(Photo credit: Monika Rittershaus) “So, who is signing the work?” an operagoer asks Raphaël Pichon and Claus Guth at a lunchtime panel about their opera-project “Samson.” The music is Rameau’s, but it is not that simple. According to Guth (and his Wikipedia search), Rameau did indeed compose a “Samson” with a libretto by Voltaire; however, it is all lost. Pichon {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will experience numerous debut albums, a few complete operas, and some special choral works. Here is a look at the new releases. Orfeo ed Euridice Erato releases Jakub Józef Orliński’s interpretation of Gluck’s masterpiece. Recorded in Orliński’s native city, Warsaw, {…}
Photo credit: Elisa Haberer / Opéra national de Paris Paris Opera’s production of Charpentier’s “Médée” is not bad, but throughout the performance, operagoers will be filled with a sensation of uneasiness. It is not necessarily because of its murderous plot, but because the production feels unsuited to its musicians. It leaves one with the feeling of wearing a garment lent {…}
The Salle Cortot is set to present a concert featuring soprano Julie Roset and alto Lucile Richardot. The concert, scheduled for April 22, 2024, will be conducted by François Lazarevitch, who leads Les Musiciens de Saint Julien. The program is produced by Philippe Maillard Productions. Audiences will experience music by Lully, Boësset, Bacilly, and Lambert. Roset is the Grand Winner {…}
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Thomas Søndergård conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Julie Roset and Linda Watson. Performance Dates: Oct. 4 & 5, 2024 Derrick Morgan conducts “The Haunted Concert” with Owen Gunnell and the RSNO Children’s Chorus. Performance Dates: Oct. 26 & 27, 2024 Dunedin Consort, Hebrides Ensemble, {…}
The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Orchestre de Paris Klaus Mäkelä conducts music by Beethoven, Peteris Vasks, and Tchaikovsky. Lisa Batiashvili is the soloist. Performance Date: Sept. 11, 2024 Stanislav Kochanovsky conducts a program of music by Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Alexandre Tcherepnine. Golda Schultz stars. Performance Date: Oct. 9, {…}
Opéra Comique has announced its schedule for the 2024-25 season. Auber’s “Le Domino noir” is set to be conducted by Louis Langrée and will be directed by Valérie Lesort and Christian Hecq. The cast includes Anne-Catherine Gillet, Cyrille Dubois, and Victoire Bunel. Performance Date: Sept. 20-28, 2024 George Benjamin & Martin Crimp’s “Picture a Day Like This” is set to {…}
It’s been a tough year. Economic hardship. War. Increased social fracturing around the world. In the opera world, we’ve seen numerous companies cutting back on productions or simply canceling their seasons. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything to celebrate. And as we end 2023, here’s a look at some of the young singers who saw their careers shine whether {…}
The Operalia Competition which was held at the Cape Town Opera has announced its 2023 winners. The first-prize winners were Stephano Park and Julie Roset while second prize went to Luke Sutliff and Eugénie Joneau. The third prize went to Navasard Hakobyan and Elena Villalon. Eugénie Joneau was the winner of the Birgit Nilsson award, while Nombulelo Yende took home {…}
(Photo Credit: DR Stefan Brion) The works of André de Grétry are seldom performed, nowadays. There is a reason why. Despite all their great merits and genre innovations, Grétry’s operas are always at risk of looking mundane, or even less than ordinary, if not played by inspiring artists. “Zémire et Azor” is no exception to such an axiom. On the {…}
France’s Opéra National de Lorraine has announced its 2023-24 season featuring opera and concerts. Opera Marta Gardolińska conducts Mozart’s “Idomeneo“ in a new production by Lorenzo Ponte. Atalla Ayan sings the title role alongside Héloïse Mas, Siobhan Stagg, Amanda Woodbury, and Léo Vermot-Desroches. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023 Lucio Gallo, Vuvu Mpofu, Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, and Germán Olvera star in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” {…}