(Photo: © Richard Hubert Smith/Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2024) The picnic hampers are packed, dinner jackets dry-cleaned, cufflinks wrangled, and drizzle forecast: the British country house opera season is back. It opens with a new production of Georges Bizet’s box-office stalwart “Carmen” from Glyndebourne Festival Opera, directed by Diane Paulus and conducted by Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati. This latest version, {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced cast changes for its production of Bizet’s “Carmen” on May 17, 20, and 23. The company noted that Ramona Zaharia will replace Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in the title role while Adam Smith will replace Brandon Jovanovich in the role of Don Jose. Zaharia has performed the title role of Carmen at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein {…}
This week, Opera Southwest will make history with its production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The opera, which is one of the most popular in the repertoire, will be performed in a Spanish version translated by Eduardo de Bray that premiered in Barcelona in 1890. The new production in New Mexico will mark the U.S. premiere of the version with Eliza Bonet {…}
(Credit: Camilla Greenwell) At the very opening of Damiano Michieletto’s new production of “Carmen,” I was struck by a very vivid sense of déjà vu! Before the curtain rises, a very sombre, spectral lady enters the stage, dressed in black with lace mantilla. For a brief instant, I thought I was back, four days PREVIOUSLY in the same house, where {…}
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 {…}