Asmik Grigorian, Anna Netrebko, Brian Jagde, Saioa Hernández, Ermonela Jaho, Lisette Oropesa, Jakub Józef Orliński & Nadine Sierra Lead Teatro Real de Madrid’s 2025-26 Season

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. {…}

Apr 2, 2025

Claire Booth, Iestyn Davies & Santiago Sanchez Star in Ryedale Festival 2025

(Photo credit: Chris Sorenson) Ryedale Festival has announced its lineup for the 2025 season. This article features vocal concerts only. Soprano Claire Booth is joined by violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist Christopher Glynn for the Yorkshire premiere of Gavin Higgins’ “Speak of the North.” They also perform Grieg’s “Haugtussa,” along with other works. Performance Date: July 12, 2025 Soprano Claire {…}

Aug 19, 2024

Robert Gleadow & Christopher Purves Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences get to hear world premiere pieces, two complete operas, and a debut album by one of the most interesting ensembles today. Don Giovanni Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” recorded in November 2023 at the Royal Opera of Versailles features Robert Gleadow and {…}

May 17, 2024

Sonya Yoncheva, Iestyn Davies, Juan Diego Flórez, Lauren Snouffer, Rolando Villazón Headline Salzburg Mozarteum’s 2025 Season

The Salzburg Mozarteum has unveiled its 2025 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is a program featuring soprano Lauren Snouffer taking on arias by Haydn and Mozart. The program, which will be conducted by Roberto González-Monjas, will also include works by Gluck and Salieri. Performance Date: Jan. 23, 2025 Michael Shade headlines a concert {…}

May 7, 2024

Daniel Johansson, Huw Montague Rendall, Louise Alder & Kateřina Kněžíková Lead Glyndebourne Festival’s 2025 Season

The Glyndebourne Festival has announced its 2025 season. New Productions The season will see the company’s first-ever production of Wagner’s “Parsifal” directed by Jetske Mijnssen. Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra with a cast that includes Daniel Johansson as Parsifal and mezzo-soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek as Kundry. Performance Dates: May 17 – June 24, 2025 Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” {…}

Apr 25, 2024

Angel Blue, Latonia Moore, Jamie Barton, Corinne Winters & Christopher Maltman Lead BBC Proms’ 2024 Season

The BBC Proms has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Elim Chan conducts the First Night at Proms with soloists Sophie Bevan and Isata Kanneh‐Mason. The program includes Handel, Ben Nobuto, Beethoven Bruckner, and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: July 19, 2024 British choral groups The King’s Singers and VOCES8 present a Prom that showcases {…}

Mar 22, 2024

The Atlanta Opera Review 2024: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Photo credit: Raftermen “Toi toi toi, y’all,” intones the attractive, Southern-inflected t-shirt at The Atlanta Opera’s pop-up gift shop. An apt tagline for a company having outgrown regional status, still honoring its roots in this de facto capital of the American South. Like Atlanta—now the sixth most populous metropolitan area in the United States, having recently edged past Philadelphia and {…}

Mar 5, 2024

Simon Keenlyside, Christine Goerke & Elsa Benoit Lead LA Philharmonic’s 2024-25 Season

The LA Philharmonic has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Zubin Mehta will conduct Schoenberg’s “Gurrelieder” with Christine Goerke, Brandon Jovanovich, Violeta Urmana, and Gerhard Siegel. Performance Date: Dec. 13 & 15, 2024 Gustavo Dudamel and Simon Keenlyside perform in an all-Mayler program that includes Blumine, Symphony No. 10: Adagio, and Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Performance Dates: Feb. 20-23, {…}

Mar 4, 2024

The English Concert Marks 50th Anniversary With New ‘Handel for All’ Releases

(Photo credit: Paul Marc Mitchell) The English Concert marks its 50th anniversary with new releases of its legacy project, “Handel for All.” This spring the group will put on a number of special concerts and events in celebration, whilst continuing to build its library of recordings of Händel’s works that are free and accessible. Sopranos Jeanine de Bique and Liv {…}

Aug 10, 2023

Iestyn Davies, Lucy Crowe, & Tim Mead Headline The English Concert’s 2023-24 Season

(Photo credits: Chris Sorensen, Victoria Cadisch, Andrew Staples) The English Concert has announced its 2023-24 season. This article features vocal works only. Countertenor Iestyn Davies returns to the BBC Proms to perform “Late Night Bach.” Davies will perform two of Bach’s solo cantatas, “Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” and “Geist und Seele wird verdwirret” at the Royal Albert Hall. Performance Date: {…}

Apr 27, 2023

Julia Bullock, Iestyn Davies, Louise Kwong, Ilker Arcayürek, Catriona Morison Headline Edinburgh International Festival’s 2023 Season

The Edinburgh International Festival has unveiled its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. It all kicks off with a performance of Tan Dun’s “Buddha Passion,” conducted by the composer himself. Soloists include Louise Kwong, Samantha Chong, Chen Chen, Sun Li, Batubagen, Tan Weiwei, and Chen Yining. Performance Dates: August 5, {…}