(Credit: ©2026 Tristram Kenton) The death of Vincenzo Bellini at just 33 years of age was unequivocally a tragic loss to the world of opera. The libretto for his final work…not so much. After a 35 year absence, Bellini’s “I Puritani” has made a return to Covent Garden. The opera is rarely performed in any house, and the reason is {…}
The Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville has announced its 2026-27 Season Opera The Bayreuth Festival Orchestra under Pablo Heras-Casado will lead scenes from the Ring Cycle with Katharina Wagner directing and Catherine Foster, Klaus Florian Vogt and Nicholas Brownlee as soloists. Performance Date: Sept. 2, 2026 Pavol Breslik, Nina Minasyan, Riccardo Fassi, Maxim Lisiin, and Anna-Doris Capitelli lead Gounod’s {…}
(Photo by: Kartal Karagedik) The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced a cast change for its performance of “La Sonnambula” on Dec. 28, 2025. The company said that Levy Sekgapane will sing the role of Elvino replacing Francesco Demuro, who had to cancel his appearance at the concert performance on due to illness. Sekgapane performed “I Puritani” at the Tiroler Festspiele {…}
(Credit: Ph. Luciano Romano) On Dec. 11, Rai 5 will broadcast the Teatro San Carlo‘s new production of Cherubini’s “Medea.” The production marks the first time the Napoli, Italy theater performs the work. The opera is be conducted by Riccardo Frizza and stars Sondra Radvanovsky in her acclaimed interpretation which she has performed the Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of {…}
(Ph. Luciano Romano) On Dec. 6, the Teatro San Carlo will open its 2025-26 season with a new production of Cherubini’s “Medea” The production will mark the first time the Napoli, Italy theater performs the work. The opera will be conducted by Riccardo Frizza and will star Sondra Radvanovsky in her acclaimed interpretation. She will be joined by Francesco Demuro, {…}
Ennio Morricone’s sole opera “Partenope” will receive its world premiere at Teatro San Carlo. The work will be performed on Dec. 12 and 14 and will be conducted by Riccardo Frizza. The new Teatro San Carlo production will be entrusted to the vision of Vanessa Beecroft who will work alongside Daniela Ciancio and Danilo Rubeca. The cast will include Jessica {…}
(Photos: Vincent Pontet) From May 21 to June 5, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées presents “Der Rosenkavalier” in a production by the famous and highly controversial director Krzysztof Warlikowski. Even though the French music lovers, and especially the Parisians, are delighted to see this masterpiece of an opera from the beginning of the twentieth century back in the capital – something {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Riccardo Frizza conducting Cherubini’s “Medea” in a production by Mario Martone. Sondra Radvanovsky stars in the title role alongside Francesco Meli, Giorgi Manoshvili, Désirée Giove, and Anita Rachvelishvili. Performance Dates: Dec. 3-16, 2025 Jessica Pratt, Maria Agresta, Désirée Giove, Francesco Demuro, and Mimmo Borrelli star in Ennio {…}
The Festival Cap Rocat in Mallorca has announced its 2025 season, which will be held between August 1 and 3, 2025. The season opens with a Gala operística featuring soprano Pretty Yende and director Riccardo Frizza. The Orquesta Sinfónica de las Islas Baleares will perform a program that includes Bellini, Verdi, Berlioz, Gounod, Dvořák, and Johann Strauss II. Performance Date: August 1, {…}
The Bilbao Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” The opera, which will be performed from Oct. 19 to 28, 2024 at the Euskalduna Bilbao, returns to the company after being performed on four occasions. The opera was first shown in 1958 with Renata Scotto and Alfredo Kraus, and later in 1995 with Carlos Chausson {…}
When I asked soprano Aida Garifullina, in an earlier interview, what dream role she aspired to sing, she responded: “To be honest, I’m singing it at the moment…‘Traviata’ is my favorite opera.” And, on the opening day of this performance, almost 30 years since Richard Eyre’s celebrated first production of it, she sang her heart and soul out to prove it. {…}