(Photo: G. Schied) It was deeply gratifying that the Bavarian State Opera continued to preserve Jürgen Rose’s magnificent production (seen July 17), first unveiled in 2006 and now deservedly regarded as one of Munich’s exemplary repertory stagings. At a time when “Norma” has too often fallen victim to directorial concepts eager to relocate ancient Gaul to psychiatric institutions, corporate boardrooms {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2026-27 season. Premiere Zemlinsky’s “Eine Florentinische Tragödie” and Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” will be performed in a new production with Dmitry Golovnin, Christopher Maltman, Florian Boesch, and Asmik Grigorian. Alain Altinoglu conducts the new production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-12, 2026 Barrie Kosky directs a new production of Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” with {…}
The Edinburgh International Festival has announced its 2026 season. Here are the vocal performances. Opera Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “The Galloping Cure” will make its world premiere with Stuart Stratford conducting the Scottish Opera and Tom Morris directing. Performance Dates: August 9-12, 2026 Konstantin Krimmel lead Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with Brindley Sherratt, Louise Alder, Giovanni Sala, Janai Brugger, Michael Sumuel, William Thomas, and Hera {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2026 summer season at the Circo Massimo which will take place between June 29 and July 31, 2026. The season will take place at the venue as the Terme di Caracalla are under renovation. The season will open with the film “Gladiator” conductor by Ludwig Wicki and featuring the voice of Lisa Gerrard. {…}
Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced a cast change for its production of “Salome.” The company said that soprano Jennifer Holloway will portray the title role, replacing Elena Stikhina, who is withdrawing from the production due to her pregnancy. Holloway will make her Lyric debut in the title role that she has also performed at the Wiener Staatsoper, Berlin State {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to present a new production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Maid of Orleans.” The opera, which will be performed between Nov. 12 and Dec. 2, 2025, will be directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov and will be a co-production with The Metropolitan Opera in New York. Conductor Valentin Uryupin will make his debut at Dutch National Opera, leading {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Iolanta.” The company said that Sonya Yoncheva will no longer perform the title role on Sept. 13 and 16. As a result, Elena Stikhina will replace her. The change comes after Yoncheva announced on social media that she was experiencing physical fatigue following a full summer schedule. She {…}
Elena Stikhina is set to participate in the Mariinsky Theatre’s White Nights Festival. The company announced the Russian soprano will sing the role of Leonora in “La Forza del Destino” on August 1. She will perform alongside Alexey Markov and Hovhannes Ayvazyan. The festival is known for bringing together the leading lights of the international opera stage and is supported by the {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to open its 2025-26 season with Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production by Barrie Kosky is inspired by Film Noir and will showcase Nathalie Stutzmann, who makes her house debut as conductor. When Kosky’s production first opened in 2022, critics raved and said, “It is in these psychologically highly-charged interactions where Kosky’s film noir approach is most {…}
(Photos: Paul Leclaire) Opernhaus Zürich revives its 2021 production of Richard Strauss’s “Salome,” directed by Andreas Homoki. The striking set design by Hartmut Meyer features two massive, crescent-shaped rotating structures—an evident nod to the libretto’s many references to the moon. One of these structures serves as a raked stage representing the terrace of Herod’s palace, while the other hovers above {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Detlev Glanert ‘s “Die drei Rätsel” will be conducted by Dominic Limburg and directed by Brigitte Dethier. The production will star Martina Baroni, Philipp Jekal, Chance Jonas-O’Toole, Joel Allison, Padraic Rowan, Maria Vasilevskaya, and Alexandra Oomens. Performance Dates: Oct. 11, 2025-Feb. 15, 2026 Sir Donald Runnicles will {…}