(Credit: Shirley Suarez) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that John Relyea will take over the role of King Philipp in its upcoming production of “Don Carlo.” The company announced the news days after Ildar Abdrazakov withdrew for personal reasons. In a statement the bass said “I needed to take a break from my schedule and cancel all July shows. Thank {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Gwyn Hughes Jones, Elizabeth Llewellyn, and Simon Bailey star in Britten’s “Peter Grimes” with Martyn Brabbins conducting David Alden’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 21–Oct. 11, 2023 Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe” returns to the company with Chris Hopkins conducting the production by Cal McCrystal. Samantha Price, Ellie Laugharne, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Marcus Farnsworth, John Savournin, {…}
The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli has announced its 2023-24 Season featuring concerts and operas. Sondra Radvanovsky and Oksana Dyka sing the title role in Puccini’s “Turandot” with Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Yusif Eyvazov, SeokJong Baek, Rosa Feola, and Amina Edris. Dan Ettinger conducts the new production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Dec.9-17, 2023 Mattia Olivieri, Alessandro Spina, Piero Pretti, Alex Esposito, {…}
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner English National Opera has had a stay of execution from the swinging cuts imposed on them by Arts Council England before Christmas. At least another year of funding is guaranteed, though it has not come without casualties; the “Siegfried” planned as the next installment of their burgeoning “Ring” has reportedly been pulled. A pity, as Richard {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Vedi’s “Rigoletto” for 14 performances. The opera, which is set to run between Nov. 10 and Dec. 29, will showcase Benjamin Bernheim in his highly anticipated company debut as Duke. He will share the run with Stephen Costello. Baritone Quinn Kelsey and soprano Rosa Feola will reprise their roles of Rigoletto and Gilda {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) Verdi’s “Don Carlo” is set to return to the Metropolitan Opera for nine performances in the four-act Italian version. The opera, which is set to be performed between Nov. 3 and Dec. 3, 2022 will star Russell Thomas in the title role. Interestingly, Thomas will sing “Don Carlo” at the Met for the first time, 17 years {…}
(Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth Mtsenk” in Graham Vick’s 1994 production. The production, which will be performed six times, opens on Sept. 29 with Russian soprano Svetlana Sozdateleva in the lead role of Katerina Ismailova. The soprano, who is making her Met debut, has performed the role to great {…}
(Credit: Ken howard) PBS has announced that it will start broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of “Don Carlos” on Sunday, August 7, 2022. The Verdi opera stars Sonya Yoncheva, Jamie Barton, Matthew Polenzani, Eric Owens, John Relyea, and Étienne Dupuis. Of the production, OperaWire’s Francisco Salazar noted that while the production did not really present the “original” French version of the {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Back in 2017, The Guardian meditated on why, despite being one of the world’s greatest plays, “Hamlet” had no great corresponding operatic adaptation. The article notes that despite there being about 40 actual operatic adaptations, none have stood the test of time or held the stage. Perhaps the lone work with staying power is {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring eight productions and seven operas. Leo Hussain conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Christof Loy. The cast will include Sinéad Campbell-Wallace, Adam Smith, and Noel Bouley. Performance Dates: Sept. 30–Nov. 4 2022 Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard” will include Anthony Gregory, Neal Davies, Alexandra Oomens, Heather {…}
The night of Feb. 28 turned out to be a big night for the Metropolitan Opera on several fronts. Not only was it the reopening of the 2021-22 season after a month-long hiatus, but it was also the first-ever performance of the French version of Verdi’s “Don Carlos.” But, perhaps most importantly, this performance was the first to take place {…}