(credit: Andrej Stoycher) John Chest has replaced Luca Pisaroni on Il Pomo d’Oro’s tour of Handel’s “Orlando.” The tour, which opens on Jan. 9, will be performed in Verona, Paris, Essen, and Madrid and will also star Max Emanuel Cencic in the title role, Kathryn Lewek as Angelica, Francesca Ascioti as Medoro, and Nuria Rial as Dorinda. The tour is {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera) Billy Budd, Foretopman, is the center of the conflict between evil and good, dark and light, vulnerable and powerful in Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece “Billy Budd.” Picking this opera for the second night opening of San Francisco’s 97th season was a masterful choice. Everything – the music, drama, ethical conflict, suspenseful, challenging, rewarding – {…}
San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Chronicle will celebrate the start of the company’s 97th season with the latest edition of Opera in the Park. The free event will “bookend an action-packed weekend” for San Francisco Opera, according to the press release. The season will open with Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the Opera Ball, and the BRAVO! CLUB Gala on {…}
(Credit: Alastair Muir/Glyndebourne Productions Ltd.) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Britten’s “Billy Budd” to open the 2019-20 season. The work returns to the company after a 15-year absence in Michael Grandage’s production, which was unveiled at the Glyndebourne Festival. The opera is set to star John Chest in the title role in his company debut alongside William {…}
This weekend we look at festivals and numerous seasons coming to a close. There are some rarely performed works and some masterpieces from some up and coming singers. Here is a look! Krol Roger – Oper Frankfurt, Germany Sylvain Cambreling conducts Johannes Erath’s production of Szymanowksi’s monumental work. The production is set to star Łukasz Goliński, Sydney Mancasola, Gerard Schneider, and AJ Glueckert. There will {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring seven new productions and two new revivals. There will also be a notable company premiere with many rising and established stars taking the stage. Main Stage The 2019–20 season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” in a new production by Jean-Louis Grinda. The opera returns after a 31-year absence with {…}
The Opera National de Lorraine has announced its 2018-19 season featuring three new productions, including one world premiere. Here is a look at what audiences can expect. Productions Michelle Bradley sings the title role in Verdi’s “Aida” with Gianluca Terranova as Radamès and Enkelejda Shokoza as Amneris. Giuliano Carella conducts the productions. Performance Dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 4, 2018 Offenbach’s “La Belle {…}
The Den Norske Opera has announced its upcoming 2018-19 season featuring a wide range of repertoire and rising stars as well as some of the leading Norwegian singers in the world. Here is a look. Productions The season will open with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and Enrique Mazzola conducting Richard Jones’s production. Johannes Weisser, Jakob Bloch Jespersen, Brigitte Christensen, and Anthony Gregory star {…}
“Così fan tutte” has often been a vehicle for some terrific singing as the third and final Mozart opera penned by Lorenzo Da Ponte. That was again the case Friday night at the Bayerische Staatsoper as a cast of rising stars showcased their respective talents in octogenarian Dieter Dorn’s production. When something has lasted for almost a quarter century, there {…}
The Song Prize finalists for the Cardiff Singer of the World competition have been announced. The five people competing in the final round of this segment include John Chest, Catriona Morison, Iurii Samoilov, Louise Alder, and Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. Chest got through primarily on American songs that included “At the River” and “Simple Gifts,” both arranged by Aaron Copland. He also {…}
You’ve been working hard all week, so kick off your shoes and take a look at some of our weekend opera recommendations, from all around the globe. Austria The Vienna State Opera starts off the weekend by presenting Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” It will be followed by Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” featuring Linda Watson as the Marschallin and Peter Rose as Baron Ochs. {…}
