Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča & Plácido Domingo Highlight Wiener Staatsoper’s 2020-21 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its massive 2020-21 season. Here is a rundown. Premieres Philippe Jordan conducts Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly“ in Anthony Minghella’s acclaimed production. The production from 2005 arrived in Vienna with Asmik Grigorian in the title role, Virginie Verrez, Freddie De Tommaso, and Boris Pinkhasovich. In January, Grigorian is joined by Noa Beinart and Marcelo Puente. A third {…}

Mar 24, 2020

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato & Ailyn Pérez Highlight Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2020-21 Season

The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of important soloists. For this article we will focus on vocal performances. Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis is set to be conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin with a cast that includes Jennifer Rowley, Karen Cargill, Rodrick Dixon, and Eric Owens. Joe Miller directs Refik Anadol’s Visually striking designs. Performance Dates: Oct. 9-14, {…}

Mar 15, 2020

Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros & Anna Netrebko Headline Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2020-21 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper announced its 2020-21 season which includes eight new productions and numerous revivals. Premieres The first new production of the year will be “Die Vögel” by Walter Braunfels, who also penned the libretto. Ingo Metzmacher conducts a production by Frank Castrof that will star Wolfgang Koch, Günter Papendell, Caroline Wettergreen, Emily Pogorelc, Eliza Bloom, and Yajie Zhang, among {…}

Mar 12, 2020

Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau & Elīna Garanča Highlight Opéra de Paris’s 2020-21 Season

The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions revivals. Here is a look. Domingo Hindoyan and Keri-Lynn Wilson lead performances of Bizet’s “Carmen” with Clémentine Margaine, Elīna Garanča, and Varduhi Abrahamyan sharing the title role and Vittorio Grigolo and Charles Castronovo as Don José. Adam Plachetka and Lucas Meachem alternate as Escamillo, {…}

Mar 6, 2020

Lisette Oropesa, Michael Volle & Diana Damrau Highlight Opernhaus Zürich’s 2020-21 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2020-21 season with 13 new productions and a number of international stars. Premiere Michael Volle sings the title role in a new production of Mussorgky’s “Boris Godunov” by Barrie Kosky. Lina Dambrauskaité, Irène Friedli, John Daszak, Konstantin Shushakov, Brindley Sherratt, Edgaras Montvidas, Oksana Volkova, Johannes Martin Kränzle, and Wenwei Zhang also star. Kirill Karabits {…}

Mar 6, 2020

Juan Diego Flórez, Diana Damrau & Marina Rebeka Lead Top 5 Performances To See Internationally (3/6-8)

(Credit: Teatro Cervantes/Bayerische Staatsoper) This weekend, three new productions open with superb casts. Meanwhile one of the biggest stars in opera makes a major debut while a production will continue in very intriguing circumstances. Norma – Staatsoper Hamburg, Germany Marina Rebeka headlines a new production of “Norma” by Yona Kim. Rebeka takes on her signature role alongside Marcelo Puente, Liang {…}

Feb 26, 2020

Marina Rebeka, Anita Rachvelishvili & Christian Van Horn Lead Dutch National Opera’s 2020-21 Season

The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring new productions and a number of world premieres. Boito’s “Mefistofele” opens the season with a new production by Tatjana Gürbaca. Marco Armiliato conducts the production with Christian Van Horn in the title role, Charles Castronovo, Olga Busuioc, and Guanqun Yu. Performance Dates: Sept. 5-24, 2020 Paula Murrihy, Sandrine Piau, Tuomas {…}

Jan 28, 2020

CD Review: Prima Classic’s ‘La Traviata’

It is hard for established labels to profitably market a new release – let alone for an independent one like Prima Classic. Long gone are the days when John Culshaw and Walter Legge spearheaded the industry, setting the standards by which every decade or so had its memorable Violetta. Prima Classics – with its reduced catalogue of only four titles {…}

Jan 27, 2020

Royal Opera House 2019-20 Live in Cinemas: Sonya Yoncheva Headlines ‘La Bohème’

(Credit: Julian Hargreeaves) On Jan. 29, 2020, the Royal Opera House will stream Puccini’s “La Bohème” into local cinemas, with international audiences getting a chance to see the transmission at a later date. The performance will be conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, who will lead a cast headlined by Sonya Yoncheva and Charles Castronovo as Mimì and Rodolfo, respectively. Aida Garifullina {…}

Jan 24, 2020

Diana Damrau & Carmen Giannattasio Lead Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend Internationally (1/25-27)

This weekend is all about standard repertoire pieces with some of the world’s greatest stars. La Bohème – Opera de Monte Carlo, Monaco Daniele Callegari conducts Jean-Louis Grinda’s production of Puccini, Giacoso, and Illica’s most popular work. The cast stars acclaimed soprano Irina Lungu, Mariam Battistelli, Andeka Gorrotxategi, Davide Luciano, Boris Pinkhasovich, Nicolas Courjal, Fabrice Alibert, and Guy Bonfiglio. Lucia {…}

Jan 14, 2020

Royal Opera House Announces Cast Change For ‘La Traviata’

The Royal Opera House has announced that Jonathan Tetelman and Charles Castronovo will replace Rame Lahaj in the company’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Jan. 22, 25, 30 and Feb. 1, 2020. Tetelman will make his house debut during the Jan. 22 showcase and will also appear on the 30th of January and on Feb. 1. Castronovo will sing {…}

charles castronovo