Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Nina Stemme, Lisette Oropesa & Juan Diego Flórez Lead Wiener Staatsoper’s 2021-22 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2021-22 season which will spotlight some of the world’s greatest performers and five new productions. Here is the full slate. Premieres Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will showcase Juan Diego Flórez as Count Almaviva, Marianne Crebassa as Rosina, Davide Luciano in the role of Figaro, Paolo Bordogna as Bartolo, and Ildar Abdrazakov as Basilio. {…}

May 17, 2021

Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Anja Harteros, Sonya Yoncheva, Piotr Beczała Highlight Opernhaus Zürich’s 2021-22 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas – Premieres Richard Strauss‘ “Salome” will star Elena Stikhina, Kostas Smoriginas, Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, Michaela Schuster, Mauro Peter, and Siena Licht Miller. Simone Young conducts the production by Andreas Homoki. Performance dates: Sep. 12 – Oct. 17, 2021 Verdi‘s “Il Trovatore” will spotlight Quinn Kelsey, Marina Rebeka, {…}

May 14, 2021

Anna Caterina Antonacci, Cecilia Bartoli & Rolando Villazon Lead CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences can two Handel operas performed by some of the greatest baroque specialists. There is also a new recoding of Bizet’s “Carmen” featuring one of great interpreters of her generation. Rodelinda Handel’s 1725 hit opera is released with The English Concert and artistic director Harry Bicket. Lucy Crowe and Iestyn Davies are the devoted partners Rodelinda and Bertarido, {…}

May 6, 2021

Cecilia Bartoli to Headline Newly Programmed Concert at Salzburg Whitsun Festival

The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced an additional concert “What Passion Cannot Music Raise” set for May 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. local time. The showcase will be headlined by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and will include music by Handel, Porpora, Hasse, Telemann, and Vivaldi. Bartoli will perform arias from such works as “Amadigi di Gaula,” “Orlando Furioso,” “Rinaldo,” “Ode for {…}

Apr 27, 2021

Salzburg Whitsun Festival Confirms 2021 Edition

(Photo Credit: © Decca/Uli Weber) The President of the Salzburg Festival Helga Rabl-Stadler confirmed that the 2021 edition of the Whitsun festival will take place in May. “Yes, all the events will take place, and the Board of Directors is in full agreement with the Festival’s Director Cecilia Bartoli,” said Rabl-Stadler in a press statement. Rabl-Stadler added that she regrets {…}

Apr 21, 2021

OPERA NEWS Delivers Virtual Celebration of Three Giants of the Opera World

The pre-recorded 16th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards Gala streamed on Sunday, April 18, 2021, and the Met Opera Guild and OPERA NEWS deserve kudos for the online event, but let’s face reality, after a year of virtual everything, it’s all wearing thin—especially given that many of us are suffering serious Zoom fatigue. Do we want to plop down in front {…}

Mar 4, 2021

Monte-Carlo 2020-21 Review: ‘Le Comte Ory’

What is most remarkable about this production of “Le Comte Ory” is that it even took place at all. The Opéra de Monte-Carlo is one of the only opera houses in the world to continue to mount staged performances, not just in streaming but before a live audience. Doing so requires important changes and strict precautions: the start time of {…}

Dec 30, 2020

Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Next 2 Weeks of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of weekly streams which will kick off with an entire week dedicated to opera’s greatest rivalries. Then the company will pay tribute to one of the greatest stars of the last few decades. Here is a look. Week 43– Epic Rivalries Monday, January 4 – Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur Starring Anna Netrebko, Anita {…}

Dec 11, 2020

Andrea Bocelli to Perform ‘Believe in Christmas’ At Teatro Regio di Parma

Andrea Bocelli will perform his “Believe in Christmas” at the Teatro Regio di Parma. The Italian tenor will be showcased in a worldwide livestream on Dec. 12, 2020 under the direction of Franco Dragone, who created events for Cirque du Soleil. The concert will be streamed and will feature Bocelli’s daughter Virginia as well as superstar mezzo Cecilia Bartoli and {…}

Dec 10, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Charles Castronovo, Elīna Garanča & Cecilia Bartoli Lead Salzburg Festival’s 2021 Season

(Credits: © Dario Acosta / Charles Castronovo official website / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / Kristian Schuller/Decca) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2021 edition, featuring 8 operas and numerous concert performances. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will feature Mika Kares as Il Commendatore, Nadezhda Pavlova as Donna Anna, Michael Spyres in the role of Don Ottavio, Federica Lombardi as {…}

Dec 4, 2020

Lawrence Brownlee, Janet Baker & Cecilia Bartoli Lead OPERA NEWS Awards

The 16th annual OPERA NEWS awards have been announced. Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll announced the recipients who will include mezzo-soprano Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano and artistic director Cecilia Bartoli and tenor, producer and activist Lawrence Brownlee. This year the annual awards ceremony will be held virtually on April 18, 2021 with a special musical tribute. In a statement, Driscoll said, “This year {…}