Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Diana Damrau, Rolando Villazon, Asmik Grigorian, Ludovic Tézier, Jonathan Tetelman, Serena Sáenz & Sondra Radvanovsky Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2025-26 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}

Mar 1, 2025

Piotr Beczala, Rachel Willis-Sørensen & Elīna Garanča Lead Festspielhaus Baden-Baden’s 2026 Easter Festival

The Festspielhaus Baden-Baden has announced the Easter Festival for 2026. Joana Mallwitz conducts a new production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” by Johannes Erath. The cast includes Piotr Beczała in the title role, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, and Samuel Hasselhorn. Performance Dates: March 28 & 31, 2026 Klaus Mäkelä conducts Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion. Performance Date: March 30, 2026 Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem is {…}

Jan 16, 2025

Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier, Elina Garanča & Kate Aldrich Among 2025 ICMA Winners

The International Classical Music Awards has announced the 2025 winners which will be presented at Düsseldorf’s Tonhalle on March 19. For this article, we will only focus on the opera winners. For the complete list of winners click here. The Artist of the Year award was given to Leonardo García Alarcón, while Christoph Ehrenfellner won the composer of the year {…}

Jan 15, 2025

ORF III to Broadcast ‘Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci’ Featuring Jonas Kaufmann & Elīna Garanča

On Feb. 9, ORF III is set to present “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” from the Wiener Staatsoper. The broadcast will feature superstars Jonas Kaufmann and Elīna Garanča in the double bill. Jonas Kaufmann sings the role of Canio in “Pagliacci” alongside a cast that includes Maria Agresta, Adam Plachetka, Jörg Schneider, and Stefan Astakhov. Meanwhile, Elīna Garanča stars as Santuzza {…}

Dec 5, 2024

Jonas Kaufmann, Elina Garanča, Magdalena Kozena, Asmik Grigorian & Diana Damrau Among 2025 ICMA Nominees

The International Classical Music Awards has announced the nominations for its 2025 Awards. The winners will be revealed on Jan. 14 and will receive their trophies at the gala at the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf on March 19. Here are the vocal nominees. Baroque Vocal Johann Sebastian Bach: Complete Solo Cantatas for Alto and Bass: J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 56, BWV {…}

Nov 29, 2024

Angel Blue, Piotr Beczała, Brian Jagde, & Elīna Garanča Lead Metropolitan Opera’s New ‘Aida’ Production

(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present a new production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The new production will open on Dec. 31, 2024, and will be directed by Michael Mayer, who has already been in charge of the Met’s productions of “Grounded,” “Rigoletto,” “La Traviata,” and “Marnie.” This will be the first new production of {…}

Nov 8, 2024

Elīna Garanča, Cecilia Bartoli & Thomas Blondelle Lead Lucerne Festival’s 2025 Summer Seson

The Lucerne Festival has announced its 2025 summer season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly perform Mahler with Elīna Garanča. Performance Date: August 15, 2025 The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra and Keri-Lynn Wilson perform Strauss and Beethoven. Rachel Willis-Sørensen is the guest soloist. Performance Date: August 18, 2025 Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di {…}

Oct 18, 2024

Elīna Garanča Will Not Perform in Teatro de la Maestranza’s ‘Carmen’

Elīna Garanča will not perform during the 2024-25 season at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, Spain. In a letter obtained by Diario de Sevilla from the mezzo-soprano’s press team, Garanča clarifies that she never signed a contract for the performances of “Carmen” on June 13, 15, and 17, 2025 and that she has dates for another theater during {…}

Oct 15, 2024

Elīna Garanča, Piotr Beczała, Christopher Purves Headline Second Half of Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Philharmonia Orchestra has unveiled the second half of its 2024-25 season. (To check out the first half, click here.) Here is a rundown of the vocal and operatic performances on offer. Riccardo Muti will conduct Verdi’s Requiem with a star-studded quartet of singers. Soloists include Juliana Grigoryan, Elīna Garanča, Piotr Beczała, and Ildebrando d’Arcangelo. Performance Date: March 27, 2025 {…}

Oct 1, 2024

Teatro Real 2024-25 Review: Adriana Lecouvreur (Cast A)

(Credit: Javier del Real) The Spanish opera coliseum opened its 2024-25 season with the worldwide recognized production of Francesco Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” by David McVicar and two excellent casts, streaming a live performance on Live Screens all over Spain (on the 28th of September) and on a wide screen in the back facade of Teatro Real. David McVicar’s Production Perspective {…}

Sep 6, 2024

Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Jonathan Tetelman, Véronique Gens, Corinne Winters Among Nominees for Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2024

Gramophone Classical Music Awards has announced its nominees for its 2024 edition. Here is rundown of the vocal nominees. CHORAL Delius – “Mass of Life” – Bergen Philharmonic, Sir Mark Elder (LAWO) Elgar – “The Dream of Gerontius” – Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh (Signum) Parry – “Prometheus Unbound” – London Mozart Players (Chandos) EARLY Josquin – “Motets & chansons” – Cut Circle, Jesse Rodin (Musique en {…}

Elina Garanca