CD / DVD Releases – Week of May 7: Jonas Kaufmann Leads New Releases With ‘Otello’

The week sees a number of high profile releases including a world premiere, an exciting role debut, a rarely performed gem, and an innovative production from one of the world’s greatest filmmakers. L’Invisible The world premiere recording of Albert Reimann’s new opera “L’Invisible” will be released by Oehms Classics from the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The new CD, which was recorded from {…}

Brenda Rae, Jakub Józef Orliński & Malin Byström To Be Featured In Oper Frankfurt’s 2018-19 Season

Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring 14 new productions, a number of revivals and recitals. The season will feature a number of Frankfurt premieres and one world premiere. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions Peter Eötvös ‘s “Tri sestry” gets its first Frankfurt performances in a new production by Dorothea Kirschbaum. The unique opera, {…}

Top 6 Operas To See This Weekend (4/13-15): Iréne Theorin, Evelyn Herlitzius & Anna Caterina Antonacci Lead Weekend

This week we look at six different operas scattered around Europe that are sure to bring about unique experiences. Götterdämmerung – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria  Stephen Gould, Eric Halfvarson, and Iréne Theorin lead the final installment in Wagner’s Tetralogy. The opera, which will also be live streamed, is set to be conducted by Adam Fischer. It will also be the final performance {…}

Sonya Yoncheva, Valery Gergiev & Gerald Finley To Be Featured At The Philharmonie De Paris’s 2018-19 Season

The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2018-19 season filled with numerous concerts and operatic selections. The season will see a number of international stars and orchestras as guest artists to this important Parisian hall. Here is a look at the vocal highlights. Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra continue their exploration of the Ring Cycle with “Siegfried.” The opera {…}

Plácido Domingo, Angela Gheorghiu & Rolando Villazón Headline Semperoper Dresden’s 2018-19 Season

(Credit: © Semperoper Dresden/Klaus Gigga) The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2018-19 season featuring a number of superstars and nine new productions of operettas, chamber opera, and grand opera. As always, the following will only cover the operas that will be shown next season and not the ballets that were also included in the season announcement. New Production  Arnold Schönberg’ {…}

Teatro dell’Opera di Roma 2017-18 Review – Fra Diavolo: Great Singing & Production Marry Comedy & Drama Seamlessly

During the 19th century “Fra Diavolo,” written by Auber to a libretto by Scribe, was one of France’s most popular operas, amassing over 900 performances at the Opéra Comique, before finally being dropped from the repertoire in 1907. Nowadays, it has largely been forgotten, with only the occasional rare outing, of which Opera Roma’s is the latest offering. Yet, based {…}

Weekend Preview – International (10/6-8): Piotr Beczala Headlines ‘Un Ballo In Maschera’ At The Liceu

It’s another hectic weekend with many of the worlds greatest stars performing around the world. The modern classics and many of the traditional warhorses will be featured this weekend. Austria The Vienna State Opera continues its run of “La Bohème” with Jinxu Xiahou, Hrachuhí Bassenz, Gabriel Bermúdez and Aida Garifullina as well as “The Gambler” with Linda Watson and “Don Giovanni” {…}