(Photo Credit: Marco Borggreve) The Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans will perform the role of Peter in Humperdinck’s “Hänsel und Gretel” on Jan. 7, 2021. Oliemans will replace German baritone Roman Trekel. Oliemans will join a cast that includes Michaela Schuster in the role of Gertrud, Stephan Rügamer as the Wicked Witch, Natalia Skrycka {…}
(Credit: Sven Helge Czichy) The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced that it has received the order by the State Ministry for Science and Art which bans the performances from Sep. 25 – Sep. 27, 2020. According to the official statement on the opera house’s website, the reason for the cancellation is a hygiene concept that was approved by the Health Department {…}
(Credit: Opus 3 Artists official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that the Italian bass-baritone Alex Esposito has been awarded the honorary title of the Kammersänger of the state of Bavaria. Esposito is regarded as one of the most talented opera singers of his generation. He has appeared on the leading stages, including Teatro alla Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Royal Opera {…}
(Credit: Wiener Staatsoper) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced two cast changes for the upcoming performances of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’amore” and “La fille du régiment.” Per an official statement on the company’s website, Swedish soprano Johanna Wallroth will take over the role of Giannetta in the presentations of “L’Elisir d’amore” on Sept. 17 & 21, 2020. Per the same statement, conductor {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer) Only seven days before the COVID-19 pandemic fell on our heads, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato was in New York portraying the role of Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera House. Taking on the role of the cunning queen, DiDonato already had been in the eye of the storm. At that moment very few people really understood well what {…}
(Credit: Yasuko Kageyama / Opera di Roma) The Orchestre Classique de Montréal has announced that baritone Phillip Addis will replace Dominique Côté in the presentation of Kaminsky, Reed and Campbell’s opera “As One.” Addis will be joined onstage by the mezzo-soprano Sarah Bissonnette. Performances will take place on November 20 & 21, 2020, at the Cirque Éloize in Montreal. “We {…}
(Credit: Oberon’s Grove) French coloratura soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre has died at the age of 88. Eda-Pierre was born in Fort-de-France, capital of Martinique. She came to France to finish her studies at Conservatoire de Paris and in 1957, she made her professional debut in the role of Leïla in Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles.” She went on to perform at {…}
(Image source: YouTube) Dutch mezzo-soprano Cora Canne Meijer passed away on August 25, 2020, at the age of 91. Cora Canne Meijer graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The mezzo-soprano debuted in 1950 with the Nederlandse Opera (now De Nationale Opera) in the role of Annina in Verdi’s “La Traviata.” During her first year at the Nederlandse Opera, Meijer sang {…}
(Credits: Roni Ely/Matt Madison Clark) In response to the ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Opera Omaha has made some necessary changes to the 2020-21 season in order to ensure the safety of the audiences and the safety of its artists and staff. The season will open with a production of Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Mary Feminear will appear {…}
(Credit: Patrick Campbell/University of Colorado) Eklund Opera has released a video performance of “Le Nozze di Figaro” that almost never happened. The production was originally set for mid-March. On Wednesday, March 11, the cast got together for a dress rehearsal performance. It would be the final time they would get a chance to come together for the opera as all {…}
Opera Holland Park has unveiled its 2021 season which will feature four total operas from the standard repertory. The season is set to begin on June 1, 2021 with new productions of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro,” Janacek’s “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and Mascagni “L’Amico Fritz.” The company will also be reviving the 2018 staging of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Casting {…}