Brian Mulligan has pulled out of Houston Grand Opera’s opening night production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The company announced that due to illness the baritone would not be able to perform the upcoming new production. As a result, Michael Mayes and Scott Hendricks will replace the baritone. Mayes will perform the production on opening night Oct. 18 through Oct. 26 and {…}
This week, three rarities will be released on DVD and CD. One is a world premiere recording while the other two come from successful productions in 2018-19. Here is a look! The Bassarids Sean Panikkar stars in Henze’s opera that premiered last year at the Salzburg Festival. Arthaus Musik releases the new DVD, also starring Russell Braun, Nikolai Schukoff, and {…}
(Credit: Teatro Regio di Parma/ SF/Monika Riitshaus/Rossini Opera Festival) This weekend new productions open, a major festival kicks off and a rising star makes a major debut at a historical arena. Here is what we recommend for the weekend. Œdipe – Salzburg Festival, Austria Christopher Maltman sings the title role of Enescu’s rarely performed work. The star baritone is joined {…}
Opera Vlaanderen has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a diverse array of repertoire from repertory staples to world premieres. For this article, we have only included the opera performances. The season opens with a five-act French version of Verdi’s “Don Carlos” with Alejo Perez conducting. Leonardo Capalbo makes his company and role debut of this version, playing the title role alongside Mary {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2019-20 season which includes seven operas, including five new productions, one world premiere, and one company premiere. The season kicks off with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Tomer Zvulun. The famed Italian work will feature Brian Mulligan in the title role and Mané Galoyan and Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Gilda and the {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced it 2019 season with five new productions, two revivals, and two concert operas. Here is a look at what audiences can expect this season. Productions The 2019 Salzburg Festival opens with Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” Teodor Currentzis and Peter Sellars team up again after “La Clemenza di Tito” with a cast that includes Russell Thomas (Idomeneo), Paula Murrihy {…}
San Francisco 2018: Vienna 2010. Connection? “Arabella,” Richard Strauss’s opera with a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, their sixth and last operatic collaboration. Opening in a new production, the San Francisco Opera production is from Tim Albery, making his San Francisco debut. Albery designed it first for Santa Fe Opera in 2012. This was followed by a staging in 2013 {…}
On Oct. 16, 2018, the San Francisco Opera will open Strauss’ “Arabella” for the first time in 20 years. The production by Tim Albery will feature soprano Ellie Dehn in the title role for the first time, Brian Mulligan in his role debut as Mandryka, soprano Heidi Stober as Zdenka, tenor Daniel Johansson in his first San Francisco Opera engagement {…}
This weekend looks a bit interesting for opera lovers looking to leave the core repertoire. Baroque dominates our selections for what we recommend and there is also a French rarity that no one should miss. Here is a glimpse. Saul & Ariodante – Wiener Staatsoper & Theatre an der Wien, Austria Austria audiences are in for a Handel double. At the {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which will feature eight new productions and some very special role debuts. While every opera is booked with exciting casts, there are some exciting debuts that should impress this upcoming season and opera lovers should keep an eye out for. Carmen Giannattasio – Tosca Giannattasio makes her role debut in the {…}
American baritone Brian Mulligan has become sought out by the world’s leading opera houses and orchestras, singing a unique variety of repertoire from works by Argento, Meyerbeer, Puccini, Spears, Verdi and Wagner. Throughout the past few years, Mulligan has appeared at the San Francisco Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera and Oper {…}