Vancouver Opera has broken records with its recent production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The Vancouver Opera announced that the opera is the highest-grossing in the company’s 64-year history. The first two performances were completely sold-out, and limited tickets are still available for performances on May 2, 4, and 5. Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera said, “We’re thrilled to see {…}
Vancouver Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Carmen.” The company revealed that Ginger Costa-Jackson will take on the title role in lieu of Carolyn Sproule, who was previously announced for the title role. Costa-Jackson starred in the company’s production of “Carmen” 10 years ago. “Carolyn Sproule, previously announced as Carmen for two performances of our extended {…}
Opernhaus Zürich has announced a cast change for its production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The company said, “Edgaras Montvidas takes over the role of Don José in the ‘Carmen’ performance on Friday, April 19, 2024, replacing Saimir Pirgu.” Montvidas has performed with the Opéra National du Rhin Strasbourg, the Bregenzer Festspiele, the Opernhaus Zürich, Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Teater an {…}
The Music Academy of the West has unveiled its 2024 Summer Festival, which runs from June 12 – August 13, 2024. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is the Marilyn Horne Song Competition Winners Recital featuring baritone Navasard Hakobyan and pianist Brian Cho. They will perform a world premiere by Joel Thompson, among other {…}
Opera Southwest will present “Carmen en Español” this May. The production of the famed Bizet Opera will star Eliza Bonet and Olga Perez Flora in the title role on alternating days. As Don José, audiences will see Isaac Hurtado and Jamie Flora while Octavio Moreno and Cecilia Violetta Lopez interpret Escamillo and Micaëla, respectively. Other cast members include Javier Ortiz, {…}
“Sometimes the worst behavior has the best soundtrack” says the title for Episode 21 of “Classics Explained,” an animated video series by Ben Levy that you can watch right now on YouTube. In fact, before we continue with the interview, check out the video right here. Much like Levy’s other videos in the series, this one gives viewers an enjoyable {…}
New National Theatre Tokyo has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Bellini’s “La Sonnambula.” The cast includes Hidekazu Tsumaya, Mutsumi Taniguchi, Rosa Feola, Antonio Siragusa, Hare Ito, and Kei Kondo. Maurizio Benini conducts a production directed by Bárbara Lluch. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-14, 2024 Gezim Myshketa, René Barbera, Yoko Yasui, Hidekazu Tsumaya, Olga Peretyatko, and Junko Saito star in {…}
The Royal Opera House is set to perform a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” directed by Damiano Michieletto. The opera will be performed between April 5 and May 31, 2024 and will be broadcast on May 1, 2024 in the cinema theatres of over 50 countries. Micheieletto has directed three other productions at the Royal Opera House including “Guillaume Tell {…}
The Ente Luglio Musicale Trapanese will join forces with the Italian Cultural Institute of Tunisia to present “Carmen” on Feb. 14 and 15, 2024. Per an official press release, the Ente Luglio Musicale Trapanese will make six musicians available. “I am enthusiastic about this further collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Tunis which will take us back to Tunisia. {…}
The YouTube series “Classic Explained” has been relaunched with a series of new episodes. Among them is a look at Bizet’s “Carmen.” The 17-minute video explores the famed opera using a recording featuring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna from 2003. “We’re a YouTube channel that digs into the stories behind the great works of classical music, and explores what inspired {…}
(Photo: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season will continue with a live transmission of Bizet’s “Carmen” on Jan. 27, 2024. The transmission will feature English director Carrie Cracknell’s new production and stars mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina and tenor Piotr Beczała. They are joined by a cast that includes soprano Angel Blue and bass-baritone Kyle {…}