(Credit: Guergana Damianova / Opera de Paris) Attending a French opera in Paris is always a remarkable experience; in this case, as the conductor and most of the cast were French you get a special taste of French style and diction that is difficult to find anywhere else. On this occasion, the Paris Opera mounted Robert Carsen’s famed production of {…}
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2020-21 season featuring modern classics, famed artists, and choral works. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Stéphane Denève conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with Tamara Mumford as the soloist and the Women of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and the St. Louis Children’s Choirs. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
(Credit: Ruth Walz) This weekend is all about new productions, a rarely performed work and an acclaimed run of performances in Paris. Here is what we recommend. Viva La Diva – Salzburg Landsteater, Austria Adrian Kelly conducts Stephen Medcalf’s production of the rarely performed work by Donizetti and librettist Gilardoni. The opera stars Anne-Fleur Werner, Raimundas Juzuitis,Hazel McBain, George Humphreys, {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Opéra National de Paris has opened its doors for the first time in months and will present Offenbach and Barbier’s opera “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” today, January 25, 2020, at the Opéra Bastille, per an official statement on the company’s website. This is the first performance of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” of the season after an earlier one was {…}
(Credit: Jiyang Chen) The Opéra National de Paris has canceled the opening night performance of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” scheduled for January 21 at the Opéra Bastille, according to the official statement on the company’s website. The cancellation came as a result of the strike notice against the French government pension reform and is the latest in a series of {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera, Jiyang Chen Photography) New Year’s Eve is a night of non-stopped celebration. It is a night often associated with fireworks, champagne, and time spent with loved ones. It is also a night of opera galas, with many companies around the world showcasing top talents for the last time in the calendar year. As such, OperaWire has compiled {…}
(Photo Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) On Nov. 16, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera premiered this season’s production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Amidst the modern set of Richard Eyre’s production, the stellar cast of artists brought no shortage of laughter while delivering a musically splendid performance. Making his conducting debut with the company was Antonello Manacorda who was {…}
The Opéra Comique has announced its 2020 season featuring a number of rarely performed works. The season with Christian Boltanski, Jean Kalman, and Franck Krawczyk’s “Fosse.” The piece is set to star soprano Karen Vourc’h and cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton. Peformance Dates: Jan. 10-11, 2020 François-Adrien Boieldie’s “La Dame Blanche” will be performed in a production by Pauline Bureau. Conducted by Julien {…}
The Vienna State Opera will showcase “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” as part of its live streaming service on Sept. 15, 2019. The performance will feature Dmitry Korchak, Luca Pisaroni, Olga Peretyatko, and Gaëlle Arquez. Frédéric Chaslin conducts a production by Andrei Serban. Of the opening performance, OperaWire’s review noted, “Overall this “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” was an enjoyable evening with a standout {…}
The Orchestra National de France and the Choeur and Maîtrise de Radio France will present a free Bastille Day concert on Sunday, Jul. 14, 2019. The concert will take place “at the foot of the Eiffel Tower . . . [and] will be followed by the very famous fireworks,” according to SortiraParis. Alain Altinoglu will lead the orchestra. The event {…}
Oper Frankfurt’s new season is massive. It is loaded up with over a dozen new productions and even more revivals. Premieres Damiano Michieletto directs a new production of Rossini’s “Otello” starring Enea Scala in the title role, Karolina Makuła as Desdemona, Theo Lebow as Iago, and Jack Swanson as Rodrigo. Sesto Quatrini conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 8-Oct. 20, 2019 Asmik Grigorian sings {…}