(Credit: Mathias Leidgschwendner) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced that mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova will not be appearing in the role of Ortrud in Wagner’s “Lohengrin” for the final performance of the opera in 2021 on Dec. 12. As a result, mezzo-soprano Okka von der Damerau will take over the role. The mezzo will join a cast that includes Martin {…}
(Credit: © Laszlo Emmer) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for the June 9, 2021 performance of Bizet‘s “Carmen.” The company announced that Gábor Bretz will perform the role of Escamillo, replacing Erwin Schrott. Bretz will join a cast that includes Vera-Lotte Boecker as Micaëla, Dmytro Popov as Don José, and Elena Maximova in the title role. Alexander {…}
The Hungarian State Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, revivals, and concerts. Here is a look: Premiere Andrea Szántó stars in Calixto Bieto’s new production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The opera also features Szabolcs Brickner , Kinga Kriszta, Gábor Bretz , and Zoltá Nagy . Balázs Kocsár conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 3-Oct. 10, 2021 Beethoven/Strauss’ “König Stephan / {…}
The Hungarian State Opera is set to stream a new production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” The new production will be directed by Frank Hilbrich and will stream on Feb. 20, 2021, via jegy.hu. The five-act version will star Gaston Rivero in the title role, Gábor Bretz as Filippo II, Csaba Szegedi as Posa, Erika Gál as Eboli, András Palerdi as {…}
Credits: LA Opera official website / © Yiorgos Mavropoulos La Monnaie/de Munt has announced that it will stream four operas as its holiday streaming package. Among the streams on offer are Leoš Janáček’s “Jenůfa” starring Sally Matthews, Charles Workman, Nicky Spence, and Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet. Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” features Danielle De Niese, Michele Pertusi, Joel Prieto and Lionel Lhote, while Korngold’s {…}
(Credits: Todd Rosenberg / © Marco Borrelli / OnP / Sarah Bousasse) L’Opéra Comique in Paris has announced its 2021 season. Here is the full slate. Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville’s “Titon et l’Aurore” will feature Reinoud Van Mechelen, Gwendoline Blondeel, Julie Roset, Emmanuelle de Negri, Marc Mauillon, and Renato Dolcini. William Christie will conduct the production by Basil Twist. The performances {…}
This week audiences will get to hear the debut album of one of today’s greatest divas and two new pieces in world premiere recordings. Anima Rara Ermonela Jaho releases her debut recital disc “Anima Rara.” Recorded in Valencia in November 2019 with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and Andrea Battistoni, this recording brings together music championed by the Italian {…}
(Credit:Javier del Real/© Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical/ Bernard Martinez) The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a vast array of programs and stars. Here are opera and vocal performance highlights of the season: Operas Handel’s Messiah is set to be directed by Robert Wilson with Marc Minkowski conducting. The cast includes Elena Tsallagova, Helena Rasker, Richard {…}
(Photo: Koichi Miura/Metropolitan Opera) With the spectacular images coming out of the Bregenz Festival’s mainstage production on Lake Constance, it can be easy to forget that there is other programming going on. But on the nights when the Bodensee is dark, the Vienna Symphony plays concert repertoire in the Festspielhaus under a guest conductor. Monday night featured Verdi’s Messa di {…}
This week audiences are in for six brand new DVDs with some of the worlds greatest singers. It will be hard to pick one from these new releases. Here is a look! L’Italiana D’Algeri Cecilia Bartoli’s acclaimed role debut in Rossini’s classic gets released through Unitel. She is joined by Ildar Abdrazakov, Edgardo Rocha, and Alessandro Corbelli. Moshe Leiser and {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2020 season. Here is a look at what to expect. The season opens with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” conducted by Juraj Valčuha and in a new production by Ralf Pleger. Stefan Vinke and Ann Petersen take on the title role s with Albert Dohmen, Martin Gantner, and Ekaterina Gubanova. Performance Dates: Jan. 24-31, 2020 Karah Son, Cristina {…}