Dimitri Platanias, Francesco Demuro, Anita Rachvelishvili, Anna Pirozzi Headline Greek National Opera’s 2022-23 Season

The Greek National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season. It will feature five revivals, one newly commissioned opera, and 10 new opera and ballet productions. The season opens with a new production of Dimitra Trypani’s “Andrei: A Requiem in Eight Scenes.” The work will be conducted by Trypani and stars Iro Bezou, Irini Bilini-Moraiti, Thanasis Dovris, Valia Karagiorga, Giorgos Kasavetis, Marianna Kavallieratos, Dimitra Kokkinopoulou, Nandia Kontogeorgi, Hara Kotsali, Christina {…}

May 27, 2022

Lisette Oropesa, Saioa Hernández, Anna Netrebko, Jakub Józef Orliński & Piotr Beczala Lead Teatro Real de Madrid’s 2022-23 Season

The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2022-23 season featuring nine company premieres. Opera Philip Glass’ “Orphée” opens the season with Jordi Francés conducting Rafael Villalobos’ production. The chamber work stars María Rey-Joly, Isabella Gaudí, Sylvia Schwartz, Natalia Labourdette, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Edward Nelson, Karina Demurova, Pablo García-López, and Emmanuel Faraldo. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-25, 2022 Nicola Luisotti, Diego García Rodríguez, {…}

Apr 30, 2022

Jonas Kaufmann, Juan Diego Flórez, Sonya Yoncheva, Nina Stemme, & Piotr Beczala Lead Wiener Staatsoper’s 2022-23 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2022-23 season featuring six new productions, all of which are themed around Mahler. Premieres Lorenzo Viotti conducts “Von Der Liebe Tod” which includes Mahler’s “Kindertotenlieder” and “Das klagende Lied.” Calixto Bieito directs the production which stars Vera-Lotte Boecker, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Daniel Jenz, and Florian Boesch. Performance Dates: Sept. 29, 2022-May 16, 2023 Philippe Jordan {…}

Apr 19, 2022

Jessica Pratt Leads Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s ‘I Puritani’

On April 19, the Teatro dell Opera di Roma will premiere a new production of Bellini’s “Il Puritani.” The production, which will be broadcast on Rai Radio3, will be conducted by Roberto Abbado and will be directed by Andrea De Rosa. The new production will see set design by Nicolas Bovey, costumes by Mariano Tufano, and lighting by Pasquale Mari. The {…}

Mar 30, 2022

Saioa Hernández, Renée Fleming, Lisette Oropesa & Thomas Hampson Lead Ópera de Paris’ 2022-23 Season

Ópera de París has announced its 2022-23 season featuring numerous new productions and international stars. Gustavo Dudamel and Paolo Bortolameolli lead a revival of Puccini’s “Tosca” with Saioa Hernández, Elena Stikhina, Joseph Calleja, Brian Jagde, Bryn Terfel, Gerald Finley, and Roman Burdenko. Performance Dates: Sept. 3-Nov. 26, 2022 Dmitry Korchak, Vito Priante, Carlo Lepore, Gaëlle Arquez, and Luca Pisaroni star in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” with Diego Matheuz conducting. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}

Feb 1, 2022

Royal Opera House Announces Cast Change for ‘Rigoletto’

The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Rigoletto.” The company noted, Mexican tenor Javier Camarena has withdrawn from all “Rigoletto” performances. As a result, the role of the Duke of Mantua will be performed by Italian tenor Francesco Demuro. Demuro made his Royal Opera debut as Rinuccio in “Gianni Schicchi” in 2011 and {…}

Jan 17, 2022

Teatro Real 2021-22 Review: La Bohème (Alternative Cast Performances)

(Credit: Javier del Real) The Teatro Real succumbed to the latest wave of infections of the new Omicron variant, with COVID once again causing cancellations of opera performances across Europe. But Teatro Real remained determined not to cancel performances and (despite some controversy on how many people were infected) pushed forward to keep the theatre open for the sold-out performances {…}

Jan 3, 2022

Teatro Real Changes Cast For Performance of ‘La Bohème’ as COVID-19 Outbreak Swelling

(Credit: Teatro Real official website) The Teatro Real has announced a completely new cast for the performance of Puccini’s “La bohème” on Jan. 3, 2022. Per the official statement, Francesco Demuro replaced Andeka Gorrotxategi as Rodolfo, Ailyn Pérez replaced Eleonora Buratto in the role of Mimì, Javier Franco replaced Andrzej Filonczyk as Marcello, and Gabriel Bermúdez replaced Manel Esteve in {…}

Dec 10, 2021

Jessica Prat & Lucas Meachem Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get to celebrate the holiday with a new Christmas album by one of the leading baritones in the world and two rarely performed works by two of the greatest Italian composers. All I Want Baritone Lucas Meachem releases “All I Want,” an EP of five classic Christmas ballads on with Crossover Records. The carols include “All {…}

Oct 8, 2021

Paola Gardina, Francesco Demuro & Martina Belli Lead Teatro Comunale di Ferrara’s Fall 2021-22 Season

The Teatro Comunale di Ferrara, in Italy, has announced its fall 2021-22 season featuring four productions. The season opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” starring Silvia Pantani in the title role, Francesco Fortes as F. Pinkerton, Ilaria Ribezzi as Suzuki, and Italo Proferisce as Sharpless. Matteo Mazzoni directs the production with David Crescenzi conducting. Performance Dates: Oct. 29 & 31, 2021 Francesco Demuro {…}

Sep 13, 2021

Zuzana Marková & Francesco Demuro Lead Suntory Hall’s ‘La Traviata’

Suntory Hall in Tokyo is set to present Verdi’s “La Traviata” to celebrate its 35th-anniversary program. The opera will be presented on Oct. 7 and 9, 2021, and will mark the hall’s return to opera in five years. Conductor Nicola Luisotti will lead the opera with Zuzana Marková as Violetta and Francesco Demuro as Alfredo. Artur Ruciński will round the principal {…}