(Credit: Simon van Rompay) This week La Monnaie opened the world premiere of Iain Bell’s new opera “Medusa.” The work explores the human dimension of the Medusa myth, headlined by soprano Claudia Boyle, who showcases Medusa as reborn as a complex and deeply moving woman, alone amid the stone statues of those who, in their thirst for glory, tried to {…}
La Monnaie has announced “Medusa Moves,” a participatory public campaign developed in collaboration with STIB/MIVB and the City of Brussels, timed to the world premiere of “Medusa,” a new opera by composer Iain Bell and director Lydia Steier. The campaign centers on a choreography created by Brussels-based dancer and choreographer Jeny BSG (Jeny Bonsenge), who invites the public to learn {…}
La Monnaie/De Munt has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera Jeanine de Bique, Kseniia Proshina, Ismael Jordi and Airam Hernandez star in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” with Florence Losseau, Travon D. Walker, and Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev. Valentina Peleggi conducts the production by Julia Burbach. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 17,, 2026 Alain Altinoglu conducts Berg’s “Wozzeck” in a production by Christophe Coppens. Scott {…}
Though “Benvenuto Cellini” (1838) was Berlioz’s first opera, premiering five years before Wagner’s “Der fliegende Holländer” (1843), thirteen years before Verdi’s “Rigoletto” (1851), and two decades before Gounod’s “Faust” (1859), the work sounds positively avant-garde compared to contemporaneous works and even compared to those written long after it. The most astounding innovation was Berlioz’s use of syncopation, especially in his {…}
The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to look back and reflect at what was and what will remain in our memories. As per usual, OperaWire has compiled the favorite performances of the year from many of our contributors. We won’t keep you waiting, here’s a look at the Staff Picks for the best performances of 2025. {…}
La Monnaie de Mont has announced an upcoming world premiere opera. The company said that “during last week’s honorary doctorate ceremony for Nobel Prize-winning author J. M. Coetzee, Christina Scheppelmann revealed that he will write the libretto for ‘Elizabeth Costello in limbo,’ a new opera composed by Nicholas Lens for La Monnaie’s 2027–2028 season.” In a statement, Scheppelmann said, “This {…}
La Monnaie de Mont has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Falstaff” starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role, Lionel Lhote, Bogdan Volkov, Sally Matthews, Benedetta Torres, and Daniela Barcellona. Alain Altinoglu and Ouri Bronchti alternate and Laurent Pelly directs the new production. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 9, 2025 Ricard Soler Mallol and Grey Filastine showcase {…}
This week La Monnaie/De Mont is set to open the world premiere of Fanny and Alexander. The work is based on Oscar-winning film “Fanny och Alexander” from 1982. The work will include a commanding cast of 16 soloists many of them veterans and some newcomers. Among them are Anne Sofie von Otter. Over the years, Von Otter has evolved her {…}
(Credit: La Monnaie / De Munt | Johan Jacobs) OPER! AWARDS has announced that La Monnaie / De Munt has been awarded Best Opera House of 2024. The jury of the OPER! AWARDS announced the news in Berlin and noted that the award will be presented on Feb. 21, 2025 during a gala at the Brussels Opera House which will {…}
La Monnaie De Munt has been recognized for its scenography of “Das Rheingold” by the French Comité du Syndicat de la Critique. The production directed and designed by Romeo Castellucci received the award at the Prix de la critique 2022-23 ceremony on June 6. The event was held at the Paris Théâtre de la Ville-Sarah Bernhardt. La Monnaie De Munt’s {…}
La Monnaie de Munt has announced the 2024-25 season. Opera Wagner’s “Siegfried” will star Magnus Vigilius, Peter Hoare, Gábor Bretz, Scott Hendricks, Wilhelm Schwinghammer, Ingela Brimberg, Nora Gubisch, and Liv Redpath. Alain Altinoglu conducts Pierre Audi’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 4, 2024 Kris Defoort’s “The Time of Our Singing ” will star Mark S. Doss, Claron Mcfadden, Simon Bailey, Levy {…}