Ludovic Tézier has withdrawn from his March 30 performance of “Simon Boccanegra” at the Berlin State Opera. The baritone took to social media and said, “Dear friends, I have to withdraw from the next ‘Simon Boccanegra,’ this coming Sunday 30th, in my beloved Staatsoper Berlin. It is a real sad news for me, as I love this show and the {…}
The Opéra National de Lyon has announced its 2025-26 season. Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godounov” will be conducted by Vitali Alekseenok and directed by Vasily Barkhatov. The production will star Dmitri Ulyanov alongside soloists from the Opera de Lyon studio. Performance Dates: Oct. 13-25, 2025 Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” will be directed by Damiano Michieletto and will star Joshua Guerrero, Amina Edris, Clémentine {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}
Ludovic Tézier did not mince words as he called out Slippedisc for its criticism of his cancelation of Wotan. In his article, Slippedisc blogger Norman Lebrecht wrote, “A sick baritone is feeling much better” and added, “Ludovic Tézier, who ducked out of the Paris Rheingold on the 29th of this month, is jumping in at Munich that same night. That {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The company said, “In the performances of ‘Un ballo in maschera’ on January 26th and 29th and on February 1st, 5th and 8th, 2025, Ludovic Tézier will take on the role of Renato instead of Igor Golovatenko.” The news comes a few days {…}
Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its production of “Das Rheingold.” The company said, “Ludovic Tézier, unwell, has been obliged to withdraw from the new production of Richard Wagner’s ‘Das Rheingold,’ directed by Calixto Bieito. Influenza prevents him from completing all the rehearsals required for this role debut. The baritone is immensely disappointed at having to give up {…}
(Credit: Brescia – Amisano © Teatro alla Scala) Legend has it that “La forza del destino” is a cursed opera, associated with tragedies that seem to haunt every new production. From companies falling into bankruptcy after staging it, to severe technical and production errors arising after the famous overture, and even the deaths of artists linked to the work—this reputation {…}
The International Classical Music Awards has announced the nominations for its 2025 Awards. The winners will be revealed on Jan. 14 and will receive their trophies at the gala at the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf on March 19. Here are the vocal nominees. Baroque Vocal Johann Sebastian Bach: Complete Solo Cantatas for Alto and Bass: J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 56, BWV {…}
The Teatro alla Scala is set to open its 2024-25 season with Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” a work that has rarely appeared on the Milan stage. The work was last presented in 1999 with Riccardo Muti conducting and in 2001 with Valery Gergiev conducting the Mariinsky Theatre. The only time the opera opened the Teatro alla Scala was in {…}
The Teatro alla Scala is set to broadcast Verdi’s La Forza del Destino” on Dec. 7, 2024, continuing its tradition of showcasing opening night on Rai1 and Radio3. The performance will also broadcast on ARTE in France and the French-speaking countries in Europe and out of Europe; in Germany and German-speaking countries, ČESKÁ TELEVIZE in The Czech Republic, RSI in Switzerland, {…}
The Verbier Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Verbier Festival Orchestra and Barbara Hannigan perform works by Berlioz, Haydn, Copland, Rodgers, and Bill Elliot. Performance Date: July 17, 2025 Thomas Hampson and Ksenija Sidorova perform works by Schubert and Weill. Performance Date: July 20, 2025 The VF Academy Atelier Lyrique and {…}