Sonya Yoncheva, Adriana Gonzalez & Jakub Józef Orliński Lead Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier’s 2021 Season

(Credit: Marc Ginot) The Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier in France has announced the 2021 season. For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on the vocal and operatic performances. Le Concert Spirituel, under conductor Hervé Niquet, performs an all-Handel program including God Save the King. Performance Date: July 15, 2021 Adriana Gonzalez and Thibaut Garcia join the {…}

Mar 29, 2021

Teatro Real de Madrid 2020-2021 review: Norma Cast B

(Credit: Javier del Real) In a recent review, I took stock of the Teatro Real de Madrid’s production of “Norma” and its first cast. But I also had the opportunity to check out the other cast of the work, including Hibla Gerzmava in her debut as the title character. Unfortunately, it was not the auspicious debut one would have imagined {…}

Mar 20, 2021

Bayerische Staatsoper Cancels ‘Lucia Di Lammermoor’ and ‘Les Vêpres Siciliennes’

(Credits: LA Opera official website / Peter Knutson) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the cancelation of its run of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” between March 20 & 26, and the presentations of Verdi’s “Les Vêpres siciliennes” on April 5, 10 & 13, 2021. The opera house stated that the performances could not be presented due to the worsening of the {…}

Mar 10, 2021

Marina Rebeka, Annette Dasch & J’Nai Bridges Lead Dutch National Opera’s Reimagined Spring Season

Following the cancelation of its 2020-21 season, the Dutch National Opera has announced an alternate program. The company revealed that it will present “Die ersten Menschen” by Rudi Stephan, directed by Calixto Bieito in his DNO debut. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be conducted by François-Xavier Roth and the work will star Kyle Ketelsen, Annette Dasch, Leigh Melrose, and John {…}

Jan 10, 2021

John Osborn, Olga Peretyatko, Anna Goryachova & Alex Esposito Headline Rai5 Broadcasts for Next Week

(Credits: Matilde Fasso / © DR / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / Opus 3 Artists official website) Italian television channel Rai5 has announced broadcasts for the week of Jan. 11 – Jan. 15, 2021. First up will be a production of Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” with Mariangela Sicilia, John Osborn, Iurii Samoilov, Alex Esposito and Francesca Benitez. Francesco Lanzillotta {…}

Jan 10, 2021

Elena Sancho Pereg Joins ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ at Gran Teatre Del Liceu

(Credit: Studioline Photography) The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced that soprano Elena Sancho Pereg will perform the role of Stella in the upcoming production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on Jan. 18, 19, 25, 28 & 31, 2021. Soprano Adriana González must spend 10 days in preventive isolation, in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations. González will perform the role {…}

Dec 30, 2020

Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Next 2 Weeks of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of weekly streams which will kick off with an entire week dedicated to opera’s greatest rivalries. Then the company will pay tribute to one of the greatest stars of the last few decades. Here is a look. Week 43– Epic Rivalries Monday, January 4 – Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur Starring Anna Netrebko, Anita {…}

Dec 22, 2020

Mezzo-Soprano Carol García Joins Gran Teatre del Liceu’s ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’

(Credit: Gran Teatre Del Liceu official website) The Gran Teatre Del Liceu has announced that mezzo-soprano Stéphanie d’Oustrac has cancelled her participation in Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann” on Jan. 19 & 31, 2021 in the role of La Musa/Nicklausse, due to health reasons. As a result, mezzo-soprano Carol García will perform in her stead. García will join the cast that {…}

Nov 20, 2020

Andreas Schager, Veronica Simeoni & John Osborn Lead Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s Streams

(Credit: Yasuko Kageyama-Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) The Teatro Digitale by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma will continue this month with three streams. On Nov. 24 the company will present Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” conducted by Daniele Gatti. The production from 2016-17 stars Andreas Schager (Tristan), Rachel Nicholls (Isolde), John Relyea (Re Marke), Brett Polegato (Kurwenal), and Michelle Breedt (Brangäne). Streaming Date: Nov. 24, 25 & 26, 2020 {…}

Nov 6, 2020

Q & A: John Osborn on ‘I Puritani,’ Hopes & Fears In COVID-19 World

(Credit: Matilde Fasso) ***Note – this interview was conducted many weeks prior to the recent regulations imposed throughout Spain that have effectively forced many theaters, including the Ópera de Oviedo, to alter their schedules. Over the course of his 27-year career, American Tenor John Osborn has been distinguished as one of the top bel canto tenors in the world. With {…}

Oct 8, 2020

Opera de Oviedo 2020-21 Review: I Puritani

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 {…}