(Photos: Paul Leclaire) Opernhaus Zürich revives its 2021 production of Richard Strauss’s “Salome,” directed by Andreas Homoki. The striking set design by Hartmut Meyer features two massive, crescent-shaped rotating structures—an evident nod to the libretto’s many references to the moon. One of these structures serves as a raked stage representing the terrace of Herod’s palace, while the other hovers above {…}
The Palau de les Arts has announced its 2025-26 season. Lorenzo Viotti conducts Gounod’s “Faust” in a production by Johannes Erath. Iván Ayón-Rivas, Alex Esposito, Ruth Iniesta, Florian Sempey, and Ekaterine Buachidze. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-15, 2025 Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s “La descente d’Orphée aux enfers” will star Josipa Bilić, Camille Chopin, Sarah Fleiss, Tanaquil Ollivier, Sydney Frodsham, Richard Pittsinger, Bastien Rimondi, Attila {…}
The Grand Théâtre de Genève has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” opens the season with Gwyn Hughes Jones, Burkhard Fritz, and Elisabet Strid in the title roles. Marc Albrecht conducts the production by Michael Thalheimer. The cast will also include Tareq Nazmi, Kristina Stanek, Craig Colclough, and Julien Henric. Performance Dates: Sept. 15-27, 2024 Tomáš Netopil {…}
The Houston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights. The season opens with Juraj Valčuha conducting Erin Morley in a program of music by Messiaen, Poulenc, and Ravel. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023 Juraj Valčuha conducts Brahms’ “German Requiem” with soloists Lauren Snouffer and Andrew Foster-Williams. The program also includes Takemitsu’s Requiem {…}
Photo credit: ROH Salome © Tristram Kenton David McVicar’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Salome”, designed by Es Devlin, was first seen in 2008, and is receiving its fourth revival at Covent Garden with Bárbara Lluch at the helm. It opened the night following the death of Queen Elizabeth II – “Don Giovanni” the night before was cancelled in the circumstances {…}
Photo: Bernd Uhlig Ingo Metzmacher, the conductor for this year’s Aix-en-Provence festival’s production of Strauss’ “Salome” stressed time and again throughout his program notes the need for a cool head, for orchestral restraint and calm, for sobriety and balance. His stated aim was to ensure the orchestra does not predominate, does not get carried away, is not too loud, but {…}
The Opéra National de Paris is set to present a concert in support of Ukraine on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at the Palais Garnier. All proceeds from the event will be used to support victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The showcase will feature Liudmyla Monastyrska, John Daszak, Russell Braun, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, and Emanuela Pascu. Carlo Rizzi will conduct {…}
(Credit: Dominik Odenkirchen) Staatsoper Hamburg has announced the upcoming premiere of Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Elektra.” The cast includes Violeta Urmana as Klytämnestra, Jennifer Holloway as Chrysothemis, John Daszak as Aegisth, Lauri Vasar as Orest, and Aušriné Stundyté in the title role. The cast is rounded out by Chao Deng, Luminita Andrei, Tahnee Niboro, Thomas Ebenstein, Hubert Kowalczyk, {…}
(Photo: Michele Monasta) The Greek gods are a colorful crowd, who enjoy nothing better than involving themselves in the world of Man. Woe betide anyone who is unfortunate enough to attract their attention, whether it be for good or ill; the gods act in their own interests, seeking pleasure and entertainment in all its forms wherever they can find them. {…}
(Photo Credits: Emma Birski / OnP) Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas “The Seven Deaths of Maria Callas” by Marina Abramovic will open the season. The showcase stars Nadezhda Karyazina, Selene Zanetti, Leah Hawkins, Adela Zaharia, Lauren Fagan, Gabriella Reyes, and Hera Hyesang Park. Yoel Gamzou conducts. Performance dates: Sep. 1 {…}
(Credits: Fabien Monthubert / Opera Online / Opéra National de Paris official website / Opéra National de Paris official website) The Opéra National de Paris will stream Jean-Philippe Rameau and Louis Fuzelier’s opera “Les Indes Galantes,” and Dmitri Shostakovich and Alexander Preis’ “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” on MEZZO TV. “Les Indes Galantes” stars Sabine Devieilhe in the roles of Hébé {…}