The COVID-19 crisis has led to the cancelation of major productions leaving many artists out of work and giving them openings in their usually booked calendars. As a result, the Opera de Oviedo managed to engage acclaimed bel canto tenor John Osborn after the cancelation of two other tenors. It is hard to write about “I Puritani” without talking about {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced week 16 of its Nightly Streams. This coming week’s streams feature a wide range of options including a showcase starring Beverly Sills, Shostakovich opera, a classic Ring performance, some Bel Canto magic, and a historic performance from the 2018-19 season. Monday, June 29 – Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment Conducted by Enrique Mazzola; starring Pretty Yende, Stephanie {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2020-21 season featuring multiple productions, concert operas, and stars. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” starring Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov, Ludovic Tézier, Okka von der Damerau, and Dmitry Belosselskiy. Performance Dates: Oct. 1 & 4, 2020 Christof Loy directs Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with Christopher Maltman in the title role and {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced the 2020-21 season featuring premieres, new productions and some of the greatest stars in the world. Opera Nicola Luisotti and Lorenzo Passerini conduct a production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera“ directed by Gianmaria Aliverta. The production stars Michael Fabiano and Ramón Vargas as Riccardo, Anna Pirozzi and Tatiana Serjan as Amelia, Artur {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced Weeks 13 and 14 of its nightly streams. The streams will include music by Mozart, Bartok, Rossini, Handel, Verdi, and Glass. Also, audiences will get a chance to check out the At Home Gala once again. Monday, June 8 – Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito Conducted by Harry Bicket; starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elīna Garanča, {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2020-21 season. The German house will present 11 new productions and a number of revivals and recitals. New Productions Monika Buczkowska, Judita Nagyová, Peter Marsh, Simon Neil, and Alfred Reiter star in Ligeti’s “La Grand Macabre.” Sebastian Weigle conducts a production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Sept. 13-Oct. 17, 2020 Katharina Thoma will direct Offenbach’s {…}
For those stuck at home due to quarantine, these are the latest CD and DVD releases we recommend! Here is a look. Der Freischütz Oehmsclassics releases Weber’s beloved work from Aalto Musiktheater starring Maximilian Schmidt, Jessica Muirhead, Heiko Trinsinger, and Tamara Banjesevic. Tomas Netopil conducts the new CD recording. Les Contes d’Hoffmann C Major releases Tobias Kratzer’s production of Offenbach’s masterpiece. {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring new productions and a number of world premieres. Boito’s “Mefistofele” opens the season with a new production by Tatjana Gürbaca. Marco Armiliato conducts the production with Christian Van Horn in the title role, Charles Castronovo, Olga Busuioc, and Guanqun Yu. Performance Dates: Sept. 5-24, 2020 Paula Murrihy, Sandrine Piau, Tuomas {…}
(Photo: Yasuko Kageyama) Opera Roma rolled out the red carpet for the opening evening of its 2019-20 season, with a rare performance of Verdi’s grand opera “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” in its original French version. Overshadowed by his three preceding middle period operas, “Rigoletto,” “Il Trovatore” and “La Traviata,” and by the mature works which followed, it has struggled to gain {…}
(Credit: Moritz Schell Fotografie/Catherine Ashmore/Yasuko Kageyama / TOR) Three rarely performed works highlight the international weekend with three other repertory staples. There are also two new productions opening with one company premiere. Here is a look at what we recommend. Halka – Theater an der Wien, Austria Łukasz Borowicz conducts a new production of Moniuszko’s masterpiece. Mariusz Treliński directs the {…}
The Opéra Comique has announced its 2020 season featuring a number of rarely performed works. The season with Christian Boltanski, Jean Kalman, and Franck Krawczyk’s “Fosse.” The piece is set to star soprano Karen Vourc’h and cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton. Peformance Dates: Jan. 10-11, 2020 François-Adrien Boieldie’s “La Dame Blanche” will be performed in a production by Pauline Bureau. Conducted by Julien {…}