(Photo: G. Schied) It was deeply gratifying that the Bavarian State Opera continued to preserve Jürgen Rose’s magnificent production (seen July 17), first unveiled in 2006 and now deservedly regarded as one of Munich’s exemplary repertory stagings. At a time when “Norma” has too often fallen victim to directorial concepts eager to relocate ancient Gaul to psychiatric institutions, corporate boardrooms {…}
(Photo credit: Marco Facincani) Gilda Fiume will perform the title role of Norma at Bayerische Staatsoper on May 29. Fiume replaces Sonya Yoncheva. The cast is rounded out by Najmiddin Mavlyanov as Pollione, Michael Butler as Flavio, Erwin Schrott as Oroveso, Emily Sierra in the role of Adalgisa, and Shannon Keegan as Clotilde. They are joined by the Chorus of {…}
(Credit: Emily Doyle Moore) The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2027 season. John Fiore conducts Puccini’s “Turandot” with Paul Curran directing. Angela Meade, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Kathleen O’Mara, and Peixin Chen star. Performance Dates: July 2-August 28, 2027 Iván López Reynoso conducts Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” with Stephen Barlow directing. Sun-Ly Pierce, Jonah Hoskins, Luke Sutliff, Kevin Burdette, and William Guanbo Su {…}
Arte.TV is set to present Bayerische Staatsoper‘s new production of “Faust” on Feb. 8. The production by Lotte de Beer will be conducted by Natahlie Stutzmann. Jonathan Tetelman will lead the cast in the title role alongside Kyle Ketelsen, Florian Sempey, Thomas Mole, Olga Kulchynska, Emily Sierra, and Dshamilja Kaiser. The production will be shown in cooperation with BR-KLASSIK und Staatsoper.tv. {…}
The Ministry of Science and the Arts has announced the Bavarian Art Promotion Prize. Among the winners of this year’s prizes included Bayerische Staatsoper ensemble members and former Opernstudio members, Emily Sierra and Granit Musliu who were awarded the prizes in the performing arts category. Musliu has been a member of the Bayerische Staatsoper ensemble since the season 2023-24 and {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}
The Richard Tucker Foundation has announced the Career and Study grant. The foundation noted that Anthony Léon, Luke Sutliff, and Elena Villalón have been selected recipients of the 2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant. Recipients receive unrestricted grants of $10,000 each. Sutliff and were previously awarded the 2022 Sara Tucker Study Grant. They join past Career Grant recipients Leah Hawkins, Aryeh Nussbaum {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2024-25 season. Monteverdi’s “Combattimenti” will star Ferran Albrich, Johanna Rosa Falkinger, Luciana Mancini, Ambra Biaggi, and Ilyà Dovnar. David Bergmüller conducts the production by Olivier Fredj. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 18, 2024 David Bates conducts Mozart’s “Idomeneo” in a new production by Stefan Herheim. The cast includes Attilio Glaser, Emily Sierra, Jeanine De Bique, Elena Tsallagova, Ya-Chung Huang, and Levente {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Tobias Krazter directs a new production of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” with Nicholas Brownlee, Milan Siljanov, Sean Panikkar, Markus Brück, Matthias Klink, Matthew Rose, Timo Riihonen, Ekaterina Gubanova, Mirjam Mesak, and Wiebke Lehmkuhl. Vladimir Jurowski conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27, 2024-July 31, 2025 Damiano Michieletto directs Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” with {…}
Emily Sierra has signed on with Askonas Holt for worldwide management. The Cuban-American mezzo is currently an ensemble member of the Bayerische Staatsoper, where she graduated from the Opera Studio. This season in Munich she is performing Idamante in “Idomeneo,” Tisbe in “La Cenerentola,” Clotilde in “Norma,” La Ciesca in “Gianni Schicchi,” Dritte Magd in “Elektra,” and Fyodor in “Boris {…}
The World Operalia Competition has announced the finalists for the 2022 edition. The finalists in the opera category include USA mezzo-soprano Maire Therese Carmack, USA tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro, Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan, South Korean bass-baritone Jongwon Han, Finnish soprano Jenni Hietala, South Korean bass In-Ho Jeong, bass, USA tenor Duke Kim, USA tenor, Anthony León, USA tenor James Ley, South {…}