Sony Classical, Teodor Currentzis & musicAeterna Release First of ‘Fragments’ Series

Sony Classical has launched “Fragments,” a series of iconic opera scenes, recorded in Saint Petersburg, under the direction of Teodor Currentzis. The first in this series features a segment from Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Currentzis recorded the Prelude to Act three and Violetta’s famous Aria “Addio del Passato Bei Sogni Ridenti” alongside Russian soprano Nadezhda Pavlova. The parts of Annina and {…}

Dec 1, 2020

Gran Teatre del Liceu Adds Performances to ‘La Traviata’

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has added performances to Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The opera, which will see the Barcelona theater reopen after a month of closure, will now open on Dec. 4 as opposed to the original Dec. 5. The theater will divide the original Dec. 5 audience with a maximum of 500 people per show. The theater also announced {…}

Oct 28, 2020

Opera Philadelphia to Stream ‘La Traviata’ with Lisette Oropesa

Opera Philadelphia is set to stream the 2015 production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” starring Lisette Oropesa. The production marked the role debut of Oropesa as Violetta in a new production by Paul Curran. Since then Oropesa has gone on to perform the role to great acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera and Arena di Verona. Opera Philadelphia’s production will premiere on {…}

Oct 28, 2020

Gran Teatre del Liceu Announces Cast Change for ‘La Traviata

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its December production of “La Traviata” The company announced that Artur Ruciński and Àngel Òdena will sing the role of Giorgio Germont replacing George Petean, who will be unable to participate for personal reasons. Ruciński is well known for performing the bel canto and Verdi repertoire. He has performed {…}

Oct 27, 2020

Andrzej Dobber Replaces Alexey Markov in ‘Tosca’ at Semperoper Dresden

(Credit: The Semperoper Dresden official website) The Semperoper Dresden has announced that Polish baritone Andrzej Dobber will sing the role of Scarpia in the Semper Essenz presentation of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Oct. 30 2020, replacing Alexey Markov. Dobber will join a cast that includes tenor Jonathan Tetelman in the role of Mario Cavaradossi, and soprano Elena Guseva in the title {…}

Oct 19, 2020

Pavol Breslik Cancels Recital at Opéra National du Rhin

(Credit: © Pascal Albandopooulos) Opéra National du Rhin has announced that the Slovakian tenor Pavol Breslik has canceled his recital in Strasbourg on Oct. 21, 2020. The opera house stated that the reason for cancelation is the indisposition, not COVID-19 related. The cancelation comes after Breslik pulled out of the last two performances of Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” on {…}

Oct 19, 2020

Marina Rebeka To Give Recital at Teatro Alla Scala

(Credit: Tatiana Vlasova) Soprano Marina Rebeka will give a recital at the Teatro alla Scala on Oct. 20, 2020, with Giulio Zappa accompanying at the piano. The program for the concert includes Verdi’s “In solitaria stanza,” “Ave Maria,” and the famed “Brindisi” in its original version; Francesco Paolo Tosti’s “Vorrei” and “Visione”; Respighi’s “Notte,” “Pioggia,” and “Nebbie”; Cesar’ Kjui’s “La {…}

Oct 16, 2020

Q & A: Intendant Thomas Bockelmann On COVID-19 Safety Protocols at Staatstheater Kassel

(Photo Credit: Staatstheater Kassel) When COVID-19 spread quickly across the globe earlier this year, the entire opera world was forced into a lengthy shutdown. And despite continued concerns over the deadly virus, companies slowly found ways to return to some degree of normalcy. Thomas Bockelmann, the Intendant of the Staatstheater Kassel, took on this challenge head-on and recently spoke to {…}

Oct 15, 2020

Nino Machaidze & Claudia Pavone Headline Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s ‘La Traviata’ Concert Performances

The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced that due to the state of emergency, the company will present Verdi’s “La Traviata” in concert form. The concert production will showcase costumes by Valentino that was created by Maria Grazia Chiuri e Pier Paolo Piccioli in collaboration with the Teatro dell’Opera. Paolo Arrivabeni will conduct the Orchestra e il Coro dell’Opera di {…}

Oct 9, 2020

Teatro di San Carlo Cancels ‘La Traviata’

(Credit: Teatro di San Carlo official website) The Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli has announced that it is canceling concert performances of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on October 27 & 28, 2020, due to technical reasons. However, the opera house has confirmed that the concert presentations of the opera on October 24 & 25, 2020 will be performed. The cast {…}

Oct 8, 2020

Opera Națională București Cancels Season Opening Due to COVID-19

(Credit: https://www.seebucharest.ro/opera-nationala-bucuresti/) The Opera Națională București has officially announced that in accordance with the decision by the Bucharest Municipality Committee for Emergency Situations, all the performances that are scheduled for the opening of the 2020-21 season at the Opera Națională București will be canceled. This step was taken due to ongoing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in region of {…}