American mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts is in the midst of becoming one of the most in-demand Wagnerian singers of her generation. Over the past seasons, Roberts has performed the roles of Kundry, Sieglinde and Brangäne. While there are some Strauss, Bizet, Verdi and Mascagni works that she continues to perform, the mezzo’s next role is none other than Isolde at the {…}
The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced its 2026-27 season. Winter 2026 Julius Zeman conducts Bach’s “Weihnachtsoratorium” with Alina Wunderlin, Anita Monserrat, Manuel Günther, and Michael Nagl. Performance Date: Dec. 6, 2026 Asher Fisch conducts Verdi’s “Nabucco” with Gabriele Viviani, Anastasia Bartoli, Simon Lim, Emilia Rukavina, and Giorgio Berrugi. Performance Date: Dec. 13, 2026 Asher Fisch conducts “Ein Bauer namens Verdi.” Performance {…}
The Tiroler Festspiel Erl Easter “Parsifal” was not, as some might have thought, Jonas Kaufmann’s “swan song,” either as Artistic Director or as Parsifal. Instead, the new production directed by Philipp M. Krenn, was replete with new directions, foci, trials and errors. A single lane swimming pool; a series of videos built around the landscape that housed the theater; a {…}
The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Donald Runnicles conducts Alban Berg’s Seven Early Songs and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Irene Roberts is a soloist. Performance Dates: Sept. 26-28, 2025 Jane Glover conducts Händel’s “Messiah” with Heidi Stober, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Josh Lovell, and Will Liverman. Performance Dates: Dec. 5 {…}
(Photo credit: Cory Weaver) The West Coast premiere of “The Handmaid’s Tale“, by composer Poul Ruders and librettist Paul Bentley fills the War Memorial Opera House with a performance as harrowing as the dystopic story itself. Delayed by the pandemic from its originally scheduled debut, the co-production of San Francisco Opera (SFO) and the Royal Danish Theatre runs through October {…}
(Photo: Camilla Winther/Royal Danish Opera) San Francisco Opera is set to present the West Coast premiere of Poul Ruders and Paul Bentley’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The work based on Margaret Atwood’s novel was originally scheduled for the 2020–21 Season and was delayed by the pandemic. The work will be conducted by Karen Kamensek and will be directed by John Fulljames, {…}
The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced its 2024-25 season. Fall Nikola Hillebrand performs alongside Simply Quartet and Musicbanda Franui. Performance Date: Oct. 4, 2024 Winter J. S. Bach’s “Das Weihnachtsoratorium” will be conducted by Vinzenz Praxmarer and will star Anna El-Kashem, Stefanie Irányi, Martin Mitterrutzner, and Wilhelm Schwinghammer. Performance Date: Dec. 8, 2024 Asher Fisch conducts a new production of Puccini’s “La {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with the “Opera Ball.” Performance Dates: Sept. 6, 2024 The first opera production is “Un Ballo in Maschera” starring Michael Fabiano, Lianna Haroutounian, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Judit Kutasi, and Meigui Zhang. Eun Sun Kim conducts a production directed by Leo Muscato. Performance Dates: Sept. 6-27, 2024 There will also be an “Opera {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “I Capuleti e Montecchi.” Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Idan Cohen. The cast includes Maria Kataeva and Anna Pennisi as Romeo and Marina Monzó and Francesca Pia Vitale as Giulietta. Ioan Hotea, Mert Süngü, Marco Spotti, and Gabriele Sagona round out the {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2022-23 season featuring seven new productions. Premieres R.Strauss’ “Arabella” will be conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles in a new production by Tobias Kratzer. Albert Pesendorfer, Doris Soffel, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Elena Tsallagova, and Russell Braun. Performance Dates: March 18-April 6, 2023 Arne Gieshoff and Franziska Angerer’s “Bear” will have its world premiere. Performance Dates: {…}
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announces its 2022-23 season featuring numerous artists. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts Beethiven’s Symphony No. 9 with Talise Trevigne, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Robin Tritschler, and Leon Košavić. Performance Dates: Oct. 6-9, 2022 Norman Mackenzie conducts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Christmas with ASO. Performance Dates: Dec. 15–18, 2022 Norman Mackenzie conducts the Atlanta {…}