Photo: Marco Borrelli On Sunday January 28th, 2024, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo gave the penultimate performance of a new production of Handel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto,” the third in a series of Handel productions featuring Cecilia Bartoli, following “Ariodante” in 2019 and “Alcina” in 2023, both staged by Christof Loy. This time, the staging was entrusted to Davide Livermore, scenographer {…}
Countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim has been honored as the 2023 “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” by The Dallas Opera. The countertenor was recognized for his portrayal of Hansel in Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” Chosen exclusively by Dallas Opera subscribers, this annual award recognizes an outstanding company debut by a single performer. Born in South Korea and raised in {…}
(Photo: Michele Crosera) On May 13th 1767, the students of the Salzburg University Gymnasium premiered the three-act intermezzo “Apollo et Hyacinthus.” The significance of the event was that it was the first performance of an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was 11 years old at the time. Although its music certainly has much to commend it, dramatically it {…}
The Dallas Opera is set to present “Hansel and Gretel” starting on Oct. 28, 2022. The production, which will be subsequently live streamed on Nov. 5, 2022 at 7:30 p.m., will star Kangmin Justin Kim and Elena Villalón in the title roles, respectively. They will be joined by Mark Delavan and Patricia Racette as the father and mother; Racette will {…}
The Teatro La Fenice has announced its 2022-23 season. Opera Nicola Alaimo leads Verdi’s “Falstaff” alongside Vladimir Stoyanov, René Barbera, Selene Zanetti, Caterina Sala, Sara Mingardo, and Veronica Simeoni. Myung-Whun Chung conducts the production by Adrian Noble. Performance Dates: Nov. 18-26, 2022 Bruno Maderna’s “Satyricon” will star Francesca Gerbasi, Matteo Ferrara, Manuela Custer, Christopher Lemmings, William Corrò, and Marcello Nardis. Alessandro {…}
France’s Opéra National du Rhin has announced its 2022-23 season. Here is a look at the productions that will be performed this season. “Histoire(s) d’opéra” will feature music by Monteverdi, Händel, Rameau, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Poulenc, and Berberian. Floriane Derthe, Lauranne Oliva, Brenda Poupard, Liying Yang, Glen Cunningham, Andrei Maksimov, and Oleg Volkov star while Émilie Capliez and {…}
(Photo: Michele Crosera) Given that Venice is the city of Vivaldi’s birth and the scene of most of his musical successes, it is fitting that La Fenice has been one of the leading companies in the movement toward rehabilitating staged performances of his operas. This season’s production of the composer’s 1735 work “La Griselda” will mark the fifth consecutive year {…}
Switzerland’s Opéra Lausanne has announced its 2022-23 season. It all kicks off with a production of “L’Elisir d’Amore” which will star Valentina Nafornita, Laurène Paternò, Jean Miannay, Aslam Safla, Raphaël Hardmeyer, Dovlet Nurgeldiyev, Giorgio Caoduro, Aurélie Brémond, and Adrian Sâmpetrean. Kir Kabaretti conducts a production by Adriana Sinivia. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-9, 2022 Miles Mykkanen, Franco Pomponi, Marie Lys, and {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2022-23 season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” Emmanuel Villaume conducts a cast starring George Gagnidze, Madison Leonard, René Barbera, Nadia Krasteva, Raymond Aceto, Nicholas Newtown, Erik Earl Larson, Julius Ahn, Alison Bolshoi, and Malcolm Payne Jr., among others. The production will be directed by Tomer Zvulun and is presented in collaboration with Houston {…}
San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has announced its exciting 2022-23 season spotlighting rare works by Handel and featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo, along with 13 guest artist debuts. Here’s what’s in store for Bay Area audiences. For this article, only vocal performances are listed. First up is Händel’s oratorio “Theodora,” featuring mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston in her PBO and American debut, soprano {…}
Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2022 festival, which will run between July 1 through August 27, 2022. The season will include five new productions, 38 performances, one world premiere, one company premiere, and an international co-production. In sum, there will be 26 artists making their debuts and another 29 returning to the company. It all kicks off with “Carmen,” {…}