Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Michael Volle, Ludovic Tézier, Pretty Yende, Rolando Villazón, Federica Lombardi, Nicole Car, Freddie De Tommaso & Juan Diego Flórez Headline Wiener Staatsoper’s 2025-26 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the operas and recitals for the new season. Premieres Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” will get a new production by Dirk Schmeding. The cast will be headed by Franz Xaver Schlecht, Margaret Plummer, Slávka Zámečníková, Ivo Stanchev, Monika Bohinec, Pavol Breslik, Michael Laurenz, Peter Kellner, Matthäus Schmidlechner, Ilia Staple, and Alex Ilvakhin. Tomáš Hanus conducts. A second cast will {…}

Mar 22, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Pretty Yende, Marina Rebeka Headline Théâtre des Champs-Élysées’s 2025-26 Season

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera Productions Jakob Lehmann conducts Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust” in a production by Silvia Costa. Benjamin Bernheim, Viktoria Karkacheva, Christian Van Horn, and Thomas Dolié star. Performance Dates: Nov. 3-15, 2025 Offenbach’s “Robinson Crusoé” will be conducted by Marc Minkowski and directed by Laurent Pelly. Lawrence Brownlee, Julie Fuchs, Laurent {…}

Mar 11, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: La Boheme

Of course, this isn’t a review of the great Metropolitan Opera House, per se, but as a most fortunate and frequent attendee of the Royal Opera House, (now frustratingly called the Royal Ballet and Opera), it proved somewhat impossible for me to make comparisons. Yes, of COURSE, it IS big; it’s the biggest opera house in the world, as the {…}

Feb 6, 2025

Teatro Real de Madrid 2024-25 Review: Eugene Onegin

(Photo: © Javier del Real /Teatro Real de Madrid) The Teatro Real’s recent staging of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” offers a profound and intimate exploration of love, regret, and honor, brought to life by a stellar cast. Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov delivers a convincing portrayal of Eugene Onegin, capturing the character’s evolution from detached arrogance to profound remorse. His performance is {…}

Dec 22, 2024

Opéra de Paris Announces Cast Change for ‘Rigoletto’

(Credit: Emil Matveev / Askonas Holt Official Website) The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its Dec. 22 performance of “Rigoletto.” The company said that Kristina Mkhitaryan will sing the role of Gilda stepping in for an ill Rosa Feola. In a statement via social media Feola said, “Dear all, unfortunately, I had to cancel my performance {…}

Oct 9, 2024

Royal Ballet and Opera 2024-25 Review: Eugene Onegin

(Photo: Tristram Kenton) “Eugene Onegin,” Tchaikovsky’s reworking of Pushkin’s verse novel into seven ‘lyric scenes,’ has not been seen on the Covent Garden stage for nearly a decade. Ted Huffman’s new staging would have been an event for that reason alone, but its significance was underlined by the fact that it sees one of the most striking young directors making {…}

Jun 28, 2024

Jonathan Tetelman, Saioa Hernández, Carmen Giannattasio & Xabier Anduaga Lead Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s 2025 Season

The Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has announced its 2025 season. The season opens with a double bill of Puccini’s “Il tabarro” and “Le villi.” The production will star Jonathan Tetelman, Carmen Giannattasio, and Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. Lorenzo Passerini conducts. Performance Dates: Feb. 17-21, 2025 Bizet’s “Carmen“ is set to star Yulia Matochkina, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Miren Urbieta Vega, and Maharram {…}

May 25, 2024

Anna Netrebko, Sondra Radvanovsky, Elīna Garanča, Huw Montague Rendall, Kristina Mkhitaryan & Piotr Beczała Lead Teatro de la Maestranza’s 2024-25 Season

Sevilla’s Teatro de la Maestranza has announced its 2024-25 season. Lirica Sondra Radvanovsky and Piotr Beczała celebrate Puccini with the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla and Keri-Lynn Wilson. Performance Date: Oct. 30, 2024 Gianluca Marcianò and Jacopo Brusa conduct Puccini’s “Turandot” with Oksana Dyka, Maria Katzarava, Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev, Alejandro Baliñas, Jorge de León, Héctor Sandoval, Miren Urbieta-Vega, and Laura Brasó. Performance {…}

Apr 16, 2024

Prague Philharmonia Announces 2024-25 Season

The Prague Philharmonia led by Emmanuel Villaume has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Helen Charlston and Lukáš Pospíšil perform the music of Händel and Haydn. Performance Date: Oct. 22, 2024 Kristina Mkhitaryan, Petr Nekoranec, Vincenzo Taormina, and Nicola Alaimo lead Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” Marco Armiliato conducts. Performance Date: Nov. 29, 2024 Next up {…}

Apr 16, 2023

Cecilia Bartoli, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Lisette Oropesa & Juan Diego Flórez Lead Wiener Staatsoper’s 2023-24 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced the 2023-24 season featuring new productions, revivals, and concerts. Premieres The company will showcase Tatjana Gürbaca’s production of “Il Trittico.” For “Il Tabarro,” audiences will hear Carlos Álvarez, Anja Kampe, and Joshua Guerrero. Headlining “Suor Angelica” will be Eleonora Buratto and Michaela Schuster. Finally, for “Gianni Schicchi,” the headliners including Carlos Álvarez, Serena Sáenz, Michaela {…}

Mar 23, 2023

Kristina Mkhitaryan Lead Dutch National Opera’s ‘Maria Stuarda’

The Dutch National Opera is set to perform “Maria Stuarda,” the second installment of Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy. The company will present a new production by Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen, which is a co-production with Teatro San Carlo (Naples) and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (Valencia). Enrique Mazzola, a specialist in the bel canto repertoire, will conduct the Donizetti masterpiece. The {…}

kristina mkhitaryan