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 {…}
La Monnaie / De Munt has released new details for its “Rivoluzione e Nostalgia.” Imagined by Carlo Goldstein and Krystian Lada, the new story features music from Verdi’s first 16 operas and is set in May 1968 and in 2008. Audiences will experience the story across two separate performances. “Rivoluzione” takes place in the late 1960s and will be presented {…}
(Photo: Chiara Mirelli) Mezzo-soprano Raffaella Lupinacci, having just completed a run of performances as Giovanna Seymour in La Monnaie’s presentation of “Bastarda,” a larger-than-life presentation of Queen Elizabeth I as seen through the musical highlights of Donizetti’s Tudor tetralogy, is currently preparing for the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, in which she will play the role of Arsace in “Aureliano {…}
Christina Scheppelmann will assume the position of General Director at La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels, Belgium, following the completion of her five-year contract with Seattle Opera. Scheppelmann, the fourth General Director of Seattle Opera, will conclude her tenure after the 2023-24 season. During her leadership, the company achieved significant milestones, including the world premiere of “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” the {…}