(photo credit: © Miguel Lorenzo) James Gaffigan will be the fifth Music Director of the Houston Grand Opera (HGO). The company made the announcement on Nov. 6, 2025, noting that Gaffigan will begin his tenure as Music Director Designate in the 2026–27 season before assuming the full role in 2027–28. While Gaffigan is a New York native, he is also {…}
(Photo: Jan Windszus Photography) Gustav Mahler’s 8th Symphony in E-flat major, often dubbed the “Symphony of a Thousand” did its moniker justice this time: It was put on by the Komische Oper Berlin in the huge Hangar 4 at the former Tempelhof Airport and counted 1030 participants – taking up the entire center stage plus two grandstands for the choirs. {…}
Recognised worldwide for his natural ease and extraordinary collaborative spirit, conductor James Gaffigan has attracted international attention for his prowess as a conductor of both symphony orchestras and opera. The mutual trust he builds with artists empowers them to cultivate the highest art possible. Gaffigan is uniquely positioned, with music directorships at two international opera houses. He is the General {…}
(Photo credits: Vedinaș, Behrmann, & Adjahoe) The George Enescu International Festival 2025 announces its star-studded lineup. This article only features vocal works. The opening concert features the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. Iosef Ion Prunner and Cristian Măcelaru conduct. Performance Date: August 24, 2025 Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen performs with the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra under the direction of Keri-lynn Wilson. {…}
El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia has announced that James Gaffigan will conclude his tenure as music director at the close of the 2024-25 season. The U.S. American conductor has been with the company since 2021, and during his tenure, the orchestra expanded from 54 to 76 musicians. He has led a number of major productions include Mozart’s “Requiem,” {…}
This year’s “Concert of Arias” at the Houston Grand Opera will feature a historic first. The event, scheduled for Jan. 17, 2025, will feature the first time that the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra performs in the event in its 37-year history. James Gaffigan will conduct the performance. Previous editions only featured a piano accompaniment. “The ‘Concert of Arias’ is a {…}
Primo Artists has announced that it is expanding its representation of James Gaffigan from North and South American Management to Exclusive Worldwide Management, effective immediately. The agency will become his General Management and will manage his Social Media and Publicity worldwide. Gaffigan signed to Primo Artists’ in April 2020 for North and South American Management and in January 2021, Primo took {…}
(Photo: Arts Fotografía) Palau de Les Arts opened the season with Massenet’s “Manon,” in a production from the Paris Opera, and two international stars in the main roles: Lisette Oropesa and Charles Castronovo. Vincent Huguet directed the Paris Opera production. He set the action in Paris around 1920, in the Charleston era, and introduced the revolutionary artist Josephine Baker (who {…}
The Komische Oper has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the operatic performances. Premieres George Petrou conducts Händel’s “Messiah” with Damiano Michieletto directing. The soloists will include Penny Sofroniadou, Julia Grüter, Rachael Wilson, Katharina Bradić, Julien Behr, Rupert Charlesworth, Philipp Meierhöfer, and Tijl Faveyts. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 6, 2024 Franz Wittenbrink’s kinderoper “Die kleine Hexe” will {…}
Finals for singing competitions are an interesting experience to cover. On one hand, everyone on stage is a winner. In the case of the 2023 edition of the Queen Sonja Singing Competition, the six singers who took the stage on August 26 were picked from an overall pool of 521 contestants from around the world; not mention that the competition {…}
Wagner had been absent from Valencia’s Palau de les Arts for 10 years. So it is understandable that its return, especially with “Tristan und Isolde,” was a reason for great anticipation and expectation. What’s more, tickets were almost sold out for every performance, and the reception at the curtain call was loud and enthusiastic. Evocative & Original Àlex Ollé, a {…}