Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier, Rosa Feola, Juan Diego Flórez, Camilla Nylund & Marina Rebeka Lead Teatro alla Scala’s 2024-25 Season

The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2024-25 Season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” starring Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Alexander Vinogradov, and Marco Filippo Romano. Riccardo Chailly conducts the new production by Leo Muscato. The opera will also star Elena Stikhina, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Luciano Ganci, and Simon Lim in the second {…}

Oct 16, 2023

Latvian National Opera 2023-24 Review: Don Carlo

(Photo: Kristaps Kains, Latvian National Opera) Latvia National Opera’s production of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” was musically and visually excellent, but the director Claus Guth’s underlying concept was not, at least initially, easy to grasp, despite his clearly written program notes. His underlying idea is that it is Carlo’s energy, values and behavior set against a despotic society, in which faceless {…}

Aug 17, 2023

Bayreuth Festival 2023 Review: Tannhäuser

(Photo credit: © Enrico Nawrath) Nathalie Stutzman debuted at Bayreuth this season with the festival’s production of “Tannhäuser.” She emerged triumphantly from the mystical abyss of the Bayreuth orchestra pit, where the conductor and the orchestra are hidden from the public. This unique orchestra space was designed as per Wagner’s specifications, who had been striving to create an immersive experience {…}

Nov 5, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: Don Carlo

(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) ***This review was written in collaboration with David Salazar*** But before we get to the opera, let’s kick things off by addressing the elephant in the room. Last season, the Met Opera opened this very opera with a potent political act – the performance of the Ukrainian national anthem. In a time of war {…}

Jun 30, 2022

Dutch National Opera to Stream Two Operas in Summer

The Dutch National Opera has announced it will make two of its operas available all summer online and for free. The first production that the company will showcase online is a production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The opera is staged in a new production by Barrie Kosky with Lorenzo Viotti conducting the Netherlands Philharmonic. The cast includes superstar soprano Malin Byström {…}

Apr 21, 2022

Günther Groissböck Replaces Thomas Hampson at Heidelberger Frühling Festival

(Credit: © Gerhard Ringhofer) The 25th Heidelberger Frühling Festival has announced a program change for its concert on April 22. The festival said, “unfortunately Thomas Hampson, who is suffering from long-term COVID effects, has to cancel his full-length song recital at the festival. His piano partner Elena Bashkirova cannot perform either as she is helping her husband, Daniel Barenboim, who {…}

Apr 11, 2022

Regula Mühlemann, Diana Damrau, Karita Mattila, & Christian Gerhaher Lead Wigmore Hall’s 2022-23 Autumn Season

Wigmore Hall has announced details for its Autumn 2022 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Regula Mühlemann soprano and La Folia Barockorchester open the season with Cleopatra featuring music by Hasse, Vivaldi, Legrenzi, Graun, and Händel. Performance Date: Sept. 8, 2022 Elizabeth Llewellyn and Simon Lepper perform a program of music by Coleridge-Taylor, G Mahler and Strauss. {…}

Apr 8, 2022

Elina Garanča, Brian Jagde, Lisette Oropesa, Luca Salsi & J’Nai Bridges Lead Arena di Verona’s 2022 Season

The Arena di Verona has announced the casting for its 2022 season. The season will open with Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Elina Garanča, Clémentine Margaine, J’Nai Bridges, and Yulia Matochkina in the title role. The cast will also include Karen Gardeazabal, Gilda Fiume, Maria Teresa Leva, Lavinia Bini, Brian Jagde, Vittorio Grigòlo, Roberto Alagna, Luca Micheletti, Gëzim Myshketa, and Claudio Sgura. Performance Dates: June 17-August 27, 2022 Liudmyla Monastyrska, {…}

Mar 23, 2022

Lawrence Brownlee, Nino Machaidze & Iréne Theorin Lead Müpa Budapest’s 2022-23 Season

Müpa Budapest has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a number of concerts and great artists. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Musical Stage Aapo Häkkinen conducts Schubert’s “Alfonso und Estrella” with Patrick Grahl, Lydia Teuscher, Krešimir Stražanac, Johannes Weisser, and Arttu Kataja. Performance Dates: Nov. 17, 2022 Nikolas Nägele conducts the Bel Canto Aria evening {…}

May 29, 2021

Jonas Kaufmann, Renée Fleming, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Sarasota Opera’s 2021 Summer Movie Series

Sarasota Opera has announced the initial lineup for its 2021 summer movie series, which brings filmed performances of opera, orchestral, and musical theatre productions worldwide to the Sarasota Opera House. First among the opera selections will be Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier,” on June 6. This production was staged at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany. Director Herbert Wernicke and conductor Christian Thielemann {…}

Gunther Groissback