Marina Costa-Jackson, Zachary Nelson & Nicole Cabell Lead North Carolina Opera’s 2022-23 Season

North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}

Feb 1, 2022

Wiener Staatsoper Cancels First Performance of ‘Manon Lescaut’ Due to COVID-19

The Wiener Staatsoper has canceled its opening night performance of “Manon Lescaut.” The company was forced to cancel the production due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the chorus. As a result, ticket holders will be refunded automatically. “Manon Lescaut” was set to open with a cast that includes Asmik Grigorian in the title role, Boris Pinkhasovich as Lescaut, {…}

Sep 14, 2021

Staatsoper Hamburg Announces Cast Change for ‘Manon Lescaut’

(Credit: Tatyana Vlasova) The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its final performance of “Manon Lescaut.” The company noted that Kristine Opolais will take over the title role for Sonya Yoncheva. The Latvian soprano will join a cast that includes Brian Jagde, Kartal Karagedik, Tigran Martirossian, Daniel Kluge, Chao Deng, Gabriele Rossmanith, and Seungwoo Simon Yang. Francesco Ivan {…}

Sep 9, 2021

Page to Opera Stage: Massenet & Puccini Create Plot Holes and Dramatic Tension in Adaptations of ‘Manon Lescaut’

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera) “Page to Opera Stage” looks at stories–real-life or fiction, old and new–that have inspired operas, and the ways these narratives have been edited and dramatized to fit a new medium. In this instalment, we look at one novel–Abbé Prevost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’–and the two (very different) audience favourite operas it inspired: Jules Massenet’s “Manon” and {…}

Sep 8, 2021

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Announces Two Cast Changes for ‘Manon’

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris has announced two cast changes for its upcoming performance of Massenet’s “Manon” on Sept. 15, 2021. The company announced that Vannina Santoni will sing the title role of Manon Lescaut replacing Patricia Petibon while Jean-Sébastien Bou will sing the role of Lescaut taking over for Arthur Ruciński. Santoni has performed the Massenet opera in Monte-Carlo {…}

Sep 6, 2021

Artist of the Week: Sonya Yoncheva

(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) On Sept. 9 Staatsoper Hamburg is set to open concert performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” the work that the put composer on the map. The company has lined up an all-star cast that includes Sonya Yoncheva, who will make her overdue role debut. The Bulgarian soprano was originally set to make her role debut in the {…}

Feb 13, 2021

María José Siri, Gregory Kunde, José Cura & Ekaterina Bakanova Headline Rai5 Broadcasts for Next Week

(Credits: Maria José Siri official website / Chris Gloag / Zoe Cura / Georg List) Italian television channel Rai5 has announced broadcasts for the week of Feb. 14 – Feb. 20, 2021. The opera broadcasts will be dedicated to composer Giacomo Puccini. The stream on Feb. 14 will be dedicated to late soprano Mirella Freni. OPERAS The broadcast of Niccolò {…}

Feb 9, 2021

Obituary: Director Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera Dies At 72

(Credit: © D.R) Opera director Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera has died at the age of 72. Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera was born in the capital of Italy. He studied law and music in Rome, and at the same time pursued directing with the University Theatre in Rome. He directed his first operas in 1983 and was subsequently invited by the {…}

Feb 5, 2021

Walter Fraccaro Replaces Roberto Aronica in ‘Manon Lescaut’ in Baluarte

(Credit: Opera Australia official website) The Baluarte auditorium in Pamplona has announced a second cast change for its upcoming semi-staged performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The Spanish opera house announced that tenor Walter Fraccaro will take over the role of Des Grieux, replacing Roberto Aronica. This marks the second high-profile replacement after soprano Ainhoa Arteta was forced to cancel due {…}

Feb 3, 2021

Berna Perles Takes Over ‘Manon Lescaut’ in Baluarte

The Baluarte auditorium in Pamplona has announced a cast change for its upcoming performances of “Manon Lescaut.” The Spanish theater announced that Berna Perles will replace Ainhoa Arteta in the title role of Puccini’s work. According to Platea Magazine, Arteta was forced to cancel after testing positive for COVID-19. Perles is a renowned Spanish soprano who has performed at the {…}

Feb 2, 2021

Ainhoa Arteta Headlines ‘Manon Lescaut’ in Baluarte

Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” is set to be performed on Feb. 5 and 7 at the Baluarte Auditorium in Pamplona, Spain. The opera will be performed in concert form and will star Ainhoa Arteta in the title role and Roberto Aronica as Des Grieux. Manuel Hernández-Silva conducts the work, which is also set to star José Antonio López as Lescaut, Carlos Chausson as {…}