(Photo credit: Nile Scott Studios) What can one expect from an opera that the one and only Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed when he was a mere fourteen years young? It is impressive considering the age of its composer and disappointing if we bear in mind what came next—like listening to Wagner’s “Die Feen,” Verdi’s “I Due Foscari” or even Puccini’s {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced a cast change for its production of Berg’s “Lulu.” The company said that Vera-Lotte Boecker has withdrawn from the production and will be replaced by Brenda Rae. Rae took to social media and said, ” Sometimes things fall into place in the most amazing ways. After a disappointing cancellation this coming fall, I got the call {…}
Boston Lyric Opera is set to open its new season with Mozart’s “Mitridate, Re di Ponto,” an early opera seria triumph. The work, which will be presented between Sept. 13 and 15 at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, will showcase Lawrence Brownlee in the title role. The production will also include soprano Brenda Rae in the role of Mitridate’s fiancée {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Luca Salsi and Anna Netrebko team up for Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Ivan Magrì, Marina Prudenskaya, and René Pape join them. Anastasia Bartoli also performs. Bertrand de Billy conducts the new production by Emma Dante. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-26, 2024 Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” receives a new production featuring multiple casts. {…}
(Credit: Kristin Hoebermann) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its performance of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” on Sept. 6, 2023. The company said that Brenda Rae will sing the role of Amina replacing Pretty Yende. Rae has previously performed the opera at the Oper Frankfurt during the 2017-18 and 2014-15 seasons. This season she is set to appear {…}
The Opéra National de Paris is set to present Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” starting on Feb. 18, 2023. The opera will be directed by Andrei Serban and conducted by Aziz Shokhakimov. The production features set and costume design by William Dudley with lighting design by Guido Levi. Ching-Lien Wu is the chorus master for the Paris Opera Chorus. Brenda Rae {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Back in 2017, The Guardian meditated on why, despite being one of the world’s greatest plays, “Hamlet” had no great corresponding operatic adaptation. The article notes that despite there being about 40 actual operatic adaptations, none have stood the test of time or held the stage. Perhaps the lone work with staying power is {…}
Ópera de París has announced its 2022-23 season featuring numerous new productions and international stars. Gustavo Dudamel and Paolo Bortolameolli lead a revival of Puccini’s “Tosca” with Saioa Hernández, Elena Stikhina, Joseph Calleja, Brian Jagde, Bryn Terfel, Gerald Finley, and Roman Burdenko. Performance Dates: Sept. 3-Nov. 26, 2022 Dmitry Korchak, Vito Priante, Carlo Lepore, Gaëlle Arquez, and Luca Pisaroni star in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” with Diego Matheuz conducting. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2022-23 season with 12 new productions and numerous revivals. Premieres Eric Cutler, Christof Fischesser, Tomasz Konieczny, Katie van Kooten, Patricia Bardon, and Camilla Nylund star in Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” The new production by Andreas Homoki will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Performance Dates: Sept. 18-Oct. 29, 2022 Offenbach’s “Barkouf” will see Jérémie Rhorer conduct the {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced it will ban a heckler from future Met performances after his outburst during the March 17 performance of “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The company told the New York Observer, “Although opera singers are vocal athletes, they should not be subjected to the kind of heckling that sports spectators get away {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl/Met Opera) It’s been 11 years since the Metropolitan Opera presented Richard Strauss’ opera within an opera, “Ariadne auf Naxos.” One of the composer’s intimate works, “Ariadne” features some of Strauss’ most popular music. To pull this work off effectively, it requires four particularly great voices. For this run, the Met Opera put together a starry cast that {…}