Jonas Kaufmann, Angel Blue, Joyce DiDonato, Anna Netrebko, Eric Owens Headline Weeks 25 & 26 of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

(Credit: Met Opera / Ken Howard / Marty Sohl) The Met Opera has unveiled its 25 and 26th weeks of streaming, continuing its theme-based streaming options. For week 25, the company will focus on 20th-century classics, while the ensuing week of streams will place an emphasis on French operas. Monday, August 31 – R. Strauss’s Elektra Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud {…}

May 18, 2020

Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Anna Netrebko, Renée Fleming, Shirley Verrett Headline Weeks 11 & 12 of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown theaters around the world, the Metropolitan Opera has announced not one but two weeks of nightly streams in advance. The next few weeks feature a mix of more recent performances with some classic showcases from decades ago. Here’s the rundown. Monday, May 25 – Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust Conducted by James {…}

Apr 23, 2020

Francesca Dotto, Enea Scala, & Pretty Yende Lead Grand Théâtre de Genève’s 2020-21 Season

The Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of opera performances and recitals. Ingela Brimberg stars in the title role of Puccini’s “Turandot” with Aleksey Tikhomirov, Teodor Ilincai, Martin Muehle, and Elena Guseva. Antonino Fogliani conducts Daniel Kramer’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 15-26, 2020 Marc Minkowski conducts Robert Wilson’s production of Handel’s “Messiah” with Elena {…}

Apr 23, 2020

Ángel Ódena, Tommi Hakala & Daniel Brenna Highlight Finnish National Opera’s 2020-21 Season

Credit: Emelie-Kroon/Timo-Mokkila The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring the continuation of the New Ring Cycle. Operas (in Alphabetical Order) The Finnish Opera will showcase a production of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci“ directed by Damiano Michieletto. “Cavalleria” is heading by Niina Keitel, Eduardo Aladren, Ángel Ódena, and Merle Silmato while “Pagliacci” stars Marjukka Tepponen, Mika Pohjonen, and {…}

Apr 7, 2020

American Symphony Orchestra Launches ASO Online Streaming Service

The American Symphony Orchestra is launching ASO Online in collaboration with Bard’s Fisher Center. The streaming service kicked off with the 2019 production of Korngolds “Das Wunder der Heliane. The opera was conducted by Leon Botstein and starred Ausrine Stundyte, Alfred Walker, Daniel Brenna, Jennifer Feinstein, Nicholas Brownlee, David Cangelosi, Nathan Berg, Scott Conner, Michael J. Hawk, Derek Taylor, Kevin {…}

Mar 30, 2020

Daniel Brenna & Katarina Karnéus Highlight Göteborg Opera’s 2020-21 Season

The Göteborg Opera has announced its 2020-21 season, which features one world premiere and a number of new productions. Here is a look:Puccini’s “La Bohème” opens the 2020-21 season featuring a cast that includes Ida Falk Winland, Jung Soo Yun, Luthando Qave, and Sofie Asplund. Henrik Schaefer conducts the production. Performance Dates: August 30-Sept. 20, 2020 Offenbach’s “Champagne Tears” gets a {…}

Jan 21, 2020

Christian Gerhaher, Anja Kampe, Magdalena Kožená Headline 2020 Aix-en-Provence Festival

(Credit: Sasha Vasiljev / Mathias Bothor, Deutsche Grammophon) The Festival Aix-en-Provence has just announced the program for 2020 season, which will include a total of six works. The season will open with Berg’s opera “Wozzeck,” starring Christian Gerhaher, Anja Kampe, Daniel Brenna, Peter Hoare, Brindley Sherratt, Evan LeRoy Johnson, J’Nai Bridges, Alexander Kiechle, Tomasz Kumięga, and Graham Clark. Sir Simon {…}

Aug 11, 2019

Bard Summerscape 2019 Review: Das Wunder Der Heliane

I think the trickiness of reviewing this work – for me, at least – can be expressed by an exchange I had with a couple at Bard’s Sosnoff Theater during the intermission of the Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s opera, “Das Wunder Der Heliane (The Miracle of Heliane).” Apparently, a woman had noticed me taking notes during the performance, perhaps deduced I {…}

May 2, 2019

10 Must-See Operas For The Summer Season 2019 [U.S. Edition]

As the 2018-19 season comes to an end, the opera season continues with festivals and many companies opening new productions. With a ton of selections to choose from, we eventually whittled it down to the 10 Must-See productions, as we did internationally. Here is a look at the operas you cannot miss this summer in the U.S.. 10. Hérodiade – New Amsterdam {…}

Feb 25, 2019

Korngold Headlines Bard Summerscape 2019

The Bard Summerscape 2019 festival has been announced. This year the festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary season and will focus on “Korngold and His World.” There will be film screenings, opera, recitals, and dance. For this article, we will only concentrate on the operatic and vocal showcases. Opera Christian Räth directs the American premiere of Korngold’s “The Miracle of Heliane” {…}

Nov 6, 2018

CD / DVD Releases – Week of Nov. 5

Three exciting releases are set for this week. The first comes from one of the most exciting divas performing today while the other two come from recent acclaimed performances. One includes the final installment of the Ring Cycle. Here is what we recommend this weekend! Spirito Marina Rebeka releases her third solo album for the newly created label Prima Classic. The {…}