This week audiences get to hear a new version of a Verdi classic, a new release of a beloved Wagner song cycle, a lot of baroque music, and some Christmas albums. Macbeth Dynamic will release the world premiere recording of the 1865 French version of Verdi’s early masterpiece. Conducted by Roberto Abbado, the concert performance starred Ludovic Tézier (Macbeth), Silvia {…}
(Credit: Achim Graf) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced that mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča will not be appearing in the title role of Camille Saint-Saëns’ opera “Samson et Dalila” on Dec. 5, 2021. As a result, mezzo-soprano Anna Lapkovskaja will take over the role. The mezzo joins a cast that includes Michael Volle, Jongmin Park, Paul Gay, Magnus Dietrich, Benjamin {…}
The Lucerne Festival in Switzerland has announced its 2022 season featuring a diverse program of works. Here is a look at the vocal performances that the Swiss festival will offer this summer. Riccardo Chailly conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra with Andrè Schuen. The program includes Mahler’s “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen” and Symphony No. 1 in D major. Performance Dates: August {…}
(Credit: Lombardo Associates official website) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that tenor Brian Jagde was forced to cancel his performance in the role of Maurizio in Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” on Nov. 2, 2021, due to illness. Jagde released a personal statement, saying “I am incredibly sad to have to cancel tonight’s performance of Adriana Lecouvreur at the Wiener Staatsoper. I’ve {…}
(Credits: Holger Hage / David Jerusalem / Carsten Sander) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden will present Camille Saint-Saëns’ and Ferdinand Lemaire’s “Samson et Dalila” in December 2021. Mezzo-soprano superstar Elīna Garanča and famed Austrian heldentenor Andreas Schager star in the title roles, while baritone Michael Volle appears as Le Grand-Prêtre de Dagon. The cast is rounded out by Jongmin Park, {…}
(Credit: Fadil Berisha) On Oct. 29, the Wiener Staatsoper is set to stream a production of Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur.” The production will be streamed on the company’s streaming platform and will star Brian Jagde as Maurizio, Nicola Alaimo as Michonnet, Ermonela Jaho in the title role of Adriana Lecouvreur, and Elīna Garanča as La Principessa di Bouillon. The cast will {…}
On Oct. 2, the Festival Verdi is set to present the Messa da Requiem which will be dedicated to the composer Sylvano Bussotti, who recently died. Daniele Gatti will conduct the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai and the coro del Teatro Regio di Parma. Maria Agresta, Elīna Garanča, and John Relyea will make their Teatro Regio di Parma debuts alongside {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its Verdi’s Requiem: The Met Remembers 9/11. Mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung will replace Elīna Garanča, who is ill. DeYoung last sang at the Metropolitan Opera in 2015 in a production of “Tannhäuser.” The mezzo made her Met debut in 1994 and has since performed with the company in productions of “Tristan und Isolde,” {…}
This week, audiences will get to hear the second solo recital album by one of today’s rising stars, one of the greats mezzos of today performing Wagner, and a remastering of a historical recording. Here is a look at the new releases of the week. Wesendonck Lieder C Major releases Elīna Garanča’s Wesendonck Lieder record live from the 2020 Salzburg {…}
The Metropolitan Opera will present a pre-season performance of Verdi’s Requiem to commemorate the 20th anniversary of September 11. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct the Met Orchestra and Chorus with soloists Ailyn Pérez, Elīna Garanča, Matthew Polenzani, and bass-baritone Eric Owens. The concert will mark the first performance inside the Metropolitan Opera House since the March 2020 and will {…}
As July comes to a close we are fortunate to bring you another week of unique opera streams. Three hail from one company in Germany, but all of them are undeniably worth a look. We also have some unique streams from a number of other companies and organizations around the world. So without further ado, here are our top operas {…}