Lisette Oropesa, Saioa Hernández, Anna Netrebko, Jakub Józef Orliński & Piotr Beczala Lead Teatro Real de Madrid’s 2022-23 Season

The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2022-23 season featuring nine company premieres. Opera Philip Glass’ “Orphée” opens the season with Jordi Francés conducting Rafael Villalobos’ production. The chamber work stars María Rey-Joly, Isabella Gaudí, Sylvia Schwartz, Natalia Labourdette, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Edward Nelson, Karina Demurova, Pablo García-López, and Emmanuel Faraldo. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-25, 2022 Nicola Luisotti, Diego García Rodríguez, {…}

May 23, 2022

Gran Teatre del Liceu Announces Cast Change for 2022-23 ‘Tosca’

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of “Tosca.” The company noted that Michael Fabiano and Maria Agresta will take over the roles of Cavaradossi and Tosca replacing Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak, who have felt unable to play their respective roles in this staging of ‘Tosca’ and have finally decided to retire from {…}

May 19, 2022

Maria Agresta Leads Bilbao Opera’s ‘Madama Butterfly’

The ABAO Bilbao Opera will conclude its 70th anniversary season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The opera, which will be performed on May 21 through 30 at the Euskalduna Bilbao, will star Maria Agresta in the title role in her house debut. The Italian soprano will be joiend by Sergio Escobar as Pinkerton, Carmen Artaza as Suzuki, Damián del Castillo as Sharpless, {…}

Mar 14, 2022

Sir Bryn Terfel, Maria Agresta, Daniela Barcellona, Piotr Beczala Headline First Recordings of Verbier Festival Gold

The Verbier Festival and Deutsche Grammophon will join forces to produce Verbier Festival Gold, a new label that will release recordings from the major event’s archives. The very first release of the venture will be a 2013 recording of Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. The Requiem stars Maria Agresta, Daniela Barcellona, Piotr Beczala, and Ildar Abdrazakov, who appear alongside {…}

Jan 18, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: La Bohème

Jan. 13, 2022, saw the second performance in the Metropolitan Opera’s run of Puccini’s “La Boheme.” As the perennially-beautiful Zeffirelli production continues to delight, the evening’s cast, led by Maestro Carlo Rizzi, succeeded in bringing their passion and vitality to bear before the audience. Outstanding Leads Fresh from his work with the Berlin Staatsoper, Charles Castronovo was in fine form {…}

Dec 6, 2021

Cecilia Bartoli, Piotr Beczala, Ildar Abdrazakov, Maria Agresta & Rolando Villazón Headline Salzburg Whitsun Festival 2022 Season

(Credit: Luigi Caputo) The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced its 2022 slate, focusing on the Spanish city of Seville. “There are said to be 153 operas set in and around Seville. It is a city which unites a unique mixture of proud ancient cultures which has generated and inspired incredibly varied music and enchants visitors with its stunningly bright light, {…}

Dec 3, 2021

Criticism on Fridays: Femicide As a Norm?

(Photo: L.Romano) On Fridays, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most essential topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. This year, Jonas Kaufmann and Maria Agresta open the season at Teatro San Carlo di Napoli with the new stunning production of “Otello,” directed by Mario Martone. {…}

Nov 2, 2021

Maria Agresta, Anna Pirozzi & Maria José Siri Lead Teatro Massimo’s 2022 Season

The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2022 season featuring opera and concerts. Here is a look at the productions the company will be performing. The season opens with Verdi’s “Les vêpres siciliennes” starring Selene Zanetti, Piero Pretti, Leonardo Caimi, Gezim Mishketa, Luca Tittoto, and Fabrizio Beggi. Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Emma Dante. Performance Dates: Jan. 20-26, 2022 {…}

Oct 28, 2021

Eleonora Buratto, Dmitry Korchak & Maria Agresta Lead Teatro Regio di Torino’s 2022 Season

The Teatro Regio di Torino has announced its 2022 season. Grigorij Frid’s “Il diario di Anna Frank” will be performed by Shira Patchornik and conducted by Giulio Laguzzi. Anna Maria Bruzzese directs the production. Performance Dates: Jan. 27 & 28, 2022 Dinara Alieva and Maria Teresa Leva lead Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Valentin Dytiuk and Matteo Lippi as Rodolfo. The cast {…}

Oct 8, 2021

Festival Verdi to Celebrate Verdi’s 208th Birthday with Maria Agresta

On Oct. 10, the Festival Verdi in Parma will celebrate Verdi’s 208th birthday with a long day of events. The festivities will begin with a ceremony honoring the composer at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the Piazza della Pace near the composer’s monument. The chrous of the Teatro Regio di Parma will perform “Va’, pensiero.” At 17:00, {…}

Sep 28, 2021

Daniele Gatti Leads Verdi’s Messa di Requiem in Parma

On Oct. 2, the Festival Verdi is set to present the Messa da Requiem which will be dedicated to the composer Sylvano Bussotti, who recently died. Daniele Gatti will conduct the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai and the coro del Teatro Regio di Parma. Maria Agresta, Elīna Garanča, and John Relyea will make their Teatro Regio di Parma debuts alongside {…}

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