(Credit: Terrence McCarthy/San Francisc Opera) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The company will present a revival of director Olivier Tambosi’s production reuniting soprano Lianna Haroutounian and tenor Brian Jagde for role debuts in yet another Puccini opera, after their last appearance together in San Francisco Opera’s 2014 “Tosca.” The stars will be led by former San {…}
(Credit: © BAUS) Canadian director Robert Carsen is one of the most solicited directors in every major opera house nowadays and he proved why in his new production of the famous double bill of “I Paglliacci” and “Cavalleria Rusticana,” which opened the opera season at the Dutch National Opera. It is a production where he plays with theatre-within-theatre concept, making {…}
This weekend a number of classics will be presented in new productions and with some of the top stars. Here are the top showcases that we recommend. I Puritani – Opéra de Paris, France Elsa Dreisig makes her role debut as Elvira alongside a remarkable cast that includes Javier Camarena, Nicolas Testé, and Igor Golovatenko. Riccardo Frizza conducts Laurent Pelly’s {…}
The Festival Castell de Peralada has announced that Brian Jagde will make his festival debut in 2020. The company announced that on Sugust 6, 2020, the American tenor will perform a recital at the cloister of El Carme Church. The festival also announced that William Christie and his orchestra Les Arts Florissants will perform a concert of music by Campra, Couperin, and {…}
(Credit: Julien Benhamou / ONP) Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” is undeniably one of the most complex to stage. Not only is it a tremendous challenge for each of the major singers cast in the work, but it presents unique obstacles for any director who opts to take it on. The opera, despite being by one the greatest opera composers {…}
Five new DVDs are set for release this week. They include four rarely performed works and one of the most popular operas in the repertoire. Here is a look. Das Wunder Der Heliane Naxos is set to release Korngold’s rarely performed opus, which was recorded at the Deutsche Oper Berlin’s 2018 festival season. The acclaimed performance stars American soprano Sara Jakubiak, {…}
Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” is one of the most difficult operas in the repertoire. It’s rarely performed for its sheer scale and the singers it requires. However, many of its arias and duets are well-known and it is an opera many singers dream of performing. This week, the work returns to the Opéra de Paris with an strong cast and {…}
When the the Gran Teatre del Liceu announced that legendary octogenarian Italian regista Pier Luigi Pizzi would be directing a new production of “La Gioconda” with Iréne Theorin making her title role debut, it was on paper at least, a must-see event. Unfortunately the parchment tended to perforate even before the prima when the celebrated Swedish diva canceled and second-cast {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2019-20 Season featuring some of the greatest singers in the world in 17 new productions of both ballet and opera. For this article, we will only focus on opera performances. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” opens the 2019-20 season with Erwin Schrott in the title role alongside Roberto Tagliavini, Malin Byström, Christine Rice. Daniel Behle, Emanuele D’Aguanno, Louise Alder, Lars Woldt, {…}
It’s an interesting weekend filled with two rare works, concert performances and a lot of “Manon” with multiple singers performing the work for the first time. Here is a look at what are excited for. Robert le Diable – La Monnaie du Mont, Belgium Lisette Oropesa headlines the final concert performance of Meyerbeer’s rarely performed work which also stars Dmitry {…}
One of the most exciting aspects of a new season is the fact that audiences will get an opportunity to encounter new artists for the very first time. This is also the case at the Wiener Staatsoper, which will feature a plethora of debuts in numerous major productions. Here is a look at five stars set to make headlines as {…}