Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week audiences will get new opera recordings including one very famed contemporary Mexican work and two classic works. There are also some solo albums and choral works to look forward to. Eugene Onegin EuroArts releases a recording of the Teatro Real’s recent staging {…}
(Credit: Andrew Fox) The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The season opens with Kazuki Yamada conducting Mahler’s Symphony No.2 (“Resurrection”) with Eleanor Lyons and Jess Dandy. Performance Date: Sept. 17, 2026 Kazuki Yamada conducts Britten’s “War Requiem” with Irina Lungu, Andrew Staples, and Christian Gerhaher. Performance Date: {…}
(Credit: Evan Zimmerman) The Metropolitan Opera’s 2025–26 Live in HD season will continue with Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” on May 2, 2026. The performance will star Asmik Grigorian as Tatiana baritone Iurii Samoilov in the title role, Maria Barakova as Olga, Stanislas de Barbeyrac as Lenski, and Alexander Tsymbalyuk as Prince Gremin. Conductor Timur Zangiev leads the production by Deborah Warner. {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” in Deborah Warner’s production. The production will mark the return of Asmik Grigorian as Tatiana where she will be joined by Iurii Samoilov as Onegin, tenor Stanislas de Barbeyrac as Lenski, mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova as Olga, and bass-baritone Alexander Tsymbalyuk as Prince Gremin. Mezzo-soprano {…}
The Opéra National du Capitole has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera Giacomo Sagripanti conducts Dvorak’s “Rusalka” in a production by Stefano Poda. The cast includes Ruzan Mantashyan, Alexander Roslavets, Pavol Breslik, Ricarda Merbeth, and Agnieszka Rehlis. Performance Dates: Sept. 22-Oct. 4, 2026 Stéphane Fuget conducts Charpentier’s “Médée” in concert with Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Petr Nekoranec, Juliette Mey, Frédéric Caton, Étienne Bazola, Camille Poul, and Claire Lefilliâtre. Performance Date: {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Eugene Onegin.” The company said that Ukrainian Baritone Iurii Samoilov will sing the title role, replacing the originally scheduled Russian baritone Igor Golovatenko. Golovatenko also recently canceled a new production of “Rigoletto” at the Bayerische Staatsoper and “Un Ballo in Maschera” at the Paris Opera. Samoilov made his {…}
The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” will get a new production by Richard Jones and will be presented for the first time since 1996. The new Finnish translation by Mikko Koivusalo will star Tommi Hakala, Samuli Takkula, Tuija Knihtilä, Maiju Vaahtoluoto, Elli Vallinoja, Polina Liiv, Suvi Väyrynen, Emma Mustaniemi, Dan Karlström, and Roland Liiv. Antony Hermus conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
(Photo: © Javier del Real /Teatro Real de Madrid) The Teatro Real’s recent staging of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” offers a profound and intimate exploration of love, regret, and honor, brought to life by a stellar cast. Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov delivers a convincing portrayal of Eugene Onegin, capturing the character’s evolution from detached arrogance to profound remorse. His performance is {…}
The Cleveland Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 Season. Here are the vocal performances. Klaus Mäkelä and Jennifer Johnston perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Performance Dates: Oct. 17-19, 2024 Franz Welser-Möst conducts Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde” and a new work by Bernd Richard Deutsch. Limmie Pulliam and Iurii Samoilov are the soloists Performance Dates: Nov. 21 -23, 2025 Fabio {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week we get a Bel Canto album from a Metropolitan Opera musician, an Italian album by a leading tenor, a rare opera and a a complete performance of one of the great mezzos of our time. Here is a look! Bel Canto: {…}
(Credit: © SF / Peter Rigaud) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2024 Season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Strauss’ “Caprricio” is set to be performed in concert form with Elsa Dreisig and Bo Skovhus as Countess and Count. The cast also includes Sebastian Kohlhepp (Flamand), Konstantin Krimmel (Olivier), Mika Kares (La Roche), Ève-Maud Hubeaux (Clairon), {…}