The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced a cast change for “Alcina.” The company said that Cecilia Bartoli will not be able to sing on the Oct. 20 performance due to laryngitis. As a result, Marie Lys will sing the title role. Lys is the first prize winner of the Competition for Baroque Opera Cesti 2018 and of the Concours International {…}
Opera Monte Carlo has announced its 2023 season featuring many of the greatest artists of our time. Cecilia Bartoli stars in Handel’s “Alcina” with Philippe Jarroussky, Sandrine Piau, Varduhi Abrahamyan, Maxim Mironov, and Peter Kalman. Gianluca Capuano conducts the production by Christof Loy. Performance Dates: Jan. 20-26, 2023 Gianluca Capuano conducts Rossini’s “Stabat Mater” with Maria Agresta, Varduhi Abrahamyan, Celso {…}
This week the Wiener Staatsoper is set to present a Rossini Festival entitled Rossini-Mania. The festival will bring the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco to the legendary Vienna hall with opera star Cecilia Bartoli, who is making her Wiener Staatsoper debut. It’s a notable surprise for audiences as Bartoli has performed at every major theater around the world {…}
The Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco are set to appear at the Vienna State Opera as part of the Festival Rossini Mania. Particularly notable about this performance series will be the Vienna State Opera debut of opera star Cecilia Bartoli. “When Bogdan Roščić asked me if I would be interested in accepting a kind of carte blanche {…}
The Palau de les Arts in Valencia has announced its 2022-23 season featuring opera, zarzuela concerts and inetrnational stars. Opera Jamie Man’s “Zelle” will be showcased with countertenor Steve Katona, Ryoko Aoki, Jackie Janssens, Asko|Schönberg, Wiek Hijmans, Joey Marijs, and Tatiana Rosa. Man conducts his work. Performance Date: Sept. 16, 2022 Alex Esposito, Eleonora Buratto, Silvia Tro Santafé, and Ismael {…}
Cecilia Bartoli has been named the new president of Europa Nostra. The mezzo was named president on May 20, 2022, at the General Assembly of Europa Nostra, the European Voice of Civil Society committed to cultural and natural heritage, following a unanimous vote. Bartoli was given an initial mandate of five years. In a statement, Hermann Parzinger, Executive-President of Europa Nostra, {…}
The Opéra Royale de Wallonie-Liège has announced its 2022-23 season. To kick things off, Jodie Devos takes on the title role in Delibes’ “Lakmé” alongside Philippe Talbot, Lionel Lhote, Pierre Doyen, and Marion Lebègue. Frédéric Chaslin conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 1, 2022 Giuseppe Finzi conducts Rossini’s “Il Turco in Italia” with Bruno De Simone, Gianna Cañete Gallo, Guido Loconsolo, {…}
(Credit: Alain Hanel) The new production of Rossini’s “Il Turco in Italia” at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo was a symbolic bridge between the present and future of this illustrious opera house. The production’s stage director was Jean-Louis Grinda, who for the past fifteen years has also served as Director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, while the show’s prima donna was {…}
BBC Music Magazine has announced its 2022 award nominees. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal and operatic winners. In the Choral Award 2022 category, the first nominee is Dunedin Consort’s recording of Bach’s Cantatas, BWV 23, 82 & 106. John Butt conducts the album. Also nominated is the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars {…}
(Credit: Anne Zeuner) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2022 season, featuring eight operas, concerts, and international opera stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Operas The season opens with Romeo Castellucci’s production of Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The opera stars Mika Kares and Aušrinė Stundytė in the lead roles, alongside soprano {…}
(Credit: Luigi Caputo) The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced its 2022 slate, focusing on the Spanish city of Seville. “There are said to be 153 operas set in and around Seville. It is a city which unites a unique mixture of proud ancient cultures which has generated and inspired incredibly varied music and enchants visitors with its stunningly bright light, {…}