Sonya Yoncheva, Lise Davidsen, Ying Fang, Benjamin Appl, Thomas Hampson & Freddie De Tommaso Lead Verbier Festival’s 2025 Season

The Verbier Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Verbier Festival Orchestra and Barbara Hannigan perform works by Berlioz, Haydn, Copland, Rodgers, and Bill Elliot. Performance Date: July 17, 2025 Thomas Hampson and Ksenija Sidorova perform works by Schubert and Weill. Performance Date: July 20, 2025 The VF Academy Atelier Lyrique and {…}

Nov 5, 2024

Sonya Yoncheva, Benjamin Appl, Philippe Jaroussky, Gregory Kunde & Saimir Pirgu Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. As the holiday season arrives, this week also features several high-profile recordings by superstars including a Christmas album that features many classics. Schubert Lieder Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky releases a new album of Schubert Lieder. In a statement, he said, “Schubert’s music has been {…}

Oct 29, 2024

Pretty Yende & Lea Desandre Headline Acte 4’s 2024-25 Season

Acte 4 has announced its 2024-25 season. This article only features vocal works. Sopranos Emőke Baráth and Lauranne Oliva, countertenor Tim Mead, tenor Robin Tritschler, and baritone Benjamin Appl are soloists in Handel’s “Messiah.” They are joined by The Spiritual Concert orchestra and choir and directed by Hervé Niquet. Performance Dates: December 11, 2024 Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre sings Sapho, Iphise and Eglé {…}

Oct 23, 2024

Benjamin Appl Announces Three New Albums

Alpha Classics and Benjamin Appl have announced that over the next six months, there will be three new albums by the acclaimed baritone. The first recording in the series will be the release of “The Christmas Album” on Nov. 1. The album includes Bach Chorales and popular carols and Appl is accompanied by the Munich Radio Orchestra and conductor Florian {…}

Oct 16, 2024

Benjamin Appl & Lauren Snouffer Lead Dallas Opera’s Historic’Pelleas and Melisande’

The Dallas Opera is set to perform Debussy’s “Pelléas and Mélisande” for the first time. The Debussy premiere will be presented at the Winspear Opera House from Nov. 8 through Nov. 16, 2024 and will star Internationally renowned baritone Benjamin Appl makes his mainstage debut with The Dallas Opera as Pelléas, alongside soprano Lauren Snouffer as Mélisande. They will be {…}

May 21, 2024

Joyce El-Khoury, Adam Smith, Karine Deshayes & Sally Matthews Lead Opéra de Rouen Normandies 2024-25 Season

The Opéra de Rouen Normandie has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Joyce El-Khoury stars in Verdi’s “Aida” alongside Adam Smith, Alisa Kolosova, Adolfo Corrado, and Nikoloz Lagvilava. Pierre Bleuse conducts the production by Philipp Himmelmann. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2024 Sally Matthews, John Findon, Paula Murrihy, and Caroline Wettergreen headline Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” with Ben Glassberg. The production {…}

May 16, 2024

Benjamin Appl to Headline Performance as Part of The People’s Symphony’s ‘Salomon Series’

(Credit: Lars Borges) Baritone Benjamin Appl will headline a performance as part of The People’s Symphony’s Salomon series in 2024-25. The showcase, scheduled for Town Hall in New York City, will feature Appl alongside pianist Shai Wosner as they pay tribute to legendary singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau on the occasion of his centenary. The program will include works by Schubert as {…}

May 3, 2024

Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Benjamin Appl, Sir Bryn Terfel, Roderick Williams, Elena Pankratova Headline Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

(Credit: Chris Christodoulou) The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. The season opens with a concert featuring soprano Sarah Wegener. The program includes Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” and works by Juan Bautista Plaza and Mahler. Domingo Hindoyan conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 17 & 20, 2024 Next up is {…}

Feb 29, 2024

Xabier Anduaga, Benjamin Appl, Madison Leonard & Yaritza Véliz Lead The Dallas Opera’s 2024-25 Season

The Dallas Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Mainstage Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “La Traviata” featuring Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga, and baritone Alfredo Daza. Louisa Muller directs and Iván López Reynoso conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 18-27, 2024 Claude Debussy’s “Pelléas and Mélisande” will be conducted by Ludovic Morlot and will star Benjamin Appl, Lauren {…}

Dec 13, 2023

Leeds Lieder Festival Announces 2024 Lineup

(Photo credit: Christian Kleiner & Theo Williams) The Leeds Lieder Festival has announced the 2024 event schedule. For its 20th anniversary celebration soprano Nikola Hillebrand, Joseph Middleton and Oliver Casanovas Nuevo perform the “Schubertiade lunchtime opening recital.” Performance Date: April 14, 2024 The “Young Artists Schubertiade” features Richard Stokes and the Leeds Lieder Young Artists. Performance Date: April 14, 2024 {…}

Oct 20, 2023

Juan Diego Flórez, Magdalena Kožená, Benjamin Appl & Lea Desandre Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. For this edition, audiences will get to hear new recordings from three famed stars as well as a new opera designed for the 3D space. Folk Songs Magdalena Kožená releases her fourth Pentatone album “Folk Songs” which brings together folk-inspired song cycles from {…}

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