The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its March 3, 2025 performance of “Norma.” The company said that Freddie De Tommaso will sing the role of Pollione replacing Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill. Flórez took to social media and said, “While warming up this morning, I felt that something wasn’t quite right. I went to see my {…}
On March 23, ORF III will broadcast the Wiener Staatsoper’s new production of Bellini’s “Norma.” The new production by Cyril marks the first time in 10 years that the work is presented at the Wiener Staatsoper and the first staged production in almost 45 years. Michele Mariotti conducts an all-star cast led by Federica Lombardi, who makes her role debut {…}
Carnegie Hall has announced its 2025-26 season. “With every season, Carnegie Hall seeks to offer audiences a panoramic view of the world’s leading artists and ensembles with every performance promising to be something truly extraordinary,” said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, in an official press release. “Looking to 2025–2026, we’re especially excited about our next festival {…}
LA Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the program. Opera Gabriella Reyes and Duke Kim star in the company premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” James Conlon conducts the production by Francesca Zambello. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 8, 2025 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will return Janai Brugger, Oreste Cosimo, Erica Petrocelli, Gihoon Kim, Emmett O’Hanlon, and {…}
(Credit: © Gregor Hohenberg) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced the 67th Opera Ball. The event will take place on Feb. 27 and will focus on Johann Strauss. The Opera Ball will feature musical guests such as Juan Diego Flórez, Nadine Sierra, Maria Nazarova, and Daniel Jenz. Cornelius Meister will conduct the Viena State Opera Orchestra. The program will include such {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper is set to present a new production of Bellini’s “Norma.” Michele Mariotti is set to conduct a new production by French stage director Cyril Teste. In a statement, Mariotti noted, “‘Norma’ is a triumph of emotions and torments described by the fierce classicism of the music. In my view, there are two moments that make it an {…}
The year is at an end. But a new year brings new opera experiences and here at OperaWire, we are pumped for the potential of numerous performances. Here are the 10 productions we are most excited for in the first half of the 2025, in alphabetical order (and each company is limited to a single production on the list). Die {…}
(Photo ©2024 Camilla Greenwell) In a recent interview with director Damiano Michieletto at the Venice production of “The Tales of Hoffmann,” he said: “At its heart it is a journey into fantasy. It is opera fantastique, after all!” One definition of the French word fantastique is: a term for a literary and cinematic genre and mode that is characterized by {…}
Following the announcement of Germany’s proposal to merge 3sat into Arte, the Franco-German culture channel, IMZ International Music+Media Centre and several artists have released statements against the planned merger. IMZ Media said, “3sat is the only public channel showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the DACH region, broadcasting dance, theatre, opera, literature, music and more across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. {…}
(Credit: © Gregor Hohenberg) September 20 marked a special day for tenor Juan Diego Flórez. For decades, the famed bel canto specialist has been almost exclusively releasing albums on Decca Classics, becoming one of the major operatic faces for the label throughout his career. He also worked with Sony Classical for a short period. But the tenor, who in recent {…}
The Royal Ballet and Opera is set to present Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffman” in a new production by Damiano Michieletto. The production first made its premiere in Sydney and Venice. In a statement, Michieletto said, “The journey of these Contes d’Hoffmann should have started right from London in 2020. The project was then stopped by Covid. But that was just {…}
