Sarah Connolly, Magdalena Kožená, & Mark Padmore Star in Oxford International Song Festival 2026

The Oxford International Song Festival announces its 2026 lineup. Magdalena Kožená opens the year by performing Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” with pianist Malcolm Martineau. Performance Date: January 10, 2026 Alexandra Flood and pianist Sholto Kynoch perform a program dedicated to Schubert’s 229th birthday. Performance Date: January 31, 2026 Felix Gygli presents Shakespeare settings by Korngold, Quilter, and Rautavaara, Jonathan Dove. Performance Date: {…}

Nov 10, 2025

Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Magdalena Kožená, Peter Mattei & Rebecka Wallroth Lead Verbier Festival’s 2026 Season

The Verbier Festival has announced its 2026 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Final Scene from “Götterdämmerung” with Michelle DeYoung. The program also includes Messiaen’s “Turangalîla-Symphoni” with Cécile Lartigau and Lucas Debargue. Performance Date: July 17, 2026 Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with Johanna Wallroth, Rebecka Wallroth, Anna El-Khashem, Giovanni Sala, {…}

Sep 21, 2025

Angela Gheorghiu, Magdalena Kožená, Sabine Devieilhe, Brian Mulligan, Jennifer Holloway, & Gaëlle Arquez Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will be able to hear several rarely performed baroque works as well as a Wagner work and a celebration of Angela Gheorghiu’s landmark recordings. Arvo Pärt: And I heard a voice Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis and their leader Jaan-Eik Tulve release a {…}

Jul 19, 2025

‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}

Jul 15, 2025

Festival Aix-en-Provence 2025 Review: Don Giovanni

The new Robert Icke staging of “Don Giovanni” might upset more than a few spirits. The scenic proposal is certainly disruptive, and its insistence on intervening digitally in the opera’s soundscape is the most acute symptom of “directivitis” (the terrible disease that has afflicted opera directors for the last seven decades). However, I really had a great time watching “Don {…}

Jun 10, 2025

Lisette Oropesa, Sara Blanch, Magdalena Kožená, Juan Francisco Gatell & ANgela Brown Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to watch the world premiere recording of a Rossini work as well as listen to two solo recitals. They will also get a chance to rediscover a Wagner Ring Cycle, which has been remastered. Here is a look {…}

Jun 9, 2025

Joyce El-Khoury, Davone Tines, Matthias Winckhler, & Núria Rial Star in L’Auditori’s 2025-26 Season

(Photo credit: Gisela Schenker) L’Auditori presents its 2025-26 season, “Renaixements.” For the purpose of this article only vocal works are included. Beethoven’s “Symphony” No. 9 stars Joyce El-Khoury, Silvia Tro Santafé, Elgan Llyr Thomas, and Davone Tines. They are joined by the Orfeó Català and the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) under the direction of Ludovic Morlot. {…}

Jun 8, 2025

Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León Announces 2025-26 Season

The Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the two vocal performances of the season. Therry Fischer and Magdalena Kožená lead opening night in a program of music by Albeniz, Berlioz, and Beethoven. Performance Dates: Oct. 3 & 4, 2025 Thierry Fischer conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Louise Foor, Carmen {…}

May 6, 2025

Jonas Kaufmann, Benjamin Bernheim, Joyce DiDonato, Golda Schultz, Liv Redpath & Christian Gerhaher Lead Berlin Philharmonic’s 2025-26 Season

The Berlin Philharmonic has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra under Karina Canellakis takes on the works of Olivier Messiaen, Pierre Boulez, Robin de Raaff, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Liv Redpath and Netherlands Radio Choir are also featured. Performance Date: August 31, 2025 The Collegium Vocale Gent, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, and Philippe {…}

Apr 28, 2025

Jonas Kaufmann, Cecilia Bartoli, Marina Rebeka, Karita Mattila, Benjamin Appl, Rolando Villazón, & Elsa Dreisig Lead Elbphilharmonie Hamburg’s 2025-26 Season

The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances for the season. The Symphoniker Hamburg, alongside Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg and Knabenchor Hannover, perform Rufus Wainwright’s Dream Requiem. Mandy Fredrich and Isabelle Huppert are the soloists with Lucie Leguay conducting. Performance Date: August 22 & 23, 2025 Manuel Winckhler, Mauro Peter, Kathryn Lewek, Elsa Dreisig, Äneas {…}

Apr 21, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Lise Davidsen, Magdalena Kožená, Gerald Finley, Anita Hartig & Sonia Prina Lead CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, two of the most famous divas release new albums, both from important concert performances. There are also some world premiere recordings, a Puccini work, and a baroque video recording. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater Deutsche Grammophon continues its joint label Verbier Festival Gold. {…}