On Sept. 8, 2026, the Beirut International Opera Festival and Competition launched with an inaugural Grand Gala at the Roman style open air amphitheater of Zouk Mikaël in Lebanon. The showcase, which featured mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti, drew more than 1,800 spectators. Per an official press release, this was Viotti’s first performance in the Middle East. She appeared alongside Les Solistes {…}
The Dallas Opera (TDO) is set to broadcast past performances on WRR 101.1 FM, one of the country’s oldest radio stations. From Sept. 14 to Oct. 5, 2026, TDO will partner with the classical music radio station’s Concert Hall program to broadcast its four 2025-2026 season mainstage productions. The first broadcast will be Bizet’s “Carmen,” conducted by Emmanuel Villaume and {…}
Marina Viotti has joined the roster of Askonas Holt for worldwide general management. She will be managed at Askonas Holt by Dominic Domingo, Nicholas Moloney and Jessica Buchanan-Barrow. The Grammy-award-winning mezzo-soprano has performed at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu and Staatsoper Berlin. She became a household name after her appearance during the opening ceremony of {…}
Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week, audiences get to hear a new ending to Puccini’s “Turandot” and various solo recitals from rising stars. Turandot: Christopher Tin Finale Christopher Tin’s new finale for “Turandot” is released featuring soprano Christine Goerke in the title role, while heldentenor Clay Hilley sings {…}
The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced its 2026 season themed “Bon Voyage.” Opera Rossini’s “Il Viaggio a Reims” will be conducted by Gianluca Capuano and directed by Barrie Kosky. The ensemble cast will include Cecilia Bartoli, Marina Viotti, Mélissa Petit, Tara Erraught, Edgardo Rocha, Dmitry Korchak, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Florian Sempey, Misha Kiria, Peter Kellner, Giovanni Romeo, Helena Rasker, Rodolphe Briand, {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) In 1822, Rossini’s opera “Zelmira” premiered at Naples’ Teatro San Carlo to widespread acclaim and was quickly taken up by theaters across Europe, including Vienna, London and Paris. However, like most of the composer’s works, it quickly fell by the wayside and had to wait for over 100 years to be revived, with a performance in 1965 {…}
(Foto: T+T Fotografie / Toni Suter + Tanja Dorendorf) Opernhaus Zürich is set to present oper für alle on July 12 at the Sechseläutenplatz. The company will present “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” live at the open-air stage starting at 17.00 with the opera performance at 19.00. Admission will be free. Additionally, the company will broadcast on the OperaVision platform. “Les Contes {…}
The Opéra national du Rhin has announced its 2025-26 season. Mélissa Petit, Julia Lezhneva, Carlo Vistoli, and Krystian Adam star in Handel’s “Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.” Thibault Noally conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 14, 2025 Issachah Savage and Errin Duane Brooks star in Verdi’s “Otello” alongside Adriana Gonzalez and Daniel Miroslaw. Speranza Scappucci conducts the production by Ted {…}
(Photo : Vincent PONTET) From March 21 to April 6, the Théâtre des Champs Elysées presents a new production of Jules Massenet’s “Werther,” staged by Christof Loy and directed by Silvia Aurea De Stefano. It’s probably no exaggeration to consider it one of the best of the first quarter of 2025, at least. In fact, it’s been a long time {…}
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera Productions Jakob Lehmann conducts Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust” in a production by Silvia Costa. Benjamin Bernheim, Viktoria Karkacheva, Christian Van Horn, and Thomas Dolié star. Performance Dates: Nov. 3-15, 2025 Offenbach’s “Robinson Crusoé” will be conducted by Marc Minkowski and directed by Laurent Pelly. Lawrence Brownlee, Julie Fuchs, Laurent {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Mainstage The season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen.” The company will present the United States premiere of a new production that recreates the original Opéra-Comique production with sets and costumes faithfully designed as they were in 1875. The production will be directed by Romain Gilbert. Marina Viotti sings the title role in her company {…}
