(Photo: © Philippe Gisselbrecht) On Friday, November 7, and Sunday, November 9, Richard Strauss’ opera “Elektra” was performed at the Arsenal in Metz in concert version. As the Metz Opera House is undergoing renovation for the next two years, its productions are being staged outside the building during the works. Elektra is the young sister of Salome, from whom she {…}
(Credit: Chris Christodoulou) The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. The season opens with a concert featuring soprano Sarah Wegener. The program includes Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” and works by Juan Bautista Plaza and Mahler. Domingo Hindoyan conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 17 & 20, 2024 Next up is {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) The 350th performance of “Turandot” at the Met exceeded expectations with Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv and Russian soprano Elena Pankratova making their house debuts and intentionally working together to deliver jaw-dropping moments of overwhelming musical beauty and power. The night also featured remarkable performances by South Korean tenor SeokJong Baek, Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “Turandot” for 17 performances. The production will showcase Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv in her Met debut with two casts. The first cast will feature Elena Pankratova in the title role opposite tenor SeokJong Baek as Calàf. They will be joined by Aleksandra Kurzak as Liù and Vitalij Kowaljow {…}
The Teatro Real has announced a new cast change for its production of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company said that Angela Meade will sing the title role replacing Elena Pankratova, who was originally scheduled to perform in the second cast. Meade is currently in Valencia performing the role of Elvira in “Ernani.” She is set to perform in Marseille in a {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2022-23 season featuring nine company premieres. Opera Philip Glass’ “Orphée” opens the season with Jordi Francés conducting Rafael Villalobos’ production. The chamber work stars María Rey-Joly, Isabella Gaudí, Sylvia Schwartz, Natalia Labourdette, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Edward Nelson, Karina Demurova, Pablo García-López, and Emmanuel Faraldo. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-25, 2022 Nicola Luisotti, Diego García Rodríguez, {…}
The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced its 2022-23 season featuring five new productions and its Italian festival. Premiere Tomislav Mužek, Maria Kataeva, Elbenita Kajtazi, and Guanqun Yu lead Bizet’s “Carmen” in a new conducted by Yoel Gamzou and directed by Herbert Fritsch. Performance Date: Sept. 17, 2022-May 23, 2023 Kent Nagano conducts a new production of Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” with {…}
(Credit: Bolshoi Theatre official website) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced that tenor Yusif Eyvazov will not be appearing in the role of Calaf in Puccini’s “Turandot” for performances between July 1 – 10, 2022. As a result, tenor Murat Karahan will take over the role. Karahan joins a cast that includes Graham Clark, René Pape, Grigory Shkarupa, Olga {…}
(Credits: ORF / Lalo Jodlbauer) The Wiener Staatsoper and Osterfestspiele Salzburg have announced that they will cooperate on a new production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin.” In a joint press statement, the two companies noted that a new production of Wagner’s romantic opera would be performed at the Wiener Staatsoper in the 2023-24 season, after the premiere at the Osterfestspiele Salzburg in April {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that baritone Christian Gerhaher will not be singing the role of Wolfram von Eschenbach for the performance of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” on July 11, 2021. As a result, Sir Simon Keenlyside will take over the role. The company also announced that Elena Pankratova will replace Daniela Sindram in the role of Venus. Keenlyside recently performed at {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Kasskara/DG / Operabase official website / Staatsoper Berlin official website) The Staatsoper unter den Linden in Berlin has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Beethoven’s “Fidelio” will open the season. The opera stars Roman Trekel, Matthias Goerne, Pavel Černoch, Andreas Schager, Simone Schneider, {…}