Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences cannot miss the new album by one of the world’s most renowned tenors and the world premiere of two contemporary operas composed by acclaimed female composers. Akathist Bright Shiny Things releases “Akathist,” a large-scale oratorio by composer Benedict Sheehan. Featuring {…}
It is blatantly evident that there is a connection between the advent of cinema and the decline of Opera. Once the main form of entertainment, the operatic stage lost its prominence to the silver screen. There is something that opera used to give that cinema somehow gave, too—the question is what? Last year, the Salzburg Festival attempted to bridge the {…}
Benjamin Bernheim performed at the closing night of the Olympics on August 11, 2024. The French tenor Benjamin Bernheim, who is one of the world’s rising stars performed a new version of Gabriel Fauré’s “Hymne à Apollon.” The tenor performed alongside Swiss pianist and composer Alain Roche on a suspended piano. According to Classic FM, Fauré’s composition was based on {…}
Paris Opera Play has announced streaming performances for September to November. For this article, here are the operatic productions that will be streamed. The first stream will be Bellini’s “I Capuleti e I Montecchi” from a September 2022 performance conducted by Speranza Scapucci. Robert Caresen productions stars Julie Fuchs and Anna Goryachova. The company will also stream Donizetti’s “La Fille du {…}
French star tenor Benjamin Bernheim has announced his latest album for Deutsche Grammophon. The new album will be his first solo song album entitled “Douce France: Mélodies & Chansons” and is inspired by his long study and experience of French song. Bernheim interprets songs by Berlioz, Chausson, Duparc, Brel, Kosma, and Trenet. The tenor is joined by pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson, {…}
Deutsche Grammophon’s Stage + is set to present Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” from the Salzburg Festival. The stream will be presented on August 24, 2024, and will star tenor Benjamin Bernheim in his signature role as Hoffmann. Kate Lindsey, Kathryn Lewek, and Christian Van Horn will join him. Marc Minkowski will conduct the production by Mariame Clément. The stream is {…}
(Photo credit: Brescia/Amisano – Teatro alla Scala) The Teatro alla Scala presented a new production of Jules Massenet’s “Werther,” with libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann, in co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on June 19th, 2024 to an eager audience ready to experience tenor Benjamin Bernheim in the titular role. The last time “Werther” was presented at {…}
(Credit: Teatro alla Scala / Brescia – Amisano) The Teatro alla Scala is set to stream Massenet’s “Werther” on June 27, 2024. The company will showcase the opera on La Scala TV which will be conducted by Alain Altinoglu and directed by Christof Loy. Benjamin Bernheim leads a cast that includes Jean Sébastien Bou, Victoria Karkacheva, and Francesca Pia Vitale. {…}
The Wallis has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is Messiaen’s “Harawi” featuring Julia Bullock and pianist Cono Hanick. The showcase will feature dancers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, all under the direction of Zack Winokur. Performance Date Oct. 1, 2024 Baritone Thomas Bauer joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Verdi’s “Falstaff” opens the season with a cast that includes Ambrogio Maestri, Olivia Boen, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, Andrei Kymach, Gregory Bonfatti, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Iván Ayón-Rivas, and Federica Guida. Michael Schønwandt conducts the production by Dominique Pitoiset. Performance Dates: Sept. 10-30, 2024 Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will star Eleonora Buratto, Elena Stikhina, Aude {…}
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Opera in Production Bach’s “Passion selon Saint” will be conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and directed by Sasha Waltz. The cast will include Sophie Junker, Georg Nigl, Christian Immler, Benno Schachtner, Valerio Contaldo, and Mark Milhofer. Performance Dates: Nov. 4 & 5, 2024 Poulenc’s “Dialogues des {…}