At the beginning of the 19th century, a small Venetian theatre called San Moisè was dedicated to the genre of the “farsa”—short, semi-serious one-act operas performed by a small company of six or seven singers, without a chorus, and accompanied by a modest orchestra. The barely twenty-year-old Gioachino Rossini found this environment ideal for honing his compositional skills and establishing {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced the 2025-26 season livestreams. The company said that the third performance of each mainstage opera during the 2025-26 Season will be livestreamed, including a 48-hour on-demand viewing window. The first stream will be “Rigoletto” starring Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Yongzhao Yu, Adela Zaharia, and J’Nai Bridges. Eun Sun Kim conducts the production by Jose Maria Condemi. Stream Date: Sept. {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to watch the world premiere recording of a Rossini work as well as listen to two solo recitals. They will also get a chance to rediscover a Wagner Ring Cycle, which has been remastered. Here is a look {…}
Levy Sekgapane has joined the upcoming concerts of “Mitridate” at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and the Teatro alla Scala. Sekgapane will sing the title role, replacing the originally announced Sergey Romanovsky. The South African tenor is known for his work in the Bel Canto repertoire, singing works by Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini. He has also performed several works by Mozart. {…}
The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Ciclo Sinfónico David Afkham conducts Beethoven’s “Fidelio” with soloists Eleanor Lyons, Maximilian Schmitt, Peter Rose, Werner Van Mechelen, Elena Sancho, Roger Padullés, Matthias Winckhler, and Joaquín Notario. Performance Dates: Sept. 20 & 22, 2024 Pablo González conducts a program of music by Prokofiev, {…}
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 {…}
Photo credit: Nile Scott Studios Never mind the simplistically staged goals. Forget that the libretto, by Jacopo Ferretti, makes very little sense especially in Act two. Boston Lyric Opera’s production of “La Cenerentola” works — and works quite well! With a very talented cast, an inspiring conductor, and a good orchestra, Rossini and Ferretti’s opera invites everyone to enjoy a {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera is set to present a city-centric take on Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” The interpretation will bring the familiar story of a mistreated young woman and a handsome prince into the hearts of two familiar Boston neighborhoods. Boston resident Dawn M. Simmons will make her opera debut directing a cast that includes Cecelia Hall, Levy Sekgapane, Dana Varga, {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera has announced casting updates for its productions of “Cinderella” and “Madama Butterfly.” For “Cinderella” the company said that Cecelia Hall will make her BLO debut as Angelina in a new production by Dawn M. Simmons. Hall will be joined by Dana Varga in her BLO debut as Clorinda, Alexis Peart as Tisbe, Levy Sekgapane in his {…}
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein has announced its 2023-24 season. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Wagner’s “Parsifal” with Daniel Frank and Michael Weinius sharing the title role. They are joined by Bogdan Baciu, Luke Stoker, Hans-Peter König, Joachim Goltz, and Sarah Ferede. Axel Kober conducts the production by Michael Thalheimer. Performance Dates: Sept. 17, 2023-April 7, {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Paul Lewis, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Dalia Stasevska perform the first night of Proms. Performance Date: July 14, 2023 Early music vocal ensemble Stile Antico explores the many facets of William Byrd. Performance Date: July 15, 2023 Soprano Rainelle {…}
