Cecilia Bartoli has been named Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. The mezzo-soprano was presented the honor by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella and was recognized for her extraordinary contribution to the dissemination of Italian culture and work in the world In a statement, the mezzo wrote, “Italy is my country, the place {…}
(PHoto: Marco Borrelli) The Salzburg Festival celebrated Cecilia Bartoli on August 8 with a surprise during a performance of Rossini’s “Il viaggio a Reims.” During the birthday gala, the Festival Directorate presented the famed mezzo with the Golden Festival Brooch with Rubies, the highest honor the festival bestows. The evening brought together a gathering of such artists as Pretty Yende, {…}
(Photo: Julia Milberger) Any disappointments from the previous two nights were completely swept away in this grand finale. The final evening of the festival wrapped up with a performance full of genuine dramatic tension, keeping the audience completely hooked throughout. This revival of Bartoli’s Salzburg 2023 production is based on Gluck’s 1769 Parma version. Originally compressed into a single act {…}
Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week audiences will get another “Maria Stuarda” recording and a new recording of “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.” There are also a number oratorios and world premiere recordings. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Deutsche Grammophon and C Major Entertainment release Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced three opera broadcasts. The first broadcast will be Bizet’s “Carmen” in a new production by Gabriela Carrizo and conducted by Teodor Currentzis. Asmik Grigorian, Jonathan Tetelman, Kristina Mkhitaryan, and Davide Luciano star. ORF and Mezzo will broadcast. Broadcast Date: August 8, 2026 Cecilia Bartoli, Marina Viotti, Mélissa Petit, Tara Erraught, Edgardo Rocha, Dmitry Korchak, Ildebrando {…}
(Photo: Julia Milberger) If the opening night of the Bartoli Trilogy left the audience with a lingering sense of minor omission, the second recital could only be described as a considerable disappointment. While one must naturally accommodate the inherently entertaining nature of a summer music festival in a holiday resort, a vocal program this broad demands a highly specialized keyboardist. {…}
(Photo: SF / Monika Rittershaus) Leaving enthusiastically the Grosses Festspielhaus and walking through the beautiful streets of Salzburg after the performance, I found myself asking a simple question: what exactly had I just seen? It was certainly not an opera, nor a recital, nor even a traditional gala. Instead, it felt like something far rarer: a living retrospective in which {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera The season opens with Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” with Michele Mariotti conducting a new production byRafael R. Villalobos.The cast includes Lawrence Brownlee, Jennifer Larmore,Daniela Barcellona, Alex Esposito, Rosalia Cid, Simone Alberghini, and Ya-Chung Huang. Performance Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 2026 Two cast will perform Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier.” Sonya Yoncheva, {…}
The Auditorio de Zaragoza in Spain has announced its 2026-27 season. These are the two vocal performances announced. Adam Fischer conducts the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 featuring the Amici Musicae. Performance Date: Oct. 19, 2026 Cecilia Bartoli and Lang Lang join forces for a recital. Performance Date: Nov. 26, 2026 The season will also include the {…}
The Palau de les Arts has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera “Estètica i massacre” will star Maria Patak, Carlos Varela, Pablo Meléndez, Álvaro Rodríguez, Claudia López, and Jorge Bosch. Carles Prat conducts the production by Oriol Pla. Performance Dates: Sept. 17 & 18, 2026 Vasilisa Berzhanskaya stars in Bizet’s “Carmen” with Charles Castronovo, Ruth Iniesta, and Davide Luciano. Michele Spotti conducts {…}
The Concertgebouw Amsterdam has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Royal Swedish Orchestra and Alan Gilbert perform music by Wagner alongside Nina Stemme. Performance Date: August 17, 2026 The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra and Keri-Lynn Wilson perform music by Frolyak, Mahler, and Beethoven alongside soprano Julia Kleiter. Performance Date: August 19, 2026 The Seoul Philharmonic {…}