The Opernhaus Zürich opened the 2023-24 season with one of Giacomo Puccini’s last operas, “La rondine” and one of the least fortunate in terms of fame. There are several reasons for this, none of which have anything to do with the artistic value of the work. The Carltheater in Vienna commissioned an operetta from Puccini, but he instructed the librettist {…}
Who’s afraid of “Roméo et Juliette?” Thomas Jolly, apparently. The director, recognized for his work both on opera and Shakespeare, seems to have missed the emotion and aesthetic power in Gounod’s opera. Thankfully, the musicians have never sounded better. First thing first: My distaste for Jolly’s approach to Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” does not deny that Jolly knows much more {…}
The Opéra National de Paris is set to present a new production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” this June. The production, which opens on June 17 and runs through July 15 at the Opéra Bastille (the first time the opera gets showcased at the theater), will be directed by Thomas Jolly. Carlo Rizzi will conduct two different casts. The first {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced its 2023-24 Season featuring many new productions and many of the great stars in the world. Alexander Soddy conducts Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with a cast that includes Peter Mattei, Kyle Ketelsen, Adela Zaharia, Julia Kleiter, Ben Bliss, Cyrille Dubois, John Relyea, Gaëlle Arquez, Tara Erraught, Alex Esposito, Bogdan Talos, Guilhem Worms, Ying Fang, and {…}
The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2023-24 season featuring more than 20 productions, concerts, and reictals. Ermonela Jaho stars in Puccini’s “La Rondine” with Sandra Hamaoui, Benjamin Bernheim, Juan Francisco Gatell, and Vladimir Stoyanov. Marco Armiliato conducts the production by Christof Loy. Performance Dates: Sept. 17-Oct. 28, 2023 Nahuel Di Pierro, Olga Peretyatko, Renato Girolami, Alasdair Kent, Pietro Spagnoli, and {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its Live in HD series for the 2023-24 season. First up is “Dead Man Walking.” Yannick Nézet-Seguin conducts a cast starring Latonia Moore, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, and Ryan McKinny. Screening Date: Oct. 21, 2023 Next up is “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.” Leah Hawkins, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Victor Ryan Roberston, Will Liverman, and {…}
The Verbier Festival has announced its 30th edition, which is set to take place between July 14-30, 2023. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. Kicking things off is Verdi’s Requiem with Lise Davidsen, Okka von der Damerau, Freddie De Tommaso, and Bryn Terfel. Daniele Gati conducts. Performance Date: July 17, {…}
After a bumpy 2021, which still had numerous COVID cancelations, 2022 saw opera companies almost return to normalcy. There were setbacks like cyberattacks, a war that has destroyed a country, and companies losing funds from government agencies. But in all, it also showed how opera companies could unite through benefit concerts and through sheer artistry. And after releasing our favorite {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2023 season featuring operas, concerts, recitals, and Mozart programs. Opera Raphaël Pichon will conduct Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in a new production by Martin Kušej. Andrè Schuen, Adriana González, Sabine Devieilhe, Krzysztof Bączyk, and Lea Desandre star. Performance Dates: July 27-August 28, 2023 Verdi’s “Macbeth” will be conducted by Franz Welser-Möst and directed {…}
(Credit: Curtis Brown) In a recent interview with OperaWire, composer Lori Laitman noted that Verdi’s “Rigoletto” was among her favorite operas. “Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ is one of my favorites and the use of music to reveal the horrific fact that the Duke is still alive is so chilling,” she noted. Taking in the work on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 for the {…}
Benjamin Bernheim is set to perform the role of Roméo in “Roméo et Juliette” at the Metropolitan Opera during the 2023-24 season. In an interview with the New York Times, the tenor noted that he would finally sing the role, which he was set to perform for his Met debut during the 2020-21 season; that set of performances (and the {…}