Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week two prominent artists releases new album. There are also several choral works releases. Invocation Erato releases French-Danish soprano Elsa Dreisig’s new album which features 17 arias and songs by 14 composers, sung in six languages, and recorded with Massimo Zanetti and the {…}
(Photo credit: Marco Borggreve) The Ryedale Festival announces its 2026 season. Below are the vocal events. The Dunedin Consort featuring soprano Jessica Cale, tenors Nicholas Mulroy and Samuel Boden, bass Chris Webb perform works by Purcell, John Blow, Henry Hall, and William Croft. Performance Date: July 10, 2026 Tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Christopher Glynn present Schubert’s “Winterreise.” Performance Date: {…}
The lineup for Schubertiade 2026 has been announced. This article only features opera and classical vocal performances. Baritone Konstantin Krimmel and pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz open the season with an all Schubert program. Performance Date: April 29, 2026 Mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert, pianist Joseph Middleton, and Vocalis are up next. Performance Date: April 30, 2026 Baritone Konstantin Krimmel Baritone is joined by {…}
The Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center celebrates its second season under the Renée and Robert Belfer Music & Artistic Director Jonathon Heyward with several premieres, commissions, and exciting performances. “Connected Perceptions,” a world premiere commission by James Lee III. Soprano Gabriella Reyes performs Britten’s “Les illuminations” and Golijov’s “Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra.” Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist alumni {…}
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here are the vocal performances. Liv Redpath and George Fu perform alongside Gilles Vonsattel, Leila Josefowicz, Yura Lee, Paul Watkins, and Todd Levy in a program of music by Schubert, Enescu, and Shostakovich. Performance Dates: July 13 & 14, 2025 Liv Redpath and George Fu perform Wolf, Schubert, Strauss, Grieg, and Debussy. {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Otello,” starring Brian Jadge, Jorge de León, and Angelo Villari in the title role. The cast includes Igor Golovatenko, Artur Ruciński, Gabriele Viviani, Airam Hernández, Asmik Grigorian, and Maria Agresta. Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Mentuccia conduct the production by David Alden. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
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 {…}
(Photo credit: Bort, Williams, & Porter) The 2025 Leeds Lieder Festival has announced its programming. The 20th anniversary season taking place under the artistic direction of Joseph Middleton. This year’s theme is “Song, the Secret of Eternity.” Recitals Mezzo-soprano Patricia Nolz and pianist Joseph Middleton present the first recital, “Lunchtime Opening.” Performance Date: April 5, 2025 Baritone Florian Boesch performs {…}
Soprano Erika Baikoff has been denied the right to make Britain her home. In a recent interview with the Telegraph, the US-Russian singer revealed that her application to settle in the UK five years after being granted her visa in 2019 has been rejected because Home Office officials said she has not spent enough time in Britain to justify it. {…}
Wigmore Hall has announced its 2024-25 season from September to December. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Jakub Józef Orliński and il Pomo d’Oro open the season with Beyoind. Performance Date: Sept. 12, 2024 Véronique Gens, Fleur Barron, Laurence Kilsby, Stéphane Degout, Susan Manoff, and Julius Drake perform a Faure song gala. Performance Date: Sept. 13, 2024 Laurence {…}
The third annual Heidelberger Frühling Liedfestival has released the details of its 2024 program. This year’s theme is “Brahms and the Disorder of Lieder,” concluding Heidelberger Frühling’s season focus on Johannes Brahms. “A song festival for everyone,” a mixed genre event opens the festival. Performance Date: June 8, 2024 The Erlkings perform Lied in English with guitar, cello, tuba, and {…}