Luca Salsi as Carlo Gérard. Omer {…}
Want to watch operas in Munich but don’t live anywhere near Germany? That will no longer be a problem starting this Sunday as the Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that opera lovers will be able to stream performances for free (!) from Munich live and in full online, by clicking on staatsoper.tv. The productions will utilize four to six cameras with up {…}
30 performances. Seven cities. Five house debuts and two role debuts. That is what tenor Brian Jagde faces in 2017. The first half of 2017 that is. The tenor, who has been growing in prominence over the last few years, is slated for a monstrous calendar year that will see him make more house debuts than he ever has before. {…}
Many of the international opera houses will end the 2016 with a bang, ensuring that their companies put out their best to the very end. Germany At the Baden Baden Festival, Sonya Yoncheva and Piotr Beczala will come together for the yearly Silver Concert with music by Gounod, Massenet, Bizet, Offenbach, Lehar and Strauss. There will also be selections by {…}
This weekend the international opera houses will have a lot to offer from very popular works in the repertoire to lesser known works. They will also showcase some of the greatest stars in the world. Vienna The Vienna State Opera will offer two Verdi works including “Macbeth” with Simon Keenlyside and “Falstaff” with Ambrosio Maestri and Carmen Giannatasio. In between {…}