J’Nai Bridges, Dawn Upshaw, Sasha Cooke, Benjamin Appl Headline San Francisco Performances’ 2022-23 Season

San Francisco Performances has announced its 2022-23 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. Soprano Dawn Upshaw will join forces with the Brentano String Quartet for “Dido “Reimagined” by Melinda Wagner. Performance Dates: Jan. 12, 2023 Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and guitarist Jason Vieaux will perform music by Schubert, de Falla, {…}

Mar 4, 2022

Nadine Sierra & Sondra Radvanovsky Headline New CD/DVD Releases

This week, two of the great divas of the opera world release albums. But there are also some exciting albums of new works and a new documentary by one of the most important lieder singers of our generation. Here is a look at the new releases! The Understanding of All Things Pulitzer Prize-nominated composer, performer, and writer Kate Soper releases {…}

Feb 11, 2022

Irina Lungu, Sherezade Panthaki & Benjamin Appl Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will hear two new world premiere recordings from some of the most exciting composers and librettists. They will also get to experience two classics from the standard repertoire. Here is a look at the new releases for the week. Am I Born Bright Shiny Things releases “AM I BORN,” a world-premiere recording of an oratorio for soprano {…}

Jan 15, 2022

Celebrity Series of Boston Announces Winter 2022 Concerts

The Celebrity Series of Boston has announced its line-up for the winter of 2022. The series will run from Jan. 26 until March 27, 2022. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works only. Making their Celebrity Series debut by opening the concert series is bass-baritone Dashon Burton and pianist Lindsay Garritson. The headlining concert will {…}

Nov 24, 2021

Benjamin Appl’s Winter Season to Be Dominated by ‘Winterreise’

(Credit: Lars Borges) Famed baritone Benjamin Appl is set to have a rather unique set of performances and releases centering on Schubert’s iconic “Winterreise.” The baritone will be at the center of a new film version of the work by John Bridcut which will be presented on BBC TV this December. Then, on Feb. 11, 2022, Alpha Classics will release {…}

Oct 29, 2021

Benjamin Appl Joins Alpha Classics Label

Alpha Classics has announced that German baritone Benjamin Appl will join its distinguished roster of artists. Named Young Artist of the Year by Gramophone magazine in 2016, Appl performs internationally as a recitalist and soloist. He is currently set to release a recording of Schubert’s “Winterreise” with pianist James Baillieu in February 2022. Following this will be a recital album {…}

Oct 6, 2021

The Dallas Opera Announces Additional Programming for 2021-22 Season

The Dallas Opera has announced additional programming for its 2021-22 season. The first event will be the previously announced Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Family Recital by baritone Benjamin Appl, which was postponed from last season. Appl will perform Schubert’s Winterreise with pianist James Baillieu. Performance Date: Jan. 30, 2022 The second recital of the season will be by {…}

Jun 21, 2021

Karine Deshayes, Sabine Devieilhe & Philippe Jaroussky Highlight Opéra de Rouen Normandie’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © Aymeric Giraudel / Fabien Monthubert / © Simon Fowler) Opéra de Rouen Normandie, France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will only focus on the operatic and vocal performances. Here is the full slate. Opera and Musicals Verdi‘s “Il Trovatore” opens the season with Lionel Lhote as Count di Luna, Brigitta Kele {…}

Jun 11, 2021

Diana Damrau, Marlis Petersen, Christian Gerhaher, Max Emanuel Cenčić & Michael Volle Headline Konzerthaus Dortmund’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: Jürgen Frank / Yiorgos Mavropoulos / @ Sony / Gregor Hohenberg / Lukasz Rajchert / Carsten Sander) The Konzerthaus Dortmund has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Sophie Karthäuser kicks off the season with a performance of Beethoven‘s “Pastorale.” Laurence Equilbey conducts the production by Carlus {…}

May 31, 2021

Venera Gimadieva, Benjamin Appl & Francesco Demuro Highlight OperaVision’s June Program

OperaVision has announced the June streams featuring three complete works and a competition. The month opens with Calixto Bieito’s new “St. John Passion” from Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Les Talens Lyriques and a group of amateur singers who form the chorus at the heart of the narrative star alongside Benjamin Appl, Joshua Ellicott, Lenneke Ruiten, and Carlos Mena Streaming {…}