Malin Byström, Gaëlle Arquez, Dame Sarah Connolly, Golda Schultz, Saimir Pirgu Headline Edinburgh International Festival’s 2024 Season

The Edinburgh International Festival has unveiled its 2024 slate. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is the Scottish premiere of “La Pasión Según San Marcos” by Golijov. Joana Carneiro leads the Orquesta La Pasión and Musicians from the RSNO. Performance Date: August 3, 2024 The formal opening the festival is a performance featuring the BBC {…}

May 3, 2023

Opéra Comique 2022-23 Review: Carmen

Conductor Louis Langrée once explained the ‘Opéra-Comique’ in these terms: “The Opéra-Comique comes from fairground theater, which is its strength.” Looking at the company’s many successes in bringing great operas into its repertoire—“Pelléas etMélisande,” “Mignon,” “Manon Lescaut”—, it seems that Langrée is right. “Carmen,” however, would at first appear to be a bit different. It is, by far, the most {…}

Apr 3, 2023

Anna Netrebko, Peter Mattei, Juan Diego Flórez, Regula Mühlemann & Rolando Villazón Lead Philharmonie de Paris’ 2023-24 Season

The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Klaus Mäkelä conducts Orchestre de Paris with soloists Bertrand Chamayou, Olga Peretyatko, Pavel Petrov, Alexey Markov, and Bertrand Mandico. The program includes music by Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. Performance Dates: Sept. 6 & 7, 2023 Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Mass in {…}

Apr 2, 2023

Véronique Gens, Katarina Bradić, Gaëlle Arquez, Stéphane Degout, Ambroisine Bré Headline Opéra Comique’s 2023-24 Season

The Opéra Comique has announced its 2023-24 season. First up is Charles Lecocq’s “La Fille de Angot.” Hervé Niquet will conduct a production by Richard Brunel. The opera will star Hélène Guilmette, Véronique Gens, Pierre Derhet, Julien Behr, Matthieu Lécroart, and Geoffrey Carey. Performance Dates: Sept. 27 – Oct. 5, 2023 For “Macbeth Underworld,” audiences will see Franck Ollu conduct {…}

Mar 18, 2023

Ermonela Jaho, Piotr Beczala, Cecilia Bartoli & Olga Peretyatko Lead Opernhaus Zürich’s 2023-24 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2023-24 season featuring more than 20 productions, concerts, and reictals. Ermonela Jaho stars in Puccini’s “La Rondine” with Sandra Hamaoui, Benjamin Bernheim, Juan Francisco Gatell, and Vladimir Stoyanov. Marco Armiliato conducts the production by Christof Loy. Performance Dates: Sept. 17-Oct. 28, 2023 Nahuel Di Pierro, Olga Peretyatko, Renato Girolami, Alasdair Kent, Pietro Spagnoli, and {…}

Nov 28, 2022

Opéra National de Paris 2022-23 Review: Carmen

This review is based on performances on Nov. 15 & 18, 2022. In every opera house, there is always an informal smoker’s meeting outside in the entr’acte. It is the best place to “feel the mood” of how an opera performance is being received. Hence, I am there solely for journalistic reasons, and nothing more. On this occasion, I went {…}

Mar 17, 2022

Damiano Michieletto Headlines Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’ Production of Händel’s ‘Giulio Cesare in Egitto’

Damiano Michieletto is set to make his debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées with a new production of Händel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto.” The opera will star Gaëlle Arquez in the title role, Sabine Devieilhe as Cleopatra, Franco Fagioli playing Sesto, and Carlo Vistoli playing Tolomeo. Philippe Jaroussky will conduct Händel’s work, leading the baroque ensemble Artaserse. In a statement, {…}

Sep 7, 2021

Aida Garifullina, Maixm Mironov, Carlos Álvarez & Chen Reiss Lead Teatro alla Scala’s Fall Season

The Teatro alla Scala is set to open its fall season featuring three Rossini Operas, a work by Cavalli, and a Donizetti opera. Here is a look at the upcoming fall season. The season opens with Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeri” conducted by Ottavio Dantone. The cast includes Mirco Palazzi, Giulio Mastrototaro, Maxim Mironov, Antonino Siragusa, Roberto de Candia and Gaëlle Arquez {…}

Jun 17, 2021

Valentina Nafornița, Gaëlle Arquez & Franco Fagioli Headline Opéra Royal de Versailles’ 2021-22 Season

(Credit: EPV / Christian Millet) Opéra Royal de Versailles has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring number of rarely performed operas and vocal works. Here is the full slate. Opera André Grétry’s opera “Richard Cœur de Lion” features Rémy Mathieu as Blondel and Pierre Derhet in the title role. The cast will be rounded out by Melody Louledjian, Marie Perbost Antonio, {…}

May 18, 2021

Sonya Yoncheva, Patricia Petibon, Joyce DiDonato & Philippe Jaroussky Lead Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’s 2021-22 Season

(Credit: Javier del Real/Salva Lopez) The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2021-22 season featuring some of the biggest stars in the world, staged operas, and concert operas. Staged Opera Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande“ will be conducted by François-Xavier Roth and directed by Eric Ruf. Patricia Petibon, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Sir Simon Keenlyside, Jean Teitgen, and Lucile Richardot star. Performance {…}

May 18, 2021

Angel Blue, Renée Fleming, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Anita Rachvelishvilli, Matthew Polenzani Lead Opéra de Paris 2021-22 Season

(Photo Credits: Emma Birski / OnP) Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas “The Seven Deaths of Maria Callas” by Marina Abramovic will open the season. The showcase stars Nadezhda Karyazina, Selene Zanetti, Leah Hawkins, Adela Zaharia, Lauren Fagan, Gabriella Reyes, and Hera Hyesang Park. Yoel Gamzou conducts. Performance dates: Sep. 1 {…}