(Credit: Nicola Gnesi) On August 30, 2025, the Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago saw drama during the opening night of “Manon Lescaut.” According to Gramilano, “soprano Maria José Siri was getting into position on top of the torso for the last act when she slipped. After first aid and an unscheduled fifteen-minute break, the soprano decided to finish the {…}
(Crédit: Michele Monasta) The Arena di Verona has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The company said that Marina Rebeka will no longer sing the August 24 & 28 performances. Instead, Maria Jose Siri will sing the title role on August 24. No soprano has been announced for the August 28 performance. Siri, who has been {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera Rachmaninov’s “Aleko” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” will be performed in a double bill. Francesco Lanzillotta conducts the production by Silvia Paoli, who will put the two operas in a dialogue. Brian Jagde, Carolina López Moreno, and Elchin Azizov star. Opening Night: Nov. 21, 2025 Puccini’s “La bohème” will star Anastasia Bartoli, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Hasmik {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced that Maria Jose Siri will take over Anna Netrebko’s performances in “Aida” on August 10 and 17, 2025. The company also noted that Yusif Eyvazov will replace Brian Jagde on July 13, 2025 in the role of Radames. Siri opened the production on June 20 and is well known for her interpretation of Aida, {…}
The Teatro Carlo Felice is set to present Umberto Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier.” The opera will be performed from Feb. 6 to Feb. 15 with Donato Renzetti conducting a production by Pier Francesco Maestrini. The production will star Fabio Sartori in Andrea Chénier, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, and Stefano Meo as Carlo Gérard, and Maria Josè Siri as Maddalena di Coigny. The cast also {…}
The Teatro Filarmonico in Verona has announced its 2025 season featuring rarely performed works and concerts. Opera Salieri’s “Falstaff” opens the season with Francesco Ommassini conducting a production by Paolo Valerio. The cast includes Giulio Mastrototaro, Gilda Fiume, Marco Ciaponi, Michele Patti, Laura Verrecchia, Romano Dal Zovo, and Eleonora Bellocci. Performance Dates: Jan. 19-26, 2025 Catalani’s “La Wally” will be {…}
Genova’s Teatro Carlo Felice has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the operas and concerts. Opera The season will open with a double bill featuring the play “Giro di vite” by Henry James and Benjamin Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw.” Davide Livermore directs the production with Riccardo Minasi at the podium. The cast for Britten will {…}
The Opéra de Monte-Carlo has announced its 2024-25 season. Festival Centenaire Puccini Giacomo Sagripanti conducts Puccini’s “La Rondine“ in Concert. Pretty Yende, Charles Castronovo, Deanna Breiwick, Juan Francisco Gatell, and Roberto de Candia. Performance Date: Oct. 30, 2024 Anna Netrebko, Nino Machaidze, Mariam Battistelli, Yusif Eyvazov, and Florian Sempey lead Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Biagio Pizzuti, Giorgi Manoshvili, and Matteo Peirone {…}
The Teatro Regio di Parma has announced a cast change for its production of “Tosca.” The company said that for its May 17 and 19 performances, Maria José Siri and Fabio Sartori will sing the roles of Tosca and Cavaradossi replacing Anastasia Bartoli and Brian Jagde, who are ill. Siri and Sartori have performed the roles around the world and {…}
The Tokyo Spring Festival is set to stream Verdi’s “Aida.” The opera, which is set to be performed on April 17 and 20 will star Maria José Siri in the title role, Luciano Ganci, Serban Vasile, Yulia Matochkina, Vittorio Ganci De Campo, and Shoji. Riccardo Muti will conduct the opera. In a statement regarding the upcoming performances, Ganci said, “Once {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences are in for two full recordings of well-known works with some of the world’s greatest singers. There are also choral recoridngs and some less known works to discover. Heaven to Earth Signum Classics releases Heaven to Earth, a collection of singable, {…}