(Credit: Jann Wilken) Three hundred and ten years after its inception, George Frideric Handel’s “Brockes-Passion”—his only sacred work set in his native German, based on a libretto from Hamburg—came back home tonight as a living exploration of deep-seated psychological landscapes. This performance, led by Maarten Engeltjes and the ensemble PRJCT Amsterdam, succeeded in achieving a delicate balance between the work’s {…}
(Credit: Andrew Fox) The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The season opens with Kazuki Yamada conducting Mahler’s Symphony No.2 (“Resurrection”) with Eleanor Lyons and Jess Dandy. Performance Date: Sept. 17, 2026 Kazuki Yamada conducts Britten’s “War Requiem” with Irina Lungu, Andrew Staples, and Christian Gerhaher. Performance Date: {…}
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal has announced its 2026-27 season. Rafael Payare conducts Miah Persson, Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Clay Hilley, and Matthias Goerne in Gustav Mahler’s “Des Knaben Wunderhorn (extraits)” and “Das klagende Lied” (version mixte). Performance Dates: Sept. 16 & 17, 2026 Asher Fish leads the Chœur and orchestra de l’OSM in Hana Ajiashvili’s “Riddle,” Adrian Mocanu’s “de l’encra escafada”(“from faded ink”), Dalit Hadass Warshaw’s “Letter {…}
(Photo credits: Acosta, Brown, Simpson, Adjahoe) Philadelphia Orchestra announces its 2026-27 season. This article only features vocal concerts. Opening night features soloists Leah Hawkins, J’Nai Bridges, Issachah Savage, and Ryan Speedo Green in Beethoven “Symphony” No. 9. They are joined by the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir led by Joe Miller. The U.S. premiere of Hisaishi’s “Orbis” is also slated. Yannick Nézet-Séguin {…}
The Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts has announced its 2026 season which will be held between June 12 and 28, 2026. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Festival Academy Masterclass will be led by Lise Davidsen. She will coach alumni singers from the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, each accompanied by acclaimed pianist James Baillieu. Performance {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, a diva says goodbye to classical music, while there are several rare operas and oratorios. Here are this week’s new releases. Dog Days / Thumbprint Bright Shiny Things reissues two operas that have been out of print for nearly two years: {…}
Bliss International Song Series has unveiled its 2025 season. First up is a showcase featuring soprano Louise Alder, tenor Mauro Peter, and pianist Joseph Middleton as they tackle Wolf’s “Italienisches Liederbuch.” Performance Date: Feb. 6, 2025 Sir Thomas Allen will provide a public masterclass, working with students of the Cambridge University Lieder Scheme. Performance Date: Feb. 11, 2025 Then comes Carolyn Sampson {…}
(Photo credits: Crowley, Cadisch, & Simpson) The Oxford International Song Festival has announced its 2024 season lineup. Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Natalie Burch open the Festival with Schubert’s “Schwanengesang.” Performance Date: October 11, 2024 Soprano Carolyn Sampson and pianist Joseph Middleton present a works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: October 12, 2024 Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton {…}
The Festival de Torroella de Montgrí in Girona, Spain has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Sunhae Im, Núria Rial, Xavier Sabata, and Juan Sancho star in Händel’s “Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.” Dani Espasa conducts. Performance Date: August 3, 2024 William Christie conducts Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” with Paulina Francisco, Georgia {…}
Programming for the 2024 Innsbruck Festival of Early Music has been announced. This article only features vocal performances. First up is a workshop for the upcoming performances of Giacomelli’s “Cesare in Egitto.” Soloists include Arianna Vendittelli, Emőke Barath, Filippo Mineccia, Margherita Maria Sala, Valerio Contaldo, and Federico Fiorio. Ottavio Dantone conducts the Accademia Bizantina. Performance Date: July 27, 2024 (Tyrolean {…}
The Quincena Musical de San Sebastián has announced its 2024 slate. Here is a rundown of the classical vocal performances on offer. Sopranos Julia Blasco and Suzana Nadejde take on works by Mozart, Puccini, Schubert, Offenbach, Rossini, and Brahms alongside pianist Jorge Robaina and clarinettist Javier Povedano. Performance Date: August 1, 2024 Countertenor Nacho Castellanos and pianist Mario Marzo take on {…}