The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Christian Gerhaher has canceled his Met debut as the Count in “Le Nozze di Figaro.” According to the Met, the baritone has been canceled due to a non-Covid-related illness. As a result, Adam Plachetka will sing the role of the Count from Jan. 8 through Jan. 28. The baritone previously performed the role at the {…}
(Credit: Presto Music official website) Presto Music has announced its 2021 awards. Tenor Michael Spyres was awarded for the CD “BariTenor” on the Erato label. The album ranges wide, encompassing repertoire normally assigned to both tenors and baritones. Programming 18 arias by 15 composers, it covers three centuries of opera in Italian, French and German. Marko Letonja conducts the Orchestre {…}
(Credit: Chris Lee) Celebrated American soprano Renée Fleming will mentor 10 aspiring young singers and 10 collaborative pianists from around the world in the fourth year of SongStudio, an innovative program exploring the future of the vocal recital. The annual intensive workshop will be hosted by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, and will take place between Jan. 17 – 22, {…}
(Credit: Hans van der Woerd) The Metropolitan Opera House has announced that its Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will not be conducting a run of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in January 2022. Per a press release, Nézet-Séguin will be taking a brief, almost four-week sabbatical from all conducting duties commencing Dec. 19, 2021. “This short break will allow time for {…}
(Credit: Anush Hovhannisyan official website) The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has announced that Lisette Oropesa will not be appearing in the role of Violetta Valéry in Verdi’s “La Traviata” for the performance on Nov. 15, 2021. As a result, Anush Hovhannisyan will take over the role. Hovhannisyan joins a cast that includes Liparit Avetisyan as Alfredo Germont, and Christian {…}
This week audiences can hear the complete songs by Schumann and a world premiere recording. They can also hear a debut album by one of the leading baritones of our time. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. George Gagnidze Orfeo is set to release George Gagnidze’s debut album which was recorded with the Staatskapelle Weimar under the {…}
London’s Wigmore Hall has announced the first part of its 2021-22 season. Here are the vocal highlights. Elizabeth Llewellyn and Simon Lepper perform an evening of Finzi, Puccini, Verdi, and Walton. Performance Date: Sept. 3, 2021 Ed Lyon and Theatre of the Ayre join forces for Boësset, Cavalli, Dowland, and more. Performance Date: Sept. 5, 2021 Sabine Devieilhe and Alexandre {…}
(Credits: Johannes Ifkovits / © anna.s. / Hanna-Elisabeth Müller official website / LA Opera official website) The Staatskapelle Dresden has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article we will focus only on vocal performances. Baritone Matthias Goerne presents works by Richard Wagner alongside conductor Manfred Honeck and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. Performance date: Aug. 31, 2021 Soprano {…}
As July comes to a close we are fortunate to bring you another week of unique opera streams. Three hail from one company in Germany, but all of them are undeniably worth a look. We also have some unique streams from a number of other companies and organizations around the world. So without further ado, here are our top operas {…}
(Credit: Markus Jans) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a farewell concert in honor of its outgoing Intendant Nikolaus Bachler. The concert will take place on July 30, 2021 at the Nationaltheater. The concert will feature some of the world’s greatest performers, including Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Elīna Garanča, Nina Stemme, Alex Esposito, Christian Gerhaher, Anja Harteros, Ermonela Jaho, {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that baritone Christian Gerhaher will not be singing the role of Wolfram von Eschenbach for the performance of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” on July 11, 2021. As a result, Sir Simon Keenlyside will take over the role. The company also announced that Elena Pankratova will replace Daniela Sindram in the role of Venus. Keenlyside recently performed at {…}