Wexford Festival Opera announces it 2026 season. This article only features opera events. Main Stage Operas First up is Pietro Mascagni and Luigi Illica’s “FIris.” Rosetta Cucchi directs and Francesco Cilluffo conducts. Performance Dates: October 15, 20, 23, 28, & 31, 2026 “L’equivoco stravagante” by Gioachino Rossini and Gaetano Gasbarri is next. Max Hoehn directs. Riccardo Bisatti conducts. Performance Dates: October {…}
Joseph Calleja is coming to the defense of Anna Netrebko as she prepares her return to the Royal Opera House. In a recent article by the Observer about her return the tenor said, “First of all, nobody is a prophet,” the tenor stated “If my president calls for me to give a performance, am I supposed to have a time {…}
(Photo credit: Karina Schwarz / DG) On August 30, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival is set to perform Verdi’s Requiem. The concert will feature Eleonora Buratto as the soprano soloist alongside Elina Garanča, Joseph Calleja, and Roberto Tagliavini. Gianandrea Noseda will conduct the concert, which will feature the orchestra and chorus of the Zurich Opera House. In a statement, Buratto said, “Singing {…}
The Philharmonie Luxembourg has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. The Orchestra and Coro del Teatro alla Scala will be conducted by Riccardo Chailly in music by Verdi and Rossini. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2025 Sir John Eliot Gardiner will conduct the Luxembourg Philharmonic in Mendelssohn’s “Musik zu Ein Sommernachtstraum” and “Die erste Walpurgisnacht.” Sam Cobb, Rebecca Hardwick, {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” will star Teona Todua, Karolina Bengtsson, Kelsey Lauritano, Taehan Kim, Sakhiwe Mkosana, Magnus Dietrich, Andrew Kim, Bianca Tognocchi, Elizabeth Reiter, Liviu Holender, and Sebastian Geyer. Thomas Guggeis conducts the production by Mariame Clément. Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2025-Jan. 17, 2026 Alexander Tsymbalyuk leads Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” with Karolina {…}
The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Andris Nelsons conducts the Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig in Brahms’ Deutsche Requiem with Christian Gerhaher and Julia Kleiter. The program includes Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.5. Performance Date: Sept. 3, 2025 Riccardo Chailly condcuts the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus in excerpts from Verdi’s “La {…}
Of course, this isn’t a review of the great Metropolitan Opera House, per se, but as a most fortunate and frequent attendee of the Royal Opera House, (now frustratingly called the Royal Ballet and Opera), it proved somewhat impossible for me to make comparisons. Yes, of COURSE, it IS big; it’s the biggest opera house in the world, as the {…}
Masters of Classic Festival has announced a cast change for its Sept. 7 performance. The festival said that Joseph Calleja will perform on the stage of the Masters of Classic Festival replacing tenor Rolando Villazon, who had to cancel his concert for health reasons. The organization added, “Despite the extremely short time, the organizer has made everything possible to ensure the {…}
Joseph Calleja has received the Order of Arts and Letters in France. The tenor took to social media and said, “It was a privilege to receive the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres.’ My connection with France goes beyond opera thanks to Michael Tabone and our friends at Vins de Saint-Emilion. I would also like to thank Her Excellency {…}
The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Leevi Madetoja’s “The Ostrobothnians”, which is known as Finland’s “national opera” will be directed by director Paavo Westerberg. The cast will include Jukka Rasilainen, Ville Rusanen, Jussi Vänttinen, Johanna Lehesvuori, Maria Turunen, Iida Antola, Päivi Nisula, Tuomas Pursio, Aarne Pelkonen, Ilkka Hämäläinen and Mika Pohjonen. The Orchestra of the Finnish National {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr. The production will star Krzysztof Bączyk, Bekhzod Davronov, Marjukka Tepponen, and Martina Gedeck. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 24, 2024 Richard Strauss’s “Intermezzo” will be conducted by Patrick Hahn and directed by Axel Ranisch. The cast will include Maria {…}
