(Photo credit: © Ruth Walz) Puccini in Aix-en-Provence is not an obvious combination, and it was not until 2019 with Christophe Honoré’s “Tosca” production that Lucca’s maestro made his debut in the festival. It was an ultra-revisionist “Tosca”: two primissime donne on the stage, several videoclips, and many other bold choices. It was glorious and thought-provoking. Therefore, expectations for a “Madama {…}
Conductor Daniele Rustioni has received the insignia of the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Rustioni is currently the Music Director of the Opéra National de Lyon and has conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Salzburg Festival, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, and Royal Opera House. He also served as Music Director of the Ulster Orchestra, where he {…}
Daniele Rustioni has announced that he is stepping down from the Ulster Orchestra. In a statement presenting the new season, the conductor said, “It has been a complicated time, marked by the devastating effects of the pandemic, but also very exciting for what we have been able to achieve against the odds. Our achievements have included a new repertoire, the {…}
The Opéra de Lyon has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season kicks off with “Die Frau ohne Schatten” in a production by Mariusz Trelinski. Daniele Rustioni conducts a cast starring Sara Jakubiak, Josef Wagner, Ambur Braid, and Vincent Wolfsteiner. Performance Dates: Oct. 17 – 31, 2023 Daniele Rustioni conducts “Adriana Lecouvreur” with Elena Stikhina in the title role. The {…}
On Mar. 12, 2023, the Metropolitan Opera revived and gave the Robert Carsen-directed “Falstaff” its season premiere, marking the company’s 193rd performance that crackled with energy and verve. There was electricity in the crowd, as well. At times, an opening night can feel like a final dress rehearsal. This was not one of those times. The show was tight and {…}
Ireland’s Ulster Orchestra has announced that Daniele Rustioni will continue to work with the orchestra for a further two years and will change his title to Music Director. Of his appointment, Rustioni said, The Ulster Orchestra family welcomed me from my very first day, and it feels very special and natural to now become the Music Director of this cultural {…}
Photo: Clive Barda 2022 ROH This first revival of Keith Warner’s production of Verdi’s “Otello” (libretto by longstanding collaborator Arrigo Boito) comes with a frisson of contextual excitement. Warner’s expressionist production opened in 2017 starring Gregory Kunde and Jonas Kaufmann, and tried to give the piece a more existentialist reading that turned away from the problems that skin color presents {…}
(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: © The Royal Opera / Clive Barda) Covent Garden has a good line in Verdi revivals – Richard Eyre’s “Traviata” has been running over a quarter of a century; David McVicar’s “Rigoletto” lasted nearly two decades; and now Phyllida Lloyd’s “Macbeth” returns too, also nearly 20 years old. It’s a production that has aged gracefully, with no signs of wear. Though chock {…}
(Credit: © Davide Cerati) Conductor Daniele Rustioni will take over the musical direction of Verdi’s “Falstaff” at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia replacing conductor James Gaffigan. In a statement, the Spanish company noted that Gaffigan was unable to conduct the run due to scheduling issues. The opera was originally scheduled for January 2021 but was postponed due {…}
(Credits: Sigtryggur Ari Jóhannsson / Sim Canetty-Clarke / Victoria Cadisch) The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that it will present 13 full-length concerts from September 30 to December 30, 2020. The concerts will be filmed live and will be broadcasted on the Marquee TV. All the concerts will be free to access for 7 days after the original broadcast date. {…}