The 2025 DUET Endowment Trust Gala was held on Oct. 4, the Artscape opera house. The annual DUET Endowment Trust Gala took place in celebration of South African operatic and musical excellence. Among performers were Golda Schultz and Jacques Imbrailo, as well as Cape Town Opera’s house soloists, Judith Neilson Young Artists, vocal ensemble, and Children’s Chorus. They were joined by {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Soprano Golda Schultz and baritone Jacques Imbrailo will headline Cape Town Opera’s Duet Endowment Trust Gala Concert. The concert, set for Oct. 4, 2025, will feature Brittany Smith, Nonhlanha Yende, Lukhanyo Moyake, Khayakazi Madlala, Lonwabo Mose, and Sisikelelwe Mngenela, the Cape Town Opera Vocal Ensemble and Children’s Chorus, and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under Gaetano Lo {…}
(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}
The new Robert Icke staging of “Don Giovanni” might upset more than a few spirits. The scenic proposal is certainly disruptive, and its insistence on intervening digitally in the opera’s soundscape is the most acute symptom of “directivitis” (the terrible disease that has afflicted opera directors for the last seven decades). However, I really had a great time watching “Don {…}
The Opus Klassik Awards have announced the 2025 winners. The Singer of the Year Awards went to Benjamin Bernheim for “Douce France” and Emily D’Angelo for “Freezing.” Joana Mallwitz was awarded the conductor of the year award for The Kurt Weill Album, while Aigul Akhmetshina won Young Artist of the Year for her album Aigul. Pene Pati’s “Nessun Dorma” and {…}
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia have announced its 2025-26 season. Concerts Daniel Harding conducts a staged version of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” by Vincent Huguet. The opera will star Michael Volle, Miina‐Liisa Värelä, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Jamez McCorkle, Stephen Milling, and Okka von der Damerau. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-27, 2025 Antonio Pappano conducts Natalya Romaniw, Szilvia Vörös, {…}
The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances for the season. The Symphoniker Hamburg, alongside Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg and Knabenchor Hannover, perform Rufus Wainwright’s Dream Requiem. Mandy Fredrich and Isabelle Huppert are the soloists with Lucie Leguay conducting. Performance Date: August 22 & 23, 2025 Manuel Winckhler, Mauro Peter, Kathryn Lewek, Elsa Dreisig, Äneas {…}
The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the productions and concerts. Premieres Simon Steen-Andersen and Liliana Nikiteanu lead “Wie du warst! Wie du bist!” Performance Dates: Sept. 20, 2025-July 11, 2026 Diana Damrau, Günther Groissböck, Angela Brower, Bo Skovhus, and Emily Pogorelc star in a new production Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier.” Joana Mallwitz conducts the {…}
(Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) Simon McBurney’s German-language production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” lifts the veil between performers and audience members, making it easy to find a full-length opera (approximately three hours and 15 minutes) that is fun and interesting. OperaWire initially reviewed this production in detail for the Met’s 2022-23 season and is excited to see it included {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Otello,” starring Brian Jadge, Jorge de León, and Angelo Villari in the title role. The cast includes Igor Golovatenko, Artur Ruciński, Gabriele Viviani, Airam Hernández, Asmik Grigorian, and Maria Agresta. Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Mentuccia conduct the production by David Alden. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
Shriver Hall Concert Series has announced its 2025-26 season celebrating its 60th anniversary. Here is the sole vocal performance of the season. Golda Schultz and Jonathan Ware make their Baltimore Debuts in a program at Shriver Hall. The program included music by George Crumb, Clara Schumann, Schumann, Florence Price, Johannes Price, Rita Stohl, and Strauss. Performance Date: March 22, 2026 {…}