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 The company noted, Mexican tenor Javier Camarena has withdrawn from all “Rigoletto” performances.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 {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
(Credit: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) Italy’s Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced the 2021-22 season featuring world premieres, rarely staged works, and star singers. Here is a look at the operatic performances of the season. Pre-Opening Before opening night, the fall season will see Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco.” The work will be presented for the first time in Rome since 1972 {…}
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced its 2021-22 season which will include nine operas. First up will be Sven-Eric Bechtolf’s production of “Così fan tutte,” which will be conducted by Zubin Mehta. The opera will star Valentina Nafornita, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Matthew Swensen, Mattia Olivieri, Benedetta Torre, and Thomas Hampson. Performance Dates: August 30– Sept. 4, 2021 Next up {…}
Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège in Belgium has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Here is the full slate. Opera Verdi‘s “La Forza del Destino” will star Marcelo Álvarez as Don Alvaro, María José Siri as Donna Leonora, and Simone Piazzola as Don Carlo di Vargas. The cast also {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment) The Teatro alla Scala in Milan has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring some of the greatest performers in the world. Here is the full slate. Operas Anna Netrebko and Luca Salsi open the season in Verdi‘s “Macbeth” in {…}
OperaVision has announced the June streams featuring three complete works and a competition. The month opens with Calixto Bieito’s new “St. John Passion” from Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Les Talens Lyriques and a group of amateur singers who form the chorus at the heart of the narrative star alongside Benjamin Appl, Joshua Ellicott, Lenneke Ruiten, and Carlos Mena Streaming {…}