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 {…}
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 {…}
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” {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
(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 {…}
(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: {…}
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, {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Paul Lewis, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Dalia Stasevska perform the first night of Proms. Performance Date: July 14, 2023 Early music vocal ensemble Stile Antico explores the many facets of William Byrd. Performance Date: July 15, 2023 Soprano Rainelle {…}
The Wigmore Hall has announced its 2023-24 season headlining some of the greatest recitalists and vocalist in the world. Opera Rara: present Donizetti and Friends with Lawrence Brownlee, Etienne Dupuis, and Carlo Rizzi. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniušas perform Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Ensemble Modern and George Benjamin perform music by {…}