(Photo credit: The Kennedy Center) Renée Fleming VOICES at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have announced “John Gallagher Jr. and Band” as an addition to its program this season. The performance at the Kennedy Center coincides with Gallagher’s national tour of his upcoming third album, “Goodbye or Something.” Composed entirely by Gallagher, the 11 original tracks {…}
The Music Academy of the West has unveiled its 2024 Summer Festival, which runs from June 12 – August 13, 2024. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. First up is the Marilyn Horne Song Competition Winners Recital featuring baritone Navasard Hakobyan and pianist Brian Cho. They will perform a world premiere by Joel Thompson, among other {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Verdi’s “Falstaff” opens the season with a cast that includes Ambrogio Maestri, Olivia Boen, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, Andrei Kymach, Gregory Bonfatti, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Iván Ayón-Rivas, and Federica Guida. Michael Schønwandt conducts the production by Dominique Pitoiset. Performance Dates: Sept. 10-30, 2024 Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will star Eleonora Buratto, Elena Stikhina, Aude {…}
Opera Rara has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the concert performances and album releases. Concerts The company will open its season with the 1857 version of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” in Manchester. Sir Mark Elder conducts The Hallé and Chorus of Opera North. The cast includes Nicola Alaimo (Simon Boccanegra), Eri Nakamura (Amelia), Iván-Ayón Rivas (Gabriele Adorno), {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. The company will present two rarely performed works from the Italian repertoire. Rossini’s “Ermione” is set to star Angela Meade, Lawrence Brownlee, David Portillo, and Ginger Costa-Jackson. Performance Date: Dec. 2, 2023 Ailyn Pérez, Mario Chang, Jonathan Johnson, Deanna Breiwick, Javier Arrey, Tess Ottinger, Natalie Conte, and Melanie Ashkar star in {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its Feb. 21, 2024 performance of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” The company announced that Lawrence Brownlee will sing the role of Ernesto in “Don Pasquale.” He will replace Xabier Anduaga who returns to the production on Feb. 23, 2024. Brownlee is well-known for his Bel Canto interpretations and has performed the works {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will get to hear a new recording by one of the world’s most renowned soprano as well as the complete recordings of baroque masterpieces and some world premiere pieces. Les Talens Lyriques perform Louise Bertin’s “Fausto” Les Talens Lyriques and {…}
(Photo credit: Fadil Berisha) Soprano Ermonela Jaho has been named an Opera for Peace ambassador. Albanian soprano Jaho is recognized for her portrayals of opera characters in Baroque, bel canto, and verismo repertoire. She recently recorded “Turandot” with Warner Classics and Erato CD which was nominated for best Opera album at the 2023 Gramophone Awards, and “Fuoco Sacro,” with Michael {…}
It’s time of the year. The moment we wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments. After releasing our favorite performances of 2023 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top 11 singers of the year, performers that we thought stood out and had major breaks or performances. So {…}
In honor of Maria Callas’ centennial, new Spotify Singles were released. The pair of singles honor Callas‘ renowned career and legacy in partnership with her official label Warner Classics, and features GRAMMY-nominated opera singer Lawrence Brownlee, star cellist Gautier Capuçon, and pianist Anastasia Rizikov. They perform two pieces from her legendary catalog “O mio babbino caro” and “Libiamo, ne’ lieti {…}
(Credit: Zakiyah Caldwell Burroughs) On Saturday, Dec. 2, the Washington Concert Opera will present the first of its two performances this season with a showcase of Rossini’s rarely-performed “Ermione.” While the cast features Angela Meade in the title role, the other main attraction is tenor Lawrence Brownlee who has made Rossini a specialty of his, taking on dozens of roles {…}
