Opera Australia has announced the cast for its 70th Anniversary Gala on May 17. The evening, which will take place t the Regent Theatre, will celebrate its extraordinary contribution to Australia’s cultural landscape over the past seven decades. The evening will include Emma Matthews, Stacey Alleaume, Olivia Cranwell, Jane Ede, Sian Sharp, Diego Torre, Filipe Manu, Iain Henderson, Andrii Kymach, Luke {…}
(Photo credit: Keith Saunders) “Harrowing” might be the best word for this powerful production of “Madama Butterfly,” the first opera in Opera Australia’s (OA) 2026 Sydney summer season and, in fact, the first opera in Opera Australia’s 70th anniversary season. Admittedly, Puccini’s subject matter is disturbing, albeit clothed in seductively gorgeous music. Finally realizing that the fable-like love she ‘shared’ {…}
Opera Australia is set to present a new production of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The new production will mark 100 years since it first premiered and will directed by Ann Yee, who makes her Australian debut as director. The production will star Rebecca Nash and Anna-Louise Cole in the title role alongside Young Woo Kim, Diego Torre and Rosario La Spina as {…}
Australia’s Handa Opera at Millthorpe has unveiled its 2026 slate. The season opens with a recital starring Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, alongside by pianist Natalia Sidorenko. Per an official press release, Artistic Director and CEO Lyndon Terracini said, “Ferruccio is one of the greatest voices of his generation and Elena is a force to be reckoned with. They’ve both sung {…}
Tenor Diego Torre has joined the roster of Quintana Artist Management for North American representation. The tenor was a member of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist program at Los Angeles Opera, where he had the opportunity to debut as Don José in “Carmen.” He also performed at Wolf Trap Opera and at the Met Opera in 2009-10 for performances of “Aida” {…}
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. The season opens with a double bill of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci.” Mascagni’s work will star Samantha Hankey, Adam Smith, and Gevorg Hakobyan. Meanwhile, Leoncavallo’s work will star Diego Torre, Gabriella Reyes, and Gevorg Hakobyan. Roberto Kalb conducts the production by Shawna Lucey. Performance Dates: {…}
Opera Australia’s brand new, Sydney-exclusive open-air event, Opera on Cockatoo Island, is set to launch in November with a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production is set in the industrial surroundings of Sydney’s historic Cockatoo Island and will be directed by director Liesel Badorrek. The set and costumes will be designed by Mark Thompson. The unique Sydney summer experience {…}
Photo credit: Prudence Upton Verdi’s “Attila” of 1846 could be characterized as “cabelettismo,” in reference to the quantity it contains of those brisk, strutting, decisive passages (“cabaletti”) that capped off vocal numbers in early 19th century Italian opera. There could be an implication here that the 32 year-old Verdi relied on this device rather too much, and that this prevalence {…}
Opera Queensland has announced its 2023 season. Opera Verdi’s “Macbeth“ is set to be Conducted by Umberto Clerici and directed by Laura Hansford. Jose Carbo, Anna-Louise Cole, and Rosario La Spina star. Performance Dates: March 9 & 11, 2023 Samantha Clarke Anna Dowsley, Jeremy Kleeman, Brenton Spiteri, Leanne Kenneally, and Shaun Brown star in Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with Zoe {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to see modern productions of great classics and here world premiere recordings of new works by leading modern composers. Here is a look! David Lang: the writings Cappella Amsterdam and its artistic leader Daniel Reuss return to PENTATONE with a world premiere recording of David Lang’s “the writings.” For this cycle, Lang has {…}
Credit: Prudence Upton First performed in Paris in 1835, Fromontel Halévy’s “La Juive” finally opened its first Australian season at Sydney Opera House on March 9, 2022, in this co-production between Opéra National de Lyon and Opera Australia. The production was to have been staged in 2020, but COVID-19 stymied those plans. Nevertheless, the determination of Opera Australia and a {…}
