(Credit: Monika Rittershaus) The Staatsoper Berlin has announced that despite canceling performances for audiences, it will still live stream its performance of “Carmen” on March 12. The performance, which stars Michael Fabiano and Anita Rachvelishvili, will be live streamed on the Staatsoper website as well as the RBB Kultur site. In addition, it will be shown on television on Saturday in {…}
(Photo: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera revealed its 2020-21 season on Wednesday afternoon. Among the major announcements were the company’s schedule for its ever-popular Live in HD slate. Here is a look at the list of performances that will be broadcast to audiences around the world. Aida (Oct. 10, 2020): Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s new production {…}
(Credit: Opera Australia) Italian bass Ildebrando D’Arcangelo will no longer be performing in the Staatsoper unter der Linden Berlin’s production of “Carmen,” per the official statement on the company’s website. As a result, baritone Lucio Gallo will take over the full run. Gallo will join a cast that includes Michael Fabiano in the role of Don José, Christiane Karg in {…}
Mozart Week 2020 will be taking place in Salzburg, from January 23 to February 2, 2020. The festival will showcase several important works by the famed composer with “Der Messias” coming into spotlight. Robert Wilson will stage the “Messiah,” one of the four Händel oratorios which Mozart subtly reworked. The great composer translated the text into German, re-ordered the work, {…}
Three releases lead this week with one continuing a Mozart series and another featuring a world premiere. The Thirteenth Child Poul Ruders’ latest opera gets a world premiere recording following the first performances at the Santa Fe Opera. The cast includes Sarah Shafer as Princess Lyra, Tamara Mumford as Queen Gertrude/Ghost of Gertrude, Ashraf Sewailam as Drokan, Alasdair Kent as Prince {…}
Five new DVDs are set for release this week. They include four rarely performed works and one of the most popular operas in the repertoire. Here is a look. Das Wunder Der Heliane Naxos is set to release Korngold’s rarely performed opus, which was recorded at the Deutsche Oper Berlin’s 2018 festival season. The acclaimed performance stars American soprano Sara Jakubiak, {…}
Philharmonie Luxembourg has announced its 15th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal performances. The 2019-20 season will kick off with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. Soprano Rebecca Nelsen will be featured vocally. The program will include Berg’s “Lulu” Suite and Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Performance Date: Oct. 3, 2019 William Christie will lead {…}
May 1, 1786. That is the day that, for many, the greatest opera of all-time had its very first performance. “Le Nozze di Figaro” has held the stage ever since, performed by all the great interpreters all over the world. The work has also developed a healthy discography over the ages both on audio and visual media, making it impossible {…}
The Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg hosts Mozart Week annually on or around Mozart’s birthday (Jan. 27) in celebration of the composer’s contributions to the world of music. The lineup for Mozart Week 2020, which will be held Jan. 23 – Feb. 2, has been announced. For the purposes of this article, we will highlight vocal performances and anything else opera-related. The {…}
I have attended many great performances of Mahler’s Second Symphony, the so-called “Resurrection.” The scale of the piece — requiring ten trumpets, two harps, organ, vocal soloists, chorus, and even a fernorchester (a distant orchestra) — means that any performance of this powerful masterpiece is an event. Two memorable performances I attended occurred at the Tanglewood Festival, one led by Sejii {…}
Christiane Karg has canceled her appearances in Bayerische Staatsoper’s upcoming new production of Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride.” The company announced that Karg was forced to withdraw from the production because she is pregnant and as a result will not sing the December nor the July run of the opera. As a result, Selene Zanetti will take on the role of {…}