(Credits: Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice has announced its 13th season which will present two major NYC companies in the small, upstate town of Phoenicia N.Y., Teatro Grattacielo and the New York City Opera. The Phoenicia Festival of the Voice will present an amazing and innovative concert featuring “Opera in the Movies” with {…}
The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its revival of Verdi’s “Luisa Miller.” The company noted that in performances on March 27 and 31, Charles Castronovo will take over the role of Rodolfo for Joseph Calleja. Calleja took to social media and said that due to exposure to COVID, he has was forced to cancel. The tenor has, {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its upcoming revival of “Lucia di Lammermoor.” The company noted that Juan Diego Flórez and Charles Castronovo will replace Xabier Anduaga, who is ill. Flórez will sing performances on March 12 and 16 while Castronovo will sing performances on March 19 and 24, 2022. Flórez has sung the role of Edgardo {…}
Jan. 13, 2022, saw the second performance in the Metropolitan Opera’s run of Puccini’s “La Boheme.” As the perennially-beautiful Zeffirelli production continues to delight, the evening’s cast, led by Maestro Carlo Rizzi, succeeded in bringing their passion and vitality to bear before the audience. Outstanding Leads Fresh from his work with the Berlin Staatsoper, Charles Castronovo was in fine form {…}
On Nov. 17, 2021, the Metropolitan Opera presented the third performance of its 2021-22 run of Puccini’s seminal “La Bohème.” Franco Zeffirelli’s production is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is arguably the company’s most iconic. There was something quite uplifting about seeing the curtain rise on this expansive set, brimming with life and energy, especially after the time period we {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) On Nov. 9, 2021, the Metropolitan Opera will revive Franco Zeffirelli’s classic staging of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The production is the all-time most-performed staging and will celebrate its 40th anniversary of its 1981 premiere. This season the Met will feature South Korean conductor Eun Sun Kim, who became music director of San Francisco Opera {…}
Rolando Villazón will celebrate his 50th birthday with a concert “Cinquentañero.” The concert, which will be held on Feb. 21, 2022, one day before his 50th birthday, will take place at the Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg. Many of Villazón’s closest collaborators will celebrate the famed tenor’s milestone birthday including Daniel Barenboim, Plácido Domingo, Charles Castronovo, Magdalena Kozena, Regula Muehlemann, Fatma Said, {…}
Poland’s Opera Wroclaw has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, numerous debuts, and star-studded casts. Here is a look at the new season. New Productions The season opens in a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca” directed by Michael Gieleta. Lianna Haroutounian, Giorgi Sturua, and Ambrogio Maestri lead the first cast and Ewa Vesin, Tadeusz Szlenkier, and Mikołaj Zalasiński leading {…}
(Credits: Shervin Lainez / Raphael Brand / Pia Clodi) The L’Instant Lyrique in France has announced its 2021-22 season featuring many leading singers from around the world. The season will open with sopranos Barbara Hannigan and Jeanne Gérard, mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska, and bass-baritone Yannis François alongside pianist Michalis Boliakis. Performance date: Sep. 27, 2021 Tenor Michael Spyres sings alongside pianist {…}
This week two new DVDs will be available. One comes from the archives while the other comes from an exceptional production recorded last summer. Soprano Julia Bullock also previews her new album with the first single. Here is a look. Mireille Gounod’s “Mireille” will get a reissue on Naxos from the Paris Opera. The production hails from the 2009–10 season {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Kasskara/DG / Operabase official website / Staatsoper Berlin official website) The Staatsoper unter den Linden in Berlin has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Beethoven’s “Fidelio” will open the season. The opera stars Roman Trekel, Matthias Goerne, Pavel Černoch, Andreas Schager, Simone Schneider, {…}