(Photo: Mirco Magliocca) The Versailles Royal Opera successfully staged one of the most curious titles of the eighteenth century: Baldassare Galuppi and Piero Chiari’s “L’uomo Femina.” Galuppi, once a popular Venetian composer—especially known for what is now recognized as opera buffa—has largely fallen into obscurity. Today, his name resonates only among the most hardcore early music enthusiasts—the same audiences likely {…}
(Photo credit: Mark Allan) The English Concert announces the details of its spring 2025 spring season. Soprano Lucy Crowe performs a program of works by Handel and Corelli, under the baton of The English Concert’s founder, Trevor Pinnock. Performance Date: January 30, 2025 (Wigmore Hall) Up next sopranos Isabel Schicketanz and Joanna Songi, mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot, tenor Samuel Boden, and {…}
The Salle Cortot in Paris has announced its slate for November 2025. Headlining the vocal performances on offer is “Canzoni di Corsica è Ucraina,” with sopranos Amelie Tatti and Inna Kalugina. They are joined by instrumentalists Camille Theveneau, Sacha Pietri, Clotilde Boussange, and Hugo Pietri. Performance Date: Nov. 14, 2024 Next up is “Amore Langueo,” a concert featuring works by Kapsberger, {…}
(Photo credit: Jean-Louis Fernandez) Eight years ago, Katie Mitchell’s staging of “Pelléas et Mélisande” was opera-lovers’ favorite summer topic. Echoes of its greatness could be heard in the wintery Brazilian July, and in the fall, when I was in Scotland, people still commented how great—or heterodox—it was. Its return to Aix’s stage reminds us of its scenic beauty and proves {…}
Photo credit: © Philippe Delval / théâtre de Caen Charpentier’s “David et Jonathas” is a forgotten gem. The French composer was an expert in dramatic pace. His operas flow as normal plays do. The singing line hardly distorts the text, making the watching experience extremely accessible even for intermediate French speakers. Moreover, in “David et Jonathas” we find some of {…}
France’s Opéra National de Lorraine has announced its 2023-24 season featuring opera and concerts. Opera Marta Gardolińska conducts Mozart’s “Idomeneo“ in a new production by Lorenzo Ponte. Atalla Ayan sings the title role alongside Héloïse Mas, Siobhan Stagg, Amanda Woodbury, and Léo Vermot-Desroches. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023 Lucio Gallo, Vuvu Mpofu, Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, and Germán Olvera star in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” {…}
The Opéra National de Bordeaux has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera Cristina Pasaroiu sings the title role of Dvorak’s “Rusalka” with Tomislav Mužek, Irina Stopina, and Wojtek Smilek. Domingo Hindoyan conducts the production by Olivier Deloeuil and Jean-Philippe Clarac. Performance Dates: Nov. 8-12, 2023 Louise Foor, Jonah Hoskins, Florian Sempey, and Matthieu Lécroart star in Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles.” {…}
The Wigmore Hall has announced its 2023-24 season headlining some of the greatest recitalists and vocalist in the world. Opera Rara: present Donizetti and Friends with Lawrence Brownlee, Etienne Dupuis, and Carlo Rizzi. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniušas perform Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Ensemble Modern and George Benjamin perform music by {…}
The Philharmonie de Paris has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Klaus Mäkelä conducts Orchestre de Paris with soloists Bertrand Chamayou, Olga Peretyatko, Pavel Petrov, Alexey Markov, and Bertrand Mandico. The program includes music by Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. Performance Dates: Sept. 6 & 7, 2023 Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Mass in {…}
This week audiences will get to hear the second album by one of the rising tenors in the opera world as well as world premiere recordings and a DVD recording of a Wagner work. The Paper Lined Shack Supertrain Records is set to release Jeff Beal’s titular song cycle performed by the brilliant soprano Hilá Plitmann and Eastman Philharmonia and {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to hear three complete recordings of three very diverse operas. Here is a look at this week’s releases. Hamlet Navona Records presents “Hamlet” by Joseph Summer. In this installment of the Shakespeare Concert Series, composer Joseph Summer’s adaptation of the famous play is performed by Bulgaria’s State Opera Ruse orchestra, choir, and selected {…}