This week, audiences can check out exciting new releases from major artists. There is also a world premiere recording of a rarely performed opera. Home Decca releases the new album from Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre and the acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8. The album includes a world premiere, “All Seems Beautiful To Me,” and a new recording of Whitacre’s deeply moving {…}
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. The season opens with a double bill of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci.” Mascagni’s work will star Samantha Hankey, Adam Smith, and Gevorg Hakobyan. Meanwhile, Leoncavallo’s work will star Diego Torre, Gabriella Reyes, and Gevorg Hakobyan. Roberto Kalb conducts the production by Shawna Lucey. Performance Dates: {…}
(This review is for the Oct. 30, 2022 performance with Anna Netrebko, Jorge de Leon, Ketevan Kemoklidze, Gevorg Hakobyan and Simón Orfila.) The Teatro Real opened its 2022-23 season at the Madrid Coliseum with Verdi’s masterpiece “Aida” (the season had officially opened with five performances of Philip Glass Orphée at Teatro del Canal theatre). Anna Netrebko was originally set to {…}
The Teatro Filarmonico has announced its 2023 season. The season opens with Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” starring Giulio Mastrototaro, Sara Blanch, Alessandro Luongo, Gilda Fiume, and Annalisa Stroppa. Francesco Ommassini conducts the production by Ivan Stefanutti. Performance Dates: Jan. 22-29, 2023 Massimiliano Stefanelli conducts Verdi’s “Aida” in a production by Franco Zeffirelli. Monica Conesa sings the title role with {…}
(Credit: Peter Knutson) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced an opera change for Jan. 2, 2022. The company noted that “due to Omicron infections in the vocal ensemble, the first performance of the revival of “La bohème” has been canceled. As a result, the company will present “Tosca” with Malin Byström in the title role. The soprano will return to the Wiener {…}
(Credit: Lombardo Associates official website) Tenor Luciano Ganci will perform the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s “Tosca” at the Wiener Staatsoper for performances on Dec. 27 & 30, 2021. Ganci will replace Francesco Meli, who was originally scheduled to sing the role. Ganci joins a cast that includes Gevorg Hakobyan as Baron Scarpia, Martin Häßler as Angelotti, and Saioa {…}
(Credit: Javier del Real) This review was written after the performance on the 3d of July, the first performance of cast B. I usually leave my opinion about the conductor for the end of the review, but in this case, since it affects the performances of the singers drastically, I have opted to give that opinion first. Nicola Luisotti’s reading {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, new voices, films, and a festival dedicated to Orpheus. Productions Zemlinsky’s “Der Zwerg” opens the season in a new production by Nanouk Leopold. Lorenzo Viotti conducts the opera which is set to star Clay Hilley in the title role, Olga Kulchynska as Donna Clara, Annette Dasch as Ghita, {…}
(Credit: Teatro Regio di Torino/Royal Opera/Bilbao Opera This weekend is filled with new productions, season openings, role debuts and some of operas greatest masterpieces. Lolita – Prague State Opera, Czech Republic Rodion Shchedrin’s new opera gets another performance at the Estates Theatre with Pelageya Kurennaya in the title role, as well as Petr Sokolov, Alexander Kravets, Daria Rositskaya, Michaela Zajmi, {…}