On July 27, 2024 the Bayerische Staatsoper is set to stream Puccini’s “Tosca.” The company will showcase the masterpiece on its Staatsoper.tv streaming platform and the work will star Eleonora Buratto in the title role, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavaradossi, and Ludovic Tézier as Scarpia. Andrea Battistoni will conduct the new production by Kornél Mundruczó. When the production opened earlier this {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will get some Verdi and Monteverdi releases as well as the release of a world premiere album. Verdi Decca releases an album from the Teatro alla Scala which showcases Riccardo Chailly and La Scala as they maintain the gold standard {…}
The Savonlinna Opera Festival has unveiled its 2025 season. First up is the “550 Years of Olavinlinna” anniversary concert. Erkki Lasonpalo conducts. Soloists will be announced at a later date. Performance Date: July 3, 2025 Ludovic Tézier, Saioa Hernández, Goran Juric, and Johan Krogius headline “Macbeth.” Lorenzo Passerini conducts Ralf Långbacka’s production. Vilppu Kiljunen will be the revival director. Performance Date: July {…}
Rai Cultura is set to broadcast the Arena di Verona’s opening night concert “La Grande Opera Italiana Patrimonio dell’Umanità” on June 7. The concert is set to feature such artists as Anna Netrebko, Eleonora Buratto, Rosa Feola, Juliana Grigoryan, Jessica Pratt, Mariangela Sicilia, Aigul Akhmetshina, Jonas Kaufmann, Juan Diego Flórez, Vittorio Grigòlo, Brian Jagde, Francesco Meli, Galeano Salas, Nicola Alaimo, Luca {…}
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia has announced its 2024-25 season. Concerts The season opens with Puccini’s “Tosca” starring Jonathan Tetelman, Eleonora Buratto, and Ludovic Tézier. Daniel Harding conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 21-26, 2024 Semyon Bychkov conducts Bach’s “Mass in B Minor” with soloists Miriam Kutrowatz, Catriona Morison, Benjamin Bruns, and Christian Immler. Performance Dates: Nov. 14-16, 2024 Dalia Stasevska {…}
The Arena di Verona is set to present a concert “La Grande Opera Italiana Patrimonio dell’Umanità” on June 7. The Ministry of Culture and Fondazione Arena di Verona will present the concert, in collaboration with Rai Cultura. It will celebrate the recognition of opera as a vital contribution to cultural heritage. Riccardo Muti will conduct 154 orchestra musicians and over {…}
The Teatro de la Zarzuela has announced its 2024-25 season. Zarzuela Emilio Arrieta’s “Marina” will be conducted by José Miguel Pérez-Sierra and directed by Bárbara Lluch. Sabina Puértolas and Marina Monzó lead the opera alongside Ismael Jordi, Celso Albelo, Juan Jesús Rodríguez, Pietro Spagnoli, Rubén Amoretti, and Javier Castañeda. Performance Dates: Oct. 9-20, 2024 Pablo Sorozábal’s “La Del Manojo de {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper is set to perform a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Kornél Mundruczó. Eleonora Buratto will take on the title role making her role debut. She will be joined by Charles Castronovo for the eight performances in May and June, and Jonas Kaufmann for the three remaining performances in July as Cavaradossi. Ludovic {…}
Editor’s note: The initial review is for the performance on April 10, 2024 and was written by Francisco Salazar. The addendum is for the performance on April 13, 2024 and was written by David Salazar, who attended both performances. It’s been 47 years since Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda” has been shown at the Teatro San Carlo. Considered one of the most {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Nicola Luisotti and Andrés Salado conduct Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” in David McVicar’s production. The production will star Ermonela Jaho, Maria Agresta, Brian Jagde, Matthew Polenzani, Elīna Garanča, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Nicola Alaimo, and Manel Esteve. Performance Dates: Sept. 23-Oct. 11, 2024 Charpentier’s “David et Jonathas” will be performed in concert with Petr Nekoranec, Gwendoline Blondeel, Jean-Christophe {…}
(Photo credit: Vincent Pontet-OnP) A few years ago, when Bieito’s staging of “Simon Boccanegra” premiered at the Paris Opera, the reviews were abysmal. Few things are as catchy in the opera world as negative consensus. I got to see the same production with a very similar cast last weekend, and, somehow, I think it was one of the most emotional {…}
