(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 {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2019-20 seasons which will feature a total of 19 operas and the entire Ring Cycle in an all-new production. Bellini’s “I Puritani” opens the season in a production by Laurent Pelly. Elsa Dreisig takes the leading role with Javier Camarena and Francesco Demuro sharing the role of Arturo. Riccardo Frizza conducts the {…}
Opera Naples is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” next month. The premier company in Naples will feature an international cast that will include rising star French mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez in the title role and Rafael Davila as Don José. Soprano Heather Phillips will sing Micaëla while Baritone Anatoli Sivko will portray the bullfighter Escamillo. The Naples Philharmonic will perform alongside Maestro Ramón {…}
This week’s CD releases feature a new album from a famed Hungarian artist alongside a number of releases from Naxos for your viewing pleasure. Giants, tragedians, comedians, heroes Levente Molnar releases his first solo album on Universal. The CD entitled “Giants, tragedians, comedians, heroes” includes 13 arias from “Bank Ban,” “Pagliacci,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Rigoletto,” “Falstaff,” “Andrea Chénier,” and {…}
This will be a weekend of new productions, closing nights, and role debuts. Two major stars return to signature roles while one rising star takes on her first Wagner role. Then there are two bel canto favorites and some verismo. Here is a look. Ernani – Opera de Marseille, France Francesco Meli takes on the title role in Verdi’s early work {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring numerous operas by Weber, Handel, and Tchaikovsky. The season will include a number of productions, concert performances, recitals and chamber operas. Productions Marlis Petersen, David Hansen, Mirella Hagen, Katarina Bradić, Rainer Trost, Florian Köfler, and Tölzer Sängerknabe star in a production of Handel’s “Alcina.” Stefan Gottfried conducts Tatjana Gürbaca’s production. Performance {…}