And we’re back. And as has become the tradition here at OperaWire, we have asked our writers to select their choices for the opera performances that truly marveled them in 2023. So without further ado, here are our writers’ picks. Enjoy! Joao Copertino This year, in my opinion, the best performance was Aix-en-Provence’s “Picture a Day Like This,” a world premiere {…}
(Credit header: Campaign image Die Zauberflöte © Marta Syrko ) The Dutch National Opera is set to perform Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” in a production by Simon McBurney. The production will star Thomas Oliemans, Ying Fang, Mingjie Lei, Christof Fischesser, Rainelle Krause, and Frederik Bergman. Conductor Riccardo Minasi leads the production. McBurney’s production is a Co-production with English National Opera (London) {…}
The Théâtre Champs-Élysées has announced a cast change for its production of “Die Zauberflöte.” The organization revealed, via social media, that Florian Sempey, who was originally scheduled to take on the role of Papageno, has withdrawn. In his stead, the company is calling on baritone Florent Karrer to take on the role. Karrer was previously scheduled to take on the {…}
For many, Kathryn Lewek IS the Queen of the Night. She holds the record for most performances of the role at the Metropolitan Opera and has taken her interpretation of the famed villain to opera houses such as the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, among many, many others. This summer, she will {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present a Live in HD transmission of “Die Zauberflöte” on June 3, 2023. The opera stars Erin Morley, Lawrence Brownlee, Stephen Milling, Kathryn Lewek, and Thomas Oliemans. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts and Ben Bliss hosts the performance, which kicks off at 12:55 p.m. local time. Of the opening night performance, OperaWire said, {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond) It’s fair to say that the 2022-23 season at the Metropolitan Opera can be dubbed “The Mozart Season.” “Idomeneo” took the stage on the second night of the season with a tremendous cast reviving Jean-Pierre Ponelle’s classic production. During the holiday season, the Met turned to its workhorse Julie Taymour production of “The Magic Flute.” And to {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is firing back at Nathalie Stutzmann regarding a comment in the New York Times about the orchestra being stuck in a “cave for four hours.” In an interview with the Times Stutzmann said “There’s nothing more boring than being an orchestra musician and being in the back of a cave with no idea of what’s happening on {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) On May 19, the Metropolitan Opera will premiere a new production of Mozart’s popular singspiel “Die Zauberflöte,” the first new staging of the famed opera at the company since 2004. It will feature an exciting cast of artists, including Lawrence Brownlee who returns to the Met for the first time since 2015. Brownlee will {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to close out its 2022–23 season with two Mozart works in new productions. The productions will be “Don Giovanni” with Ivo van Hove directing and “Die Zauberflöte” with Simon McBurney directing. “Don Giovanni,” which will be performed between May 5 and June 2, will star Peter Mattei in the title role, Adam Plachetka, Federica Lombardi, {…}
Photo: Isabel Machado Rios A new production of “Die Zauberflöte” at Staatstheater Kassel raised many eyebrows long before its recent premiere on 25 February 2023. Its advanced billing described it as “participative music theatre based on the opera of the same name,” which “opens the question of interpretation to democratic vote,” so fans of Mozart’s final masterpiece were on notice {…}
Shout Factory is set to release “The Magic Flute” on March 10, 2023. The film, which is directed by Florian Sigl and executive produced by Roland Emmerich, stars Jack Wolfe, F. Murray Abraham, Iwan Rheon, Stéfi Celma, Asha Banks, Stefan Konarske, Niamh McCormack, Amir Wilson, and Tedros Teclebrhan. The film also includes international opera stars Sabine Devieilhe, Rolando Villazón, and Morris {…}