Q & A: Franco Fagioli on Velluti, Bel Canto & Discovering the Works of Paolo Bonfichi, Giuseppe Nicolini, and Francesco Morlacchi

Franco Fagioli is one of the leading virtuoso countertenors in the world, who has taken his own path in the repertoire and redefined the term countertenor. Having trained in the Italian school, Fagioli has performed works from the Bel Canto repertoire to great acclaim while also performing the baroque repertoire associated with countertenors. He has performed at the major opera {…}

Death of Classical 2025 Review: The Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra & Countertenor Franco Fagioli

(Photo: Sam Roppola/Death of Classical) The Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles, inaugurated in 1770 during the reign of Louis XV, was the largest concert hall in Europe at that time. The Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal (The Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra), was formed in 2019 specifically to perform John Corigliano’s opera, “The Ghosts of Versailles.” The orchestra, conducted by {…}

Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Sondra Radvanovsky, Ludovic Tézier, Aigul Akhmetshina, Marina Rebeka, Pretty Yende, Anita Rachvelishvili & Elīna Garanča Lead Teatro San Carlo’s 2025-26 Season

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 {…}

Festival de Ópera de Sevilla Announces 2025 Season Featuring Leonor Bonilla, Alessio Arduini, Franco Fagioli & Pablo García-López

The Festival de Ópera de Sevilla has announced its 2025 season, which will take place between September 25 and October 12, 2025. Opera Manuel Garcia’s “Il califfo di Bagdad”  will be directed by Guillermo Amaya and conducted by Alessandro D’Agostini. Juan de Dios Mateos, Leonor Bonilla, Pepe Hannan, Alicia Naranjo, Nerea Berraondo, and Eugenio Maria Degiacomi star. Performance Dates: Sept. 25 & {…}

Marina Rebeka, Cecilia Bartoli, Juan Diego Flórez, Ismael Jordi, Marigona Qerkezi & Marina Monzó Lead Teatro de la Maestranza’s 2025-26 Season

The Teatro de la Maestranza has announced its 2025-26 season. Two casts will perform Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Alessio Arduini and Jan Antem star alongside Ekaterina Bakanova, Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir, Marco Ciaponi, Pablo Martínez, George Andguladze, Luis López, Julie Boulianne, Karen Gardeazabal, David Menéndez, Emmanuel Franco, Marina Monzó, Montserrat Seró, Ricardo Seguel, and Yoshihiko Miyashita. Iván López Reynoso and Mariano García Valladares {…}

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanovsky, Asmik Grigorian & Francesco Meli Lead Teatro San Carlo’s 2024-25 Season

The Teatro San Carlo announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Dvořák’s “Rusalka” in a new production by Dmitri Tcherniakov. Dan Ettinger conducts a cast that includes Asmik Grigorian, Adam Smith, Ekaterina Gubanova, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Gábor Bretz. Performance Dates: Nov. 20-Dec. 7, 2024 Verdi’s “Don Carlo” will be conducted by Henrik Nánási and will star Piero Pretti, Gabriele Viviani, Ildar {…}

Joyce El-Khoury, Adam Smith, Karine Deshayes & Sally Matthews Lead Opéra de Rouen Normandies 2024-25 Season

The Opéra de Rouen Normandie has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Joyce El-Khoury stars in Verdi’s “Aida” alongside Adam Smith, Alisa Kolosova, Adolfo Corrado, and Nikoloz Lagvilava. Pierre Bleuse conducts the production by Philipp Himmelmann. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2024 Sally Matthews, John Findon, Paula Murrihy, and Caroline Wettergreen headline Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” with Ben Glassberg. The production {…}

Saioa Hernández, Piotr Beczala, Joyce DiDonato & Ailyn Pérez Lead Teatro Real’s 2023-24 Season

The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2023-24 season featuring a wide array of repertoire. Opera Maria Agresta, Saioa Hernández, and Maria Pia Piscitelli star in Cherubini’s “Medea“ alongside Nancy Fabiola Herrera, Silvia Tro Santafé, Jongmin Park, Alexander Vinogradov, Sara Blanch, Marina Monzó, Enea Scala, and Francesco Demuro. Ivor Bolton conducts the production by Paco Azorín. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}

Karine Deshayes, Michael Spyres, Sabine Devielhe, Franco Fagioli, & Anne Sofie von Otter Headline Opéra National du Rhin’s 2023-24 Season

The Opéra National du Rhin has announced its 2023-24 season. First up is “Don Giovanni aux Enfers” by Simon Steen-Anderson. The opera is conducted by Basseem Akiki and directed by Simon Steen-Anderson. It stars Sandrine Buendia, Julia Deit-Ferrand, François Rougier, Christophe Gay, and Damien Pass, among others. Performance Dates: Sept. 16 – 21, 2023  Sabine Devielhe stars in “Lakmé,” conducted {…}