The winners of the 2022 Opus Klassik awards have been announced. This year the Female Singer of the Year went to Lea Desandre for her album “Amazone” while the Male Singer of the Year went to Jonas Kaufmann for his “Liszt – FREUDVOLL UND LEIDVOLL” album. The Conductor of the Year went to Vladimir Jurowski for “Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie,” while {…}
Photo: Bernd Uhlig Ingo Metzmacher, the conductor for this year’s Aix-en-Provence festival’s production of Strauss’ “Salome” stressed time and again throughout his program notes the need for a cool head, for orchestral restraint and calm, for sobriety and balance. His stated aim was to ensure the orchestra does not predominate, does not get carried away, is not too loud, but {…}
(© photo : Eléna Bauer/OnP) FRA Cinéma, the exclusive cinema distributor for the Paris Opera, has announced its 2022-23 slate, which will feature four operas and two ballets. The 11th season of the collaboration will kick off with “I Capuleti e I Montecchi” from the Opéra Bastille. The opera, which is conducted by Speranza Scappucci will be directed by Robert {…}
The Grand Théâtre de Genève has announced its 2022-23 season which is centered on the theme of “Mondes en migration.” The season commences with Gesualdo’s “Sparge la Morte.” The work will be directed by Davide et Giuseppe Di Liberto. Performance Dates: Sept. 7 & 8, 2022 Halévy’s “La Juive” will be conducted by Marc Minkowski with scenic direction by David {…}
La Monnaie de Munt in Brussels has announced its 2022-23 season featuring eight productions and a number of concerts. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera Nathalie Stutzmann conducts David Marton’s production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” with Dmitry Golovnin, Laurent Naouri, Jacques Imbrailo, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Anna Nechaeva, and Charlotte Hellekant. Performance Date: {…}
Elsa Dreisig credits Mozart with being the composer who first inspired her to become a professional singer. And over the past years, the soprano has dominated his works singing his operas around the world. After two successful albums, Dreisig decided to pay tribute to the famed creator with an album devoted entirely to arias from his operas particularly the three {…}
This past week offered a wealth of releases from rising stars, established singers, and established ensembles. There is an intriguing solo album of new composers and another dedicated to Mozart. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. From Rags to Riches: 100 Years of American Song The New York Festival of Song releases the new album on its {…}
Les Grand Voix / Les Grands Solistes has announced its March and February programming. First up will be a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris / Grande Salle Pierre Boulez starring Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna. They will perform alongside the Belgian National Orchestra under the musical direction of David Giménez Carreras. The program will feature a host of opera {…}
(Credit: David Ruanoquer) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced that mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti will perform the role of Cherubino for the final season performances of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” on April 9 & 16, 2022. Viotti joins a cast that includes Gyula Orendt in the role of Count Almaviva, Elsa Dreisig as Countess Almaviva, Regula Mühlemann as Susanna, {…}
(Credit: Johan Jacobs) The government of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has officially reopened theaters following a decision by the Council of State. Using an emergency procedure, the Council of State ruled that the government’s closure measures were not proportionate, and didn’t provide enough motives to understand why attending cultural performances was particularly dangerous for public health. Per the {…}
(Credit: Les Grandes Voix official website) Les Grandes Voix has announced the upcoming concerts in February 2022. Tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak will give a special concert at the Philharmonie de Paris on Feb. 14, 2022. The two singers will perform arias and duets from Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda,” Puccini’s “Tosca,” Verdi’s “Aida” and “Don Carlo,” {…}