On Nov. 7, 2026, soprano Kristine Opolais will make her Mexican debut at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The soprano will sing a program that includes music by Giuseppe Verdi, Alfredo Catalani, Amilcare Ponchielli, Jules Massenet, Erich Korngold, Giacomo Puccini, Franz Lehár, and Antonín Dvořák. She will be accompanied by Abdiel Vázquez. In a statement the soprano said, ““My debut in {…}
Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week audiences get a new “Tosca” recording as well several interesting experimental albums and debut albums. Here are some of the exciting releases of the week. Tosca MaPhil Records releases a live recording of Puccini’s “Tosca,” featuring Kristine Opolais in the title role, {…}
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances. Philippe Jordan conducts Haydn’s “The Creation” with Louise Alder, Bogdan Volkov, and David Steffens. Performance Dates: Nov. 5-7, 2026 Eric Jacobsen conducts Osvaldo Golijov and David Henry Hwang’s “Creation” with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Davóne Tines, Cyro Baptista, and Kayhan Kalhor. Performance Dates: Nov. 12-14, 2026 Andris {…}
(Photo: Alex Damian) This year’s George Enescu International Festival in Bucharest marked the 70th anniversary of the composer’s death, which it commemorated with more than 40 performances of his works. Such is the scope of the festival, which brought together more than 4,000 artists over a four-week period during August and September, that it had the time and space to {…}
(Photo: Hillary Scott) I imagine that every lover of opera can reference memorable “Toscas” in their life, whether recordings or live performances. My first–as a young buff, via a vinyl box set–was indeed a classic. All thanks to Gino, who–many years ago–managed the classical section of LPs at Sam Goody’s in Yonkers. He could always be relied upon for spot-on {…}
The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera Giampaolo Bisanti conducts Gound’s “Faust” in Thaddeus Strassberger’s production. The cast includes John Osborn, Erwin Schrott, Nino Machaidze, Markus Werba, and Elmina Hasan. Performance Dates: Sept. 12-20, 2025 Sieva Borzak conducts Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with a cast that includes Francesca Dotto, Josè Maria Lo Monaco, Maxim Mironov, Vittorio Prato, {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. It’s another week of many releases, including new complete opera recordings, solo albums, oratorios, and sacred works. John Weldon: The Judgment of Paris A long-lost masterpiece revived by Julian Perkins, Cambridge Handel Opera Company and Academy of Ancient Music Academy of Ancient Music {…}
(Photo credits: Vedinaș, Behrmann, & Adjahoe) The George Enescu International Festival 2025 announces its star-studded lineup. This article only features vocal works. The opening concert features the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. Iosef Ion Prunner and Cristian Măcelaru conduct. Performance Date: August 24, 2025 Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen performs with the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra under the direction of Keri-lynn Wilson. {…}
(Credit: Boston Symphony Orchestra) The Tanglewood Festival has announced the 2025 season. In a statement by Andris Nelsons, the conductor said, “We are excited for another fantastic summer at Tanglewood, full of exceptional music in the beautiful surroundings of the Berkshires. We are delighted to perform Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ with Kristine Opolais and Bryn Terfel, and excerpts from Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet; with {…}
(Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera) The Auditorio de Tenerife is set to present Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the second title in Ópera de Tenerife’s 2024-25 season. The opera, which is set to be performed on Nov. 19, 21, and 23, has been sold out for over a month. The company will showcase a production from the Teatro Comunale di Modena {…}
The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its production of “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” The company noted that Kristine Opolais will sing the role of Katerina Ismailova replacing Eva-Maria Westbroek. Opolais also took to social media and said, “I am thrilled to share that I will return to Staatsoper Hamburg next month, to sing Katerina Izmailova in Shostakovich’s ‘Lady {…}
