Joyce El-Khoury, Jodie Devos & Anne-Catherine Gillet Headline Opera De Limoges’ 2019-20 Season

Opera de Limoges is set to present a 2019-20 season with a diverse repertoire and a number of recitals. Guignard’s “Jungle” opens the season with Vivien Simon, Sylvain Manet, Clara Pertuy, and Halidou Nombre. Stéphane Guignard directs the production. Performance Dates: Oct. 17-18. 2019 Anne Kessler directs Offenbach’s “Madame Favart” with Laurent Campellone conducting that includes Marion Lebègue, Anne-Catherine Gillet, and Christian Helmer. Performance Dates: Nov. 3-7, {…}

May 2, 2019

Welsh National Opera 2018 -19 Review: Roberto Devereux

(Photo: Bill Cooper) Spiders do not have the best of reputations. Known as unsociable, solitary creatures, they remain aloof, but alert to the slightest movement in their deadly webs. They patiently await their prey to fall into the trap, which they then efficiently despatch, store, and eventually consume. Female spiders are considered to be particularly cold and vicious creatures, many {…}

Mar 29, 2019

CD / DVD Releases – Week of March 25

Two rarities make up this week’s major releases. One is a world premiere recording and the other is a rarely performed choral piece. Both recordings have incredibly well-established casts led by two masters. Here are our recommendations for this week’s major releases. L’Ange de Nisida Donizetti’s rediscovered work gets it world premiere recording from a live performance at the Royal Opera {…}

Mar 22, 2019

Opera Rara Releases ‘L’Ange De Nisida’ With Joyce El-Khoury

Opera Rara has released the world premiere recording of Donizetti’s “L’Ange de Nisida.” The new recording was taken from two concert performances of the work in July 2018 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Opera Rara’s Artistic Director Sir Mark Elder leading the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in his ninth Donizetti title for the company. The new {…}

Mar 15, 2019

Bryn Terfel, Jessica Pratt & Angela Meade Headline Bilbao Opera’s 2019-20 Season

The Bilbao Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring five productions, two company premieres, and a number of debuts by some of the biggest stars. Here is a look at what you can expect next season. Jessica Pratt opens the season with her acclaimed interpretation of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” The soprano is joined by Ismael Jordi, Juan Jesús Rodriguez, and {…}

Mar 1, 2019

Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (3/1-3)

It’s a weekend filled with rarely performed works and many singers in role debut runs. It’s also a weekend with new productions and important revivals. Here is a look at what we think you should see. Werther – Opera Australia, Australia Michael Fabiano stars in the title role of Massenet’s masterpiece, continuing the run of his role debut. He is {…}

Feb 25, 2019

Artist Of The Week: Joyce El-Khoury

Elisabetta in “Roberto Devereux” is considered one of the most demanding roles in the soprano repertory and has always been a major measuring stick for leading Bel canto sopranos. Now, Joyce El-Khoury will take on the challenging role and look to make her mark. With her upcoming portrayal of Elisabetta at the Welsh National Opera, El-Khoury will continue to explore the Donizetti Tudor {…}

Dec 14, 2018

Best of 2018: 11 Singers Who Had A Year To Remember!

It’s that time of year during which we look back at the past 365-ish days and the big moments that defined them. Every year, the opera world has its 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 {…}

Nov 28, 2018

Liszt’s ‘Sardanapalo’ To Get World Premiere Recording

The world premiere recording of Liszt’s “Sardanapalo” is set to be released. Audite will release the new recording of Franz Liszt’s long-lost opera featuring Joyce El-Khoury, Airam Hernandez and Oleksandr Pushniak with the Staatskapelle Weimar conducted by Kirill Karabits. The work had its world premiere over the summer and El-Khoury told OperaWire, “The composition style is quite interesting in that {…}

Oct 6, 2018

Joyce El-Khoury, Ermonela Jaho To Headline Upcoming Opera Rara Releases

Opera Rara and Warner Classics are ramping up their partnership with a number of upcoming releases to follow up the collaboration on a recent recording of Rossini’s complete “Semiramide.” At a luncheon in New York City, the chief participants in the partnership, including conductor and Opera Rara musical director Sir Mark Elder, talked about the future plans, which included three {…}

Aug 17, 2018

Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (8/17-19)

Festival season continues while some of the bigger opera companies start to open up in time for the fall showcase. This weekend will feature some acclaimed stars as well as a world premiere and a rarely performed work. Here is what we recommend. Aida – Opera Australia, Australia Natalie Aroyan, Riccardo Massi, and Milijana Nikolic star in Verdi’s epic classic. {…}