Ekaterina Semenchuck, Alexey Markov, Ildar Abdrazakov, Hibla Gerzmava & Albina Shagimuratova Line Up for Putin-Funded ‘Stars of the White Nights’

The Mariinsky Theatre has announced the first part of the “Stars of the White Nights: The 30th Mariinsky festival in St Petersburg.” The festival, which is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, is run by fierce Putin supporter Valery Gergiev and usually features several international artists. However, that is not the case this year, as many international {…}

May 5, 2022

Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Brian Jagde & Charles Castronovo Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2022-23 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2022-23 season featuring 10 new productions. Premieres Benedict Andrews directs Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with Vladimir Jurowski conducting a cast that includes Louise Alder, Avery Amereau, Konstantin Krimmel, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Sandrine Piau, and Christian Gerhaher. Performance Dates: Oct. 26, 2022-July 17, 2023 Wagner’s “Lohengrin” will be conducted by François-Xavier Roth and directed by film director {…}

May 5, 2022

Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča & Christian Gerhaher Lead Berliner Philharmoniker’s 2022-23 Season

The Berliner Philharmoniker has announced its 2022-23 season featuring some of the greatest singers in the world. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Georg Nigl, Dirk Rothbrust and Vilde Frang are the soloists in the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and Vladimir Jurowski’s concert. The program includes music by Iannis Xenakis, Béla Bartók, and Gustav Mahler. Performance Date: {…}

May 3, 2022

Mariinsky Theatre Awards Ekaterina Semenchuk & Vladislav Sulimsky Important Prizes

The Mariinsky Theatre led by Pro-Putin conductor Valery Gergiev has announced the annual Casta Diva Awards. The company noted that this year’s singer of the year awards went to Ekaterina Semenchuk and Vladislav Sulimsky. The jury gave the prize to mezzo-soprano Semenchuk for her work at the Mariinsky Theatre’s “The Maid of Orleans” and “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” {…}

May 2, 2022

Bayerische Staatsoper Announces Cast Change for ‘Les Troyens’ Premiere

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its performance of Berlioz’s “Les Troyens.” The company noted that Ekaterina Semenchuk will replace Anita Rachvelishvili in the role of Didon. Semenchuk is currently performing at the Munich company in a production of “Macbeth.” The mezzo-soprano recently sang at the Mariinsky Theatre under the baton of Valery Gergiev and has just {…}

Apr 30, 2022

Xabier Anduaga, Joyce El-Khoury, Anna Pirozzi & Jessica Pratt Lead Bilbao Opera’s 2022-23 Season

The Bilbao Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring Jessica Pratt, Xabier Anduaga, Andrzej Filończyk, and Manuel Fuentes star in Bellini’s “I Puritani” in a production by Emilio Sagi and Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the Euskadiko Orkestra. Performance Dates: Oct. 15-24, 2022 Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena” is set to star Joyce El-Khoury, Silvia Tro Santafé, Marko Mimica, and Celso Albelo. The production {…}

Mar 24, 2022

Natalie Dessay, Jakub Józef Orliński, Joyce DiDonato & Sabine Devieilhe Lead Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’s 2022-23 Season

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 {…}

Dec 26, 2021

Jongmin Park Replaces Ildar Abdrazakov in Teatro alla Scala’s ‘Macbeth’

(Credit: Staatsoper Unter den Linden official website) The Teatro alla Scala has announced that bass Ildar Abdrazakov will not be appearing in the role of Banquo in the final performance of Verdi’s “Macbeth” scheduled for Dec. 29, 2021. No reason has been given for the cast change. As a result, South Korean bass Jongmin Park will take over the role. {…}

Dec 13, 2021

Peter Mattei, Freddie De Tommaso, Angela Meade & Ekaterina Semenchuk Headline Verbier Festival’s 2022 Season

The Verbier Festival has announced its 2022 season, featuring operas and several concerts. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works. Operas Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni” kicks off the festival with Olga Peretyatko as Donna Anna, Magdalena Kožená as Donna Elvira, Bogdan Volkov as Don Ottavio, Mikhail Petrenko as Leporello, Alexandros Stavrakakis as Il Commendatore, Julien {…}

Dec 2, 2021

Ekaterina Semenchuk Replaces Ewa Płonka in Teatro alla Scala’s ‘Macbeth’

(Credit: Alexey Kostromin) Polish soprano Ewa Płonka has withdrawn as the cover for Anna Netrebko’s Lady Macbeth at the Teatro alla Scala’s season opener. Płonka will also not sing the final performance in Verdi’s operatic masterpiece on Dec. 29, 2021. “Friends, due to personal reasons I will not be taking part in Macbeth production this December in La Scala but {…}

Nov 16, 2021

Jorge de León Leads Bilbao Opera’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and ‘Pagliacci’

On Nov. 16, 2021, the Bilbao Opera is set to present the double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” The production will star Jorge de León in both works as Turiddu and Canio. The tenor will be joined Ekaterina Semenchuk as Santuzza, Ambrogio Maestri as Alfio, Belén Elvira as Lola, and Elena Zilio as Mamma Lucia in Mascagni’s work. Meanwhile, {…}