Pierre Boulez, eminent connoisseur of Berlioz and his oeuvre, has famously declared the French Romantic a key intermediary between Beethoven and Wagner, that is, respectively, the symphonic and operatic composers par excellence. His “Roméo et Juliette,” written in 1839, is by no means an exception as it combines, so to speak, the best of both worlds: a symphonic enacting of {…}
The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Camilla Tilling, Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Ladislav Elgr, Matthew Rose, and Jean-Willy Kunz. Rafael Payare conducts a program that includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass and Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.” Performance Dates: Sept. 12-14, 2023 Gemma New conducts Colin Currie and OSM Chorus in Nicole Lizée’s “Blurr is the {…}
This week audiences will get to hear the debut of one of opera’s brightest stars and a remastered classic. Black & Blue New York Festival of Song releases “Black & Blue,” the debut solo album of British-American tenor Joshua Blue on its in-house label NYFOS Records. The album was recorded at Big Orange Sheep in November 2022, and produced by {…}
As part of this week’s CD / DVD releases, audiences will get to hear rarely performed works, a Rossini album, a documentary, a streamed opera, and a solo album by one of the great tenors of his generation. George Walker The fifth audio release on The Cleveland Orchestra’s own label showcased Music Director Franz Welser-Möst performing music by American composer {…}
The Opera Grand Avignon has announced its 2022-23 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances for season. Concert Bertrand Cuiller conducts Handel’s “Rinaldo” in a production by Claire Dancoisne. Paul Figuier, Blandine de Sansal, Maïlys de Villoutreys, Aurore Bucher, Timothée Varon, Rita Tchenko and Marion Zaboitzeff. Performance Dates: Nov. 20 & 22, 2022 “La Sérénade” will be conductedcby Débora {…}
The Opéra de Dijon has announced its 2022-23 season. Here is a look at the operas and vocal performances. Opera The season opens with Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde” with Ensemble Klangforum Wien and soloists Christina Daletska and Maximilian Schmitt. Performance Date: Oct. 20, 2022 Verdi’s “Stiffelio” will star Stefano Secco, Erika Beretti, Dario Solari, Raffaele Abete, and Önay Köse. {…}
This week audiences will get to check out full opera recordings, world premiere recordings, and new solo albums by some of the great artists. Here is a look! La Traviata The Dresdner Philharmonie, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden and conductor Daniel Oren present Verdi’s masterpiece with a stellar cast including René Barbera as Alfredo, Lester Lynch as Germont, and world star soprano {…}
The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2022-23 season featuring productions, operas in concerts, recitals, and orchestra performances. Here is a look at the vocal performances this season. Productions Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice” will star Jakub Józef Orliński and Regula Mühlemann. Thomas Hengelbrock conducts the production by Robert Carsen which also stars Elena Galitskaya. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 1, 2022 {…}
(Credit: Chorégies d’Orange official website) Les Chorégies d’Orange Festival has announced its 2022 slate, featuring two operas and international stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on vocal performances only. Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” spotlights René Barbera as Nemorino, Andrzej Filończyk as Belcore, Erwin Schrott as Dulcamara, Anna Nalbandiants as Giannetta, and Pretty Yende as Adina. Giacomo Sagripanti {…}
Les Grands Voix / Les Grands Solistes is set to kick off the new year with two unique performances. First up will be a performance of “L’Elisir d’Amore” at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées on Jan. 15, 2022. The showcase will feature Cyrille Dubois, Jodie Devos, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Nicola Ulivieri, Catherine Trottmann, and the Choeur de Chambre de Rouen, under the musical {…}
(Credit: Staatsoper Unter den Linden / Marcus Ebener) French tenor Cyrille Dubois has canceled his performance in a Concert Astrée at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on Nov. 8, 2021. Dubois took to Facebook with the following statement: “Given the implementation of a disproportionate testing policy at the Berlin Staatsoper (2 PCR tests for 3 days in addition to the {…}