Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Luca Salsi, Lisette Oropesa, Elena Stikhina, Asmik Grigorian Lead Salzburg Festival’s 2022 Season

(Credit: Anne Zeuner) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2022 season, featuring eight operas, concerts, and international opera stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Operas The season opens with Romeo Castellucci’s production of Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The opera stars Mika Kares and Aušrinė Stundytė in the lead roles, alongside soprano {…}

Dec 8, 2021

Anna Lapkovskaja Replaces Elīna Garanča in ‘Samson et Dalila’ at Staatsoper Berlin

(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” for the entire run ending Dec. 19, 2021. The mezzo-soprano already missed the opening night performance on Dec. 5 and was replaced by mezzo-soprano Anna Lapkovskaja. Lapkovskaja will now take over {…}

Dec 3, 2021

Ludovic Tézier & Elīna Garanča Lead New CD/DVD Releases

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 {…}

Dec 2, 2021

Anna Lapkovskaja Replaces Elīna Garanča for Opening Night of ‘Samson et Dalila’ at Staatsoper Berlin

(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 {…}

Nov 12, 2021

Angel Blue, Juan Diego Flórez, Elīna Garanča & Cecilia Bartoli Lead Lucerne Festival’s 2022 Season

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 {…}

Nov 2, 2021

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Cast Change For ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’

(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 {…}

Nov 2, 2021

Elīna Garanča, Andreas Schager & Michael Volle Lead Staatsoper Berlin’s ‘Samson et Dalila’

(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, {…}

Oct 21, 2021

Ermonela Jaho & Elīna Garanča Headline Wiener Staatsoper’s ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’ Stream

(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 {…}

Sep 28, 2021

Daniele Gatti Leads Verdi’s Messa di Requiem in Parma

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 {…}

Sep 7, 2021

Metropolitan Opera Announces Cast Change for Verdi Requiem: The Met Remembers 9/11

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,” {…}

Aug 27, 2021

Elīna Garanča, Adriana González & Leonard Bernstein Headline New CD/DVD Releases

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 {…}

Elina Garanca