Eleonora Buratto, Javier Camarena & Francesco Meli Lead Palau de les Arts’ 2023-24 Season

Valencia’s Palau de les Arts’ 2023-24 season featuring opera, recitals, concerts, and zarzuela. Opera Dima Orsho and Carla Nahadi Babelegoto star in “Women at Point Zero.” Performance Date: Sept. 15, 2023 James Gaffigan conducts Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” in Richard Jones’ production. The cast includes Arsen Soghomonyan, Doris Soffel, Ekaterina Guseva, Elena Maximova, Roman Burdenko, and Nikolay Zemlianskikh. Performance {…}

Jun 2, 2023

Francesco Meli, Kate Lindsey & Charles Castronovo Lead Orchestra Rai’s 2023-24 Season

Torino’s Orchestra Rai has announced its 2023-24 season. Here are the vocal highlights. Philippe Jordan conducts Kate Lindsey in a program of music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Ernest Chausson, Benjamin Britten, and Claude Debussy. Performance Dates: Dec 14 & 15, 2023 Michele Gamba conducts Francesco Meli and Markus Werba in a Puccini concert. Performance Date: March 20, 2024 Andres Orozco-Estrada conducts {…}

May 29, 2023

Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Sonya Yoncheva, Jonas Kaufmann & Luca Salsi Lead Teatro alla Scala’s 2023-24 Season

The Teatro alla Scala has announced ts 2023-24 season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Don Carlo” which will star René Pape, Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi, Ain Anger, Anna Netrebko, and Elīna Garanča. Riccardo Chailly conducts a production by Lluis Pasqual. Maria Jose Siri and Ekaterina Semenchuk perform the final two performances. Performance Dates: Dec. 7, 2023-Jan. 2, 2024 Sonya Yoncheva {…}

May 1, 2023

Anna Netrebko, Joyce DiDonato & Emily Albrink Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get solo recital albums, an opening night performance at La Scala, and Disney classics with one of the great mezzos of her generation. Shara Nova’s Titration Grammy Award-winning choir The Crossing, led by Donald Nally, releases its 30th album “Titration,” on Navona Records. Premiered at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, Montana in August {…}

Dec 27, 2022

Francesco Meli & Eleonora Buratto Lead New ‘Don Carlo’ at Maggio Musicale

On Dec. 27, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is set to open a new production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” in its four-act version. The production by Roberto Andò will be performed five times through Jan. 8 and will be conducted by Daniele Gatti. The cast will include Francesco Meli, Eleonora Buratto, Roman Burdenko, Massimo Cavalletti, Alexander Vinogradov, Ekaterina Semenchuck, and Mikhail {…}

Nov 20, 2022

Q & A: Francesco Meli on ‘Uniti Per Verdi’ & the Importance of Italy’s Composer

(Credit: Victor Santiago) On Nov. 21, Francesco Meli will perform at the Uniti per Verdi concert, which he organized with Riccardo Frizza with the help of the Società del Quartetto. As one of the great Verdi tenors of his generation, Meli has been an advocate to save the Villa Sant’agata and hopes that with this upcoming concert, the government and {…}

Nov 16, 2022

Francesco Meli & Riccardo Frizza Headline ‘Uniti per Verdi’ Gala

On November 21, the Società del Quartetto di Milano and international opera singers will present “Uniti per Verdi,” an event to save Sant Agata, Verdi’s home. The gala, which was organized by Ricardo Frizza and Francesco Meli will also feature Eleonora Buratto, Massimo Cavalletti, Roberto de Candia, Chiara Isotton, Roberta Mantegna, Caterina Piva, Piero Pretti, Annalisa Stroppa, Riccardo Zanellato, and {…}

Nov 10, 2022

Francesco Meli Headlines Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s ‘Ernani’

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is set to present a production of Verdi’s “Ernani.” The new production is part of the Maggio Autumn Festival and will be directed by Leo Muscato. James Conlon conducts the production which is set to star Francesco Meli in one of his signature roles, Maria Jose Siri in her role debut as Elvira, Roberto Frontali, and Vitalij {…}

Oct 21, 2022

Leo Nucci, Cate Blanchett, Thomas Quasthoff, Adam Plachetka & Anthony Davis Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get to hear a concept album for one of the acclaimed films of the year as well a solo album by one of the rising star basses of his generation. There is also a world premiere recording of an opera that is having a renaissance and a new recording of one of Verdi’s masterpieces. Molieri Bass-baritone {…}

Oct 19, 2022

DVD Review: Dynamic’s ‘La Traviata’

It is a very rare and no less fortunate occurrence for two of the leading sopranos in America to release, within months from each other, their respective take on one of the most dangerously underestimated roles in all of opera: Violetta Valéry for whom, so the saying goes, three voices are needed to match the transition from the melismatic first {…}

Jul 14, 2022

Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi, Anastasia Bartoli & Rosa Feola Lead Teatro La Fenice’s 2022-23 Season

The Teatro La Fenice has announced its 2022-23 season. Opera Nicola Alaimo leads Verdi’s “Falstaff” alongside Vladimir Stoyanov, René Barbera, Selene Zanetti, Caterina Sala, Sara Mingardo, and Veronica Simeoni. Myung-Whun Chung conducts the production by Adrian Noble. Performance Dates: Nov. 18-26, 2022 Bruno Maderna’s “Satyricon” will star Francesca Gerbasi, Matteo Ferrara, Manuela Custer, Christopher Lemmings, William Corrò, and Marcello Nardis. Alessandro {…}