Andris Nelsons, Kristine Opolais & Ildar Abdrazakov Lead Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Tatyana Vlasova) The Boston Symphony Orchestra announce its 2020-21 season noting that anything can change due to the coronavirus pandemic. As always we highlight the vocal performances in this season announcement. The Beethoven Cycle concludes with Andris Nelsons leading the composer’s Ninth Symphony with soloists Amanda Majeski, Tamara Mumford, Pavel Černoch, Kwangchul Youn, and Tanglewood Festival Chorus. The program {…}

Mar 23, 2020

Renee Fleming, Sabine Devielhe & Lise Davidsen Lead Orchestre de Paris’ 2020-21 Season

The Orchestre de Paris has announced its 2020-21 season. For this article we will focus only on vocal performances. Elisabeth Kulman and Mari Eriksmoen perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection with Klaus Makela conducting. Performance Date: Nov. 18 & 19, 2020 Daniel Harding conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 starring Erin Wall, Christopher Maltman, Shenyang, Andrew Staples, Marina Prudenskaya, Jamie Barton, {…}

Mar 16, 2020

Royal Opera House 2019-20 Live in Cinemas: Jonas Kaufmann & Lise Davidsen Lead ‘Fidelio’

On Thursday March 17, 2020, the Royal Opera House will stream Beethoven’s “Fidelio” into local cinemas, with international audiences getting a chance to see the transmission at a later date. The performance will be conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano with Jonas Kaufmann as Florestan and Lise Davidsen in the role of Leonora. Other cast members include Simon Neal, Georg Zeppenfeld, {…}

Mar 4, 2020

Royal Opera House 2019-20 Review: Fidelio

(Credit: Bill Cooper) Anticipation was already at fever pitch for this new production of “Fidelio” in London, even before Oliver Mears, Royal Opera Artistic Director, appeared on stage before curtain up, evidently the bearer of bad news. “Please don’t be alarmed,” he reassured: Tenor Jonas Kaufmann only had a cold, would indeed sing, and asked for our indulgence. “We’ve been {…}

Mar 4, 2020

Nina Stemme & Sarah Traubel Highlight New CD/DVD Releases (Week of March 2)

This week sees the release of two debut albums and a special performance of “Die Walküre.” Mélodies Adriana Gonzalez releases her first album on Audaux Records accompanied by pianist Iñaki Encina Oyón, who is well known for performing neglected and unknown repertoire. The album will delve into early 20th-century French Mélodie with a focus on the exceptional expressive qualities of {…}

Mar 3, 2020

Royal Opera House Announces Major Cast Change for ‘Fidelio’

(Credit: Bill Cooper / ROH) The Royal Opera House has announced cast changes for its upcoming performances of “Fidelio.” For the performance on March 3, 2020, Baritone Simon Neal has withdrawn from the role of Don Pizarro. In a press release, the company noted at the British artist was indisposed and was replaced by German baritone Michael Kupfer-Radecky as Don {…}

Feb 28, 2020

Anita Rachvelishvili, Lise Davidsen & Malin Byström Lead Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2020-21 Season

The Philharmonia Orchestra has announced its 2020-21 season featuring internationally acclaimed guest soloists and recognized conductors. For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on vocal performances. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Yuja Wang and the Philharmonia Voices in Beethoven’s “The Creatures of Prometheus” and Scriabin’s Prometheus: The Poem of Fire. Perfomance Date: Sept. 24, 2020 The Philharmonia Orchestra presents Walton’s {…}

Feb 28, 2020

Pretty Yende, Jonas Kaufmann & Lise Davidsen Lead Top 6 International Weekend (2/28-3/1)

This weekend two new productions open with some of the biggest stars in opera while a rarely performed work is set to open in Germany. Don Giovanni – Teatro Mayor, Colombia José Areán conducts Marcelo Lombardero’s production of Mozart and Da Ponte’s masterpiece. Acclaimed bass Nahuel di Pierro stars in the title role with a cast that also includes Hernán {…}

Feb 5, 2020

Deutsche Oper Am Rhein & Teatro Real Lead International Opera Awards Nominees

The International Opera Awards have announced the nominees for its 2020 Awards. The annual event, which celebrates achievement in opera around the globe over the 2019 calendar year, recognizes excellence in a wide range of categories that cover performance, design and direction, as well as education and outreach. This year, two opera companies topped the 2020 nominees with three a {…}

Jan 30, 2020

Iréne Theorin, Lise Davidsen & Franz Welser-Möst Highlight Lincoln Center 2020-21 Great Performers Season

Lincoln Center has announced its 2020-21 Great performers Season, featuring number of vocal and orchestral works. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works only. The season will open with the first event in the series “Symphonic Masters,” featuring soprano Lauren Snouffer, mezzo-soprano Daryl Freedman, tenor Julian Prégardien and bass Peter Kellner in his New York {…}

Jan 29, 2020

Diana Damrau, Simon Keenlyside & Florian Boesch To Be Featured In Wigmore Hall’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Jiyang Chen/ Robert Workman) Wigmore Hall has announced its 2020-21 Season with a number of recitals from some of the world’s greatest singers. The season will include a plethora of performances, including chamber music, song, piano, early music, contemporary music, and jazz. For this article, we will highlight singers. Some of the biggest highlights of the season will include {…}