Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (6/8-10): Klaus Florian Vogt, Francesco Meli & Elza Van Heever To Star This Weekend

This will be a weekend of new productions, closing nights, and role debuts. Two major stars return to signature roles while one rising star takes on her first Wagner role. Then there are two bel canto favorites and some verismo. Here is a look. Ernani – Opera de Marseille, France  Francesco Meli takes on the title role in Verdi’s early work {…}

Carlos Alvarez, Ainhoa Arteta & Sabina Puertolas Headline Teatro Del La Zarzuela’s 2018-19 Season

The Teatro de la Zarzuela has announced its 2018-19 season featuring a number of favorites and international stars. The season will also include concerts and recitals by some of the world’s greatest singers. Productions Pablo Sorozabal’s “Katiuska” opens the season with Guillermo Garcia Calvo conducting Ainhoa Arteta, Rocio Ignacio, and Maite Alberola sharing the title role. Carlos Alvarez, Ángel Odena, Jorge {…}

Pretty Yende, Diana Damrau & Russell Thomas Headline Deutsche Oper Berlin’s 2018-19 Season

( Photo credit: Manfred Brückels) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2018-19 season featuring seven new productions and numerous revivals. The season will also include some of today’s biggest stars as well numerous ensemble members. Here is a look! New Productions  Johan Reuter takes on the title role in Berg’s “Wozzeck” in a new production by Ole Anders Tanberg’s {…}

Joseph Calleja, Kristine Opolais & Ramón Vargas Highlight Hamburg State Opera’s 2018-19 Season

The Hamburg State Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of international singers and six new productions. Here is a look at what’s in store for operalovers. New Productions  The Hamburg State Opera’s first new production of the season will be “Così fan tutte” with Maria Bengtsson, Stephanie Lauricella, Kartal Karagedik, Dovlet Nurgeldiyev, Oleksiy Palchykov, Sylvia Schwartz, and {…}

Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (3/9-11): Jonas Kaufmann & Bryan Hymel Open New Productions

After a number of adventurous choices last week, this weekend we’re sticking to some of the greatest hits in opera as this week will feature  the greatest singers in the world. One simply cannot ignore when singers like Jonas Kaufmann and Bryan Hymel are performing major works. Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci – La Monnaie, Belgium  Damiano Michieletto’s acclaimed production of the popular verismo {…}

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Review – Aida: Conductor Daniele Rustioni Dominates, Leads Riveting Cast In Memorable Performance

I preface this by stating that this review is for the performance on March 31, 2017. I would also like to recognize that this is just one, performance of a seven-performance run. In an ideal situation, I would attend every performance and write a detailed review of the overall work. As it stands, I can only go on my perspective of one performance. Despite being such a familiar opera, {…}