With the 2019-20 season fully underway, we have found this challenge of selecting a choice few operas every weekend increasingly challenging as there is really a lot of special work going on around North America. Nonetheless, as per usual, we have whittled it down to five works that we think will bring a balanced operatic diet for those who want {…}
(Credit: Terrence McCarthy/San Francisc Opera) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The company will present a revival of director Olivier Tambosi’s production reuniting soprano Lianna Haroutounian and tenor Brian Jagde for role debuts in yet another Puccini opera, after their last appearance together in San Francisco Opera’s 2014 “Tosca.” The stars will be led by former San {…}
The Malmö Opera in Southern Sweden has announced its plans for the 2019-20 season. Sebastian Fagerlund’s “Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata)” gets to open the new season. The conductor will be Patrick Rinborg and the promising cast will include Charlotte Hellekant, Erika Sunnegårdh, Fredrik Zetterström, Helena Juntunen and Nicholas Söderlund. “Höstsonaten” was originally created in 2017 at the National Finnish Opera and is {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2019-20 season featuring 10 productions, including four new productions and the Ring Cycle in its entirety. The season will also include one special concert event and one important recital, among other projects. Here is a look at what audiences should expect. Main Stage The season opens with a revival of Rossini’s “Il {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring seven new productions and two new revivals. There will also be a notable company premiere with many rising and established stars taking the stage. Main Stage The 2019–20 season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” in a new production by Jean-Louis Grinda. The opera returns after a 31-year absence with {…}
As January continues, many of the opera companies are back in session with a number of revivals and new productions on offer. The focus of this weekend’s major choices will be numerous repertory standards. Arabella – Théâtre des Champs Elysées, France Anja Harteros sings her signature role alongside a cast that includes Kurt Rydl, Doris Soffel, Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, and Michael Volle. {…}
San Francisco Opera’s double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” is fully set in the same neighborhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It opens with women shaking bedding from the windows, waiters straightening up the chairs from last night’s wine, lovers snatching their last kiss. The characters then emerged from it and sang the story; at the end, {…}
San Francisco opera Guild has announced that it will inaugurate its 2018-19 season with Opera Ball 2018: ¡Viva la Noche! And BRAVO! Club Opening Night Gala. The event, scheduled for Sept. 7, 2018, is set to benefit to raise funds for the Company’s education and outreach programs. The BRAVO! Club Opening Night Gala is scheduled for the company’s opening night {…}
The San Francisco Opera is set to celebrate the opening of its 96th Season with the annual San Francisco Chronicle Presents Opera in the Park. The concert, which will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1:30 p.m, will feature many of the artists set to appear throughout the season including Lianna Haroutounian, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Marco Berti, Dimitri Platanias, and {…}
This week we see the release of two full operas and a compilation by Anna Netrebko. Here is a look at what this week will offer. Il Trovatore The Royal Opera and Opus Arte will release a production of Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore” starring Gregory Kunde, Anita Rachvelshvili, Lianna Haroutounian, and Vitaly Bilyy. Richard Farnes conducts the production, which was directed {…}
The Palau de les Arts has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of operatic classics and rarely performed gems. In total, seven productions will be featured. Here is a look. Productions The season opens with Puccini’s “Turandot” starring Jennifer Wilson, Marco Berti, Miren Urbieta, and Abramo Rosalen, conducted by Alpesh Chauhan. Chen Kaige directs the production. Performance Dates: Oct. 17-31, {…}
