It’s time of the year. The moment we wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments. After releasing our favorite performances of 2023 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top 11 singers of the year, performers that we thought stood out and had major breaks or performances. So {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is set to broadcast its opening night production of Boito’s”Mefistofele” on Nov. 27, 2023. The opera will be shown on Rai 5 through Rai Cultura and can also be heard on Radio 3. Boito’s work will be presented in a new production by Simon Stone, who is making his debut in Italy and will be {…}
(Credit: Solomon Howard) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Manon Lescaut.” The company said that for its final performance on Nov. 8, Joshua Guerrero will replace Yusif Eyvazov in the role of Des Grieux. The change comes after Guerrero also performed the Nov. 5 performance, also taking over for Eyvazov. Guerrero has performed with the {…}
The San Diego Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Productions The season opens with Javier Martinez and Leonard Foglia’s “El Milagro del Recuerdo.” The production will star Sishel Claverie, Vanessa Alonzo, Claudia Chapa, Héctor Vásquez, and Guadalupe Paz. Leonard Foglia directs. Performance Dates: Dec. 1 & 3, 2023 Germán Enrique Alcántara, Alexander McKissick, Ethan Vincent, Tasha Koontz, and Megan Moore star in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Yves Abel conducts. {…}
This week audiences cannot miss debut albums, a world premiere recording, and two acclaim DVD releases A Phoenix Rising Navona Records releases tenor Brian Smith Walters’ first album. The CD is a cross-section of chansons and Lieder spanning five centuries, and Walters navigates them with stunning bravado. Audiences will hear selections from Purcell, Copland, Schubert, Saint Saens, Tchaikovsky, Barber, Wagner, {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Botio’s “Mefistofele” with Simon Stone directing. Michele Mariotti conducts a cast that includes John Relyea, Maria Agresta, and Joshua Guerrero. Performance Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 2023 Michele Mariotti conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” with Anna Pirozzi, Vittorio Grigolo, and Erwin Schrott. Performance Dates: Dec.9-14, 2023 Damiano Michieletto directs Mozart’s “Die {…}
The Royal Danish Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring opera productions and concerts. Opera Bassem Samir Akiki conducts “Don Juans Inferno” with Fanny Soyer, Palle Knudsen, Damian Pass, Fredrik Bjellsäter, and Geoffroy Buffière. Performance Dates: April 20-May 9, 2024 Paolo Carignani conducts Verdi’s “Aida” with Anna Nechaeva, Miriam Clark, Nora Sourouzian, Hovhannes Ayvazyan, Samuele Simoncini, Jens Søndergaard, Musa Ngqungwana, Kyungil Ko, and Daniel Giulianini. {…}
This week, audiences can check out exciting new releases from major artists. There is also a world premiere recording of a rarely performed opera. Home Decca releases the new album from Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre and the acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8. The album includes a world premiere, “All Seems Beautiful To Me,” and a new recording of Whitacre’s deeply moving {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2023-24 season featuring six new productions. Premieres Puccini’s “Il Trittico” is set to be directed by Pınar Karabulut and conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles. “Il Tabarro” will star Misha Kiria, Jonathan Tetelman, Mikhail Pirogov, Carmen Giannattasio, and Maria Motolygina. Meanwhile “Suor Angelica” will star Mané Galoyan, Violeta Urmana, and Annika Schlicht. Finally, “Gianni Schicchi” {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2023-24 season. New Productions The first new production of the season will be Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Stefano Montanari conducts the production by Evgeny Titov. The cast will include Huw Montague Rendall, Mattia Olivieri, Elsa Dreisig, Maria Bengtsson, Louise Alder, Konstantin Krimmel, Avery Amereau, and Dorothea Röschmann. Performance Dates: Oct. 30, 2023-July 17, 2024 {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced it will make two of its operas available all summer online and for free. The first production that the company will showcase online is a production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The opera is staged in a new production by Barrie Kosky with Lorenzo Viotti conducting the Netherlands Philharmonic. The cast includes superstar soprano Malin Byström {…}