The Metropolitan Opera has announced Week 7 of its weekly streams. This week’s slate will feature Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy in addition to showcasing a rare modern opera and a Russian classic. But the big surprise this week will be the showcase of a legendary performance starring Leontyne Price, suggesting that the company will start to showcase some of its historic {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) In continuation of the 2019-20 Great Performances Series, PBS will present the Live in HD broadcast of Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” from the Metropolitan Opera on Sunday, May 3, 2020. The broadcast will kick off at 12 p.m. EDT. The cast includes baritone Peter Mattei in the title role with Elza van den Heever as {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper announced its 2020-21 season which includes eight new productions and numerous revivals. Premieres The first new production of the year will be “Die Vögel” by Walter Braunfels, who also penned the libretto. Ingo Metzmacher conducts a production by Frank Castrof that will star Wolfgang Koch, Günter Papendell, Caroline Wettergreen, Emily Pogorelc, Eliza Bloom, and Yajie Zhang, among {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring new productions and a number of world premieres. Boito’s “Mefistofele” opens the season with a new production by Tatjana Gürbaca. Marco Armiliato conducts the production with Christian Van Horn in the title role, Charles Castronovo, Olga Busuioc, and Guanqun Yu. Performance Dates: Sept. 5-24, 2020 Paula Murrihy, Sandrine Piau, Tuomas {…}
(Credit: Washington National Opera) The Washington National Opera has announced its 2020–2021 season offering up some ambitious repertoire. The season with WNO’s new production of Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” Robert Spano makes his WNO debut conducting a cast that includes Elza van den Heever, Brandon Jovanovich, Brian Mulligan, Ryan Speedo Green, Joshua Blue, and Eric Owens. Performance Dates: Oct. 24–Nov. 9, 202o {…}
The International Opera Awards have announced the nominees for its 2020 Awards. The annual event, which celebrates achievement in opera around the globe over the 2019 calendar year, recognizes excellence in a wide range of categories that cover performance, design and direction, as well as education and outreach. This year, two opera companies topped the 2020 nominees with three a {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions and stars. Here is a look. Productions The first production of the season will be Beethoven’s “Fidelio” celebrating the composer’s 250th anniversary. The new production will be directed by Matthew Ozawa with Music Director Designate Eun Sun Kim conducting {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) The Met Opera’s Live in HD series for the 2019-20 season continues this Saturday, Jan. 11, 2019 with a transmission of Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck.” The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time and is set to end before 3 p.m. local time. It will star Peter Mattei in the titular role with Elza {…}
One could call the Met Opera’s new production of “Wozzeck” a collage. The opera itself undeniably brings this word to mind in how Alban Berg unites the dark tale of a misanthrope who murders his lover and drowns himself via numerous musical structures and forms. The entire first act features a suite, a rondo, a lullaby, and a passacaglia while {…}
(Credit: Theater an der Wien/Opera de Monte Carlo) This weekend is filled with rarities and curiosities. And those burning for repertory staples will also be obliged as some of the great opera stars of today are taking on iconic operas. Here is a look at what we reccommend. La Vestale – Theater an der Wien, Vienna Elza Van Den Heever {…}
(Credit: Frédérick Desmesure) Elza van den Heever is one of the most dynamic sopranos of her generation. Her repertoire spans several periods from baroque to Mozart and Bel Canto as well as Wagner, Strauss, and Verdi. She is an acclaimed actress and is especially hailed for her sparkling high notes. Throughout her her 2019-20 season the soprano will showcase three {…}