(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s 2024–25 Live in HD season will continue with composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist George Brant’s “Grounded.” The HD presentation will be held on Oct. 19, 2024, and will star Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo as Jess, tenor Ben Bliss as Eric, soprano Ellie Dehn as Also Jess, baritone Kyle Miller as the Sensor, and {…}
(Credit: MetropolItan Opera / Ken Howard) WARNING: This review features explicit language. It also uses some variation of the word “frustrating” a lot. To use a line from the cathartic and sublime climax in Jeanine Tesori and George Brant’s “Grounded” – “What the f*ck?” That quotidian expression perfectly encapsulates, in the context of the climax and at large, the frustration {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) On Sept. 23, the Metropolitan Opera will open its 2024-25 season. The season opening is always one of the most glamorous events of the opera season on a worldwide scale. And to commemorate the occasion this year, the company will present Jeanine Tesori’s “Grounded” to the legendary stage for the first time with an {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences cannot miss the new album by one of the world’s most renowned tenors and the world premiere of two contemporary operas composed by acclaimed female composers. Akathist Bright Shiny Things releases “Akathist,” a large-scale oratorio by composer Benedict Sheehan. Featuring {…}
(Credit: Paoala Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to open its 139th season with Jeanine Tesori and George Brant’s new opera, “Grounded.” The opera will premiere on Sept. 23 and will run through Oct. 19, 2024. “Grounded” is a production that wrestles with the ethical quandaries and psychological toll of 21st-century warfare. Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo stars {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of Carnegie Hall) Carnegie Hall has announced a “Concert for the Children and Youth of Ukraine: A Benefit for Direct Relief.” The concert, which will be held on Oct. 23 at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, will showcase the Orchestra for Ukraine conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. The evening will include soloists violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, soprano Olga Kulchynska, {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Luca Salsi and Anna Netrebko team up for Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Ivan Magrì, Marina Prudenskaya, and René Pape join them. Anastasia Bartoli also performs. Bertrand de Billy conducts the new production by Emma Dante. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-26, 2024 Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” receives a new production featuring multiple casts. {…}
Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Bruckner’s “Te Deum” with Latonia Moore, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Limmie Pulliam, and Ryan Speedo Green. The program also includes Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 and Balfour’s Premiere for choir and orchestra. Performance Dates: Sept. 22, 2024 Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Candian soloists in Beethoven’s Symphony {…}
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Opera in Production Bach’s “Passion selon Saint” will be conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and directed by Sasha Waltz. The cast will include Sophie Junker, Georg Nigl, Christian Immler, Benno Schachtner, Valerio Contaldo, and Mark Milhofer. Performance Dates: Nov. 4 & 5, 2024 Poulenc’s “Dialogues des {…}
(Photo credit: Paul Marc Mitchell) The English Concert marks its 50th anniversary with new releases of its legacy project, “Handel for All.” This spring the group will put on a number of special concerts and events in celebration, whilst continuing to build its library of recordings of Händel’s works that are free and accessible. Sopranos Jeanine de Bique and Liv {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its production of “Giulio Cesare.” The company said that Marianne Crebassa has withdrawn from the production and as a result, Emily D’Angelo will take over the role of Sesto. Additionally, the role of Giulio Cesare will be performed by Gaëlle Arquez. They will join a cast that includes Lisette Oropesa, Wiebke {…}