Weekend Preview – International (1/27- 1/29): Jonas Kaufmann headlines a Sold Out ‘Lohengrin’ and Anita Rachvelishvili returns to ‘Il Trovatore’

What are you doing this weekend? Do you have any plans? If not the world’s greatest houses have some great offerings this weekend. Among the artists performing include Placido Domingo, Juan Diego Florez, Lise Lindstorm and Francesco Meli. Austria The weekend kicks off with Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” at the Vienna State Opera. The production stars Aida Garifullina and Juan {…}

Jan 13, 2017

On This Day: 5 Operas Juan Diego Florez Revived To The Repertoire

Juan Diego Florez is one of the most beloved tenors around the world. He has dominated the Bel Canto repertoire for years and his mastery of coloratura is unmeasured. For years the tenor has made an effort to revive works that are rarely performed or simply have been lost in the repertoire. These works have been given special treatment as {…}

Jan 10, 2017

Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition Returns to Eastern Europe in July 2017

Kazakhstan will play host to the 25th Operalia Competition in July 2017. The famed competition will be making its return to Eastern Europe after making an appearance there in 2011 at Moscow. It also took place in Pécs and Budapest in 2009. Otherwise the competition has mainly done rounds in Western Europe, North America and Asia (Tokyo and Beijing). Last {…}

Jan 7, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Preview: Peter Mattei, Javier Camarena, Pretty Yende Star in ‘Il Barbiere di Sivilgia’

Rossini’s famed “Il Barbiere di Sivilgia” or “The Barber of Seville” returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 with an all-star cast for a whopping 10 performances through early February. Here is a look at what to expect from the company’s revival of the beloved work. The Performers A few years ago, Peter Mattei made a name {…}

Jan 2, 2017

Joyce DiDonato Performs For Sing Sing Inmates

Joyce DiDonato is redefining what it means to be an opera singer as she is taking her love for music to Sing Sing, one of the most notorious prisons in the world. On the Today show the Mezzo Soprano was interviewed about her work with the inmates to help them find their voice through music. In the story DiDonato revealed {…}

Dec 30, 2016

Weekend Preview (12/30 – 1/1) – USA: New York Galas Dominate New Year’s Weekend

New Years weekend will not be particularly active in the American opera scene. Only three major companies will make their respective presences felt as the calendar turns from 2016 to 2017. The Metropolitan Opera will continue its full slate of operas, showcasing three works to end the year. There will be two performances given on Friday, December 30. At 12 {…}

Dec 28, 2016

Joyce DiDonato, Sonya Yoncheva, Paulo Szot And Piotr Beczala To Ring In The New Year From Germany and New York

On New Year’s Eve many operatic stars will celebrate the New Year performing on stage. There will be many productions of “Die Fledermaus” and the Metropolitan Opera will present a new production of Gounod’s “Rome et Juliette.” However for those not interested in seeing a complete opera and interested in something lighter, many of the world’s greatest stars will perform {…}

Dec 19, 2016

17 Anticipated New Opera Productions to See in 2017

This year is coming to a close and after having looked back at some of the milestones certain stars made this year, it is time to look at 2017. There is so much to look forward to as many of the greatest stars will take on new roles while other will reprise signature roles in new productions with star-studded casts. {…}

Dec 19, 2016

13 Recommended Opera CD and DVDs That Will Make Great Holiday Gifts

Are you finished with your holiday shopping? Are you stuck and have no ideas on what to buy? OperaWire has compiled a list of some of the best new releases from 2016 that will make for a great gift. CDS Anna Netrebko’s New Recordings Two of the best recordings this year are from Anna Netrebko. Her new Verismo album features some of {…}

Dec 14, 2016

Best of 2016: 11 Singers Who Defied Possibilities and Created the Most Memorable Moments of 2016!

Every year has a share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera singers who solidify or take their careers in new directions. Others make important debuts or create roles that audiences would have never expected and conquer. This is what makes a performer stick in an audience’s mind for the whole year. For this year OperaWire has put {…}

Dec 6, 2016

Mozart 225: The Complete Edition Tops 1.25 Million in Sales Worldwide

Mozart was a huge hit throughout his short career and his great success has continued in 2016 in the form of 1.25 million international CD sales of Deutsche Grammophon’s “Mozart 225: The Complete Edition” in a whopping five weeks since its release. The boxset, made up of 200-CD’s and encompassing every single work ever created by the composer, was released {…}