Nadine Sierra, Saioa Hernández, Piotr Beczała, Sonya Yoncheva, Xabier Anduaga & Juan Diego Flórez Lead Gran Teatre del Liceu’s 2024-25 Season

The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Josep Pons conducts Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” with Alexei Botnarciuc, Daniel Kirch, Sara Jakubiak, Ángeles Blancas, and Pavel Černoch. Àlex Ollé conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 25-Oct. 7, 2024 Maria Agresta and Saioa Hernández star in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” with Artur Ruciński, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Brian {…}

Apr 18, 2024

Teatro La Fenice Review 2024: Mefistofele

After leaving the premiere of La Fenice’s production of “Mefistofele,” I dried two little tears from my eyes and, in a burst of emotion, was possessed by one thought: how underrated Boito is. Usually relegated merely to the place of the fanciest of Verdi’s librettists, Boito was much more. His works extend from a few musical pieces to many (untranslated {…}

Mar 15, 2024

Erin Morley, David Butt Philip, Pretty Yende, Maria Agresta & Maria Bengtsson Lead Semperoper Dresden’s 2024-25 Season

The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr. The production will star Krzysztof Bączyk, Bekhzod Davronov, Marjukka Tepponen, and Martina Gedeck. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 24, 2024 Richard Strauss’s “Intermezzo” will be conducted by Patrick Hahn and directed by Axel Ranisch. The cast will include Maria {…}

Feb 6, 2024

Teatro San Carlo 2023-24 Review: I Vespri Siciliani

Verdi’s “I Vespri Siciliani” was last on the stage in Naples back in 2011, featuring the original French version created by the composer for the Opera de Paris in 1855. This year, however, Teatro San Carlo is showcasing the Italian rendition, which is more commonly performed in Italy, without the ballet sequences. The narrative, crafted by Eugene Scribe’s libretto, revolves {…}

Nov 26, 2023

Teatro dell’Opera di Roma to Broadcast ‘Mefistofele’ Starring Joshua Guerrero & John Relyea

The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is set to broadcast its opening night production of Boito’s”Mefistofele” on Nov. 27, 2023. The opera will be shown on Rai 5 through Rai Cultura and can also be heard on Radio 3. Boito’s work will be presented in a new production by Simon Stone, who is making his debut in Italy and will be {…}

Oct 20, 2023

Gran Teatre del Liceu to Celebrate Victoria de Los Angeles’ Centenary

(Credit: Allan Warren) The Gran Teatre del Liceu is set to celebrate Victoria de Los Angeles’ centenary. The company will hold a gala on Nov. 7, 2023 which will revisit the core repertoire of the undisputed soprano. The gala, which is curated by Marc Busquets, artistic director of LIFE Victoria Barcelona, will feature soloists Maria Agresta, Louise Alder, Dame Sarah {…}

Oct 11, 2023

Teatro San Carlo Cancels Egypt Concert Due to Israel-Palestine Conflict

The Teatro San Carlo has canceled its upcoming Eygpt concert which was originally set to take place on Oct. 11, 2023. Soloist Jonas Kaufmann took to social media and said, “Dear Friends, The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples has announced that the concert in Egypt, originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, has been canceled out of respect for the {…}

Sep 26, 2023

Teatro Real 2023-24 Review: Medea

(Credit: Javier del Real) Teatro Real opened its 2023-24 season with Cherubini’s masterpiece “Medea.” The opera had a great success and was very popular in Europe during the XIX century, where it was usually performed in German or Italian and with a newly written recitative instead of the original French dialogues between arias and scenes. “Medea” was rarely performed during {…}

Aug 22, 2023

Top 10 Operas to See During Fall 2023

It’s that time of the year again! The 2023-24 season is about to begin and audiences are getting ready to choose performances as they head back to the opera. With so much to choose from, OperaWire is breaking down 10 opera productions that are must-sees for all opera lovers from around the world. Aida – Berlin State Opera – Opens {…}

Jul 30, 2023

Jonathan Tetelman, Maria Agresta, Nina Stemme, Yusif Eyvazov Lead Teatro Massimo di Palermo’s 2023-24 Season

The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “I Capuleti e Montecchi.” Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Idan Cohen. The cast includes Maria Kataeva and Anna Pennisi as Romeo and Marina Monzó and Francesca Pia Vitale as Giulietta. Ioan Hotea, Mert Süngü, Marco Spotti, and Gabriele Sagona round out the {…}

Jul 21, 2023

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2023 Review: Otello

Credit: Vincent Beaume When Pierre Audi, the director of Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, announced that Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier would sing in a one-night-only concert version of “Otello,” tickets sold out in a minute. Even admittance for critics was scarce, and the festival gave seats out only when audience members turned in their tickets. Ill in London, Kaufmann canceled. This reviewer’s {…}

maria agresta