Carolyn Sampson, Karen Cargill, Jennifer France, Roderick Williams, Mary Bevan Headline Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s 2023-24 Season

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. With the announcement, the company also revealed that it had extended the contract of Maxim Emelyaychev, it’s Principal Conductor, through 2028. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal performances. First up is Bach’s “Mass in B minor.” Richard Egarr conducts such soloists as Rowan Pierce, Mary {…}

Apr 12, 2023

Lise Davidsen, Benjamin Appl, Magdalena Kožená & Regula Mühlemann Lead Wigmore Hall’s 2023-24 Season

The Wigmore Hall has announced its 2023-24 season headlining some of the greatest recitalists and vocalist in the world. Opera Rara: present Donizetti and Friends with Lawrence Brownlee, Etienne Dupuis, and Carlo Rizzi. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniušas perform Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Performance Date: Sept. 9, 2023 Ensemble Modern and George Benjamin perform music by {…}

Mar 16, 2023

Q & A: Mary Bevan on Her Bayerische Staatsoper Debut in Cavalli’s ‘Calisto’

Photo: Victoria Cadisch On Mar. 19, 2023, soprano Mary Bevan will make her Bayerische Staatsoper debut, singing the role of Calisto in Cavalli’s “La Calisto.” The opera’s libretto, written by Giovanni Faustini, is based on Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (book two) and retells the myth of Calisto and Jupiter. Bevan’s repertoire is loaded with baroque, from Monteverdi to Gluck, with lots of Handel {…}

Mar 1, 2023

Mary Bevan & Nicky Spence Headline Leeds Lieder’s ‘A Marvellous Party’

Leeds Lieder is set to present “A Marvellous Party” starring soprano Mary Bevan, tenor Nicky Spence, and pianist Joseph Middleton. The three will present an evening of songs by Noël Coward, Poulenc, Satie, Quilter, Gershwin, and Rachmaninov. The show is set in the fictional salon of Coward while a colorful party is being held. Closing the concert are two of {…}

Feb 28, 2023

Mark Padmore, Sandrine Piau & Mary Bevan Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get to hear several recital albums with great song cycles and songs. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. Schubert’s Schwanengesang & Beethoven Tenor Mark Padmore and Pianist Mitsuko Uchida appear on record for the first time in this live recording from London’s Wigmore Hall. They perform Schubert’s “Schwanengesang” and Beethoven’s only major song {…}

Feb 23, 2023

Riccardo Chailly, Charles Castronovo & Philippe Jaroussky Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get a chance to hear songs by Enrico Caruso, a rare Mascagni opera, Verdi choruses, and Spanish songs, among others things. Here is a look at the new releases of the week. 1915: A Trip to Granada The new album features American mezzo Anna Tonna and American pianist Mac McClure taking a journey undertaken back in April of {…}

Nov 23, 2022

Royal Opera House 2022 Review: Alcina

(Credit: © Marc Brenner/Royal Opera House) In “Alcina” seeing isn’t believing. Handel’s tale of an enchanted island, which sees the titular sorceress’ captives transfigured into birds, beasts, and shrubbery, speaks of the pleasures and dangers of illusion. First premiered on the current site of the Royal Opera House back in 1735, the opera speaks to a host of 18th-century preoccupations {…}

Jul 14, 2022

Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi, Anastasia Bartoli & Rosa Feola Lead Teatro La Fenice’s 2022-23 Season

The Teatro La Fenice has announced its 2022-23 season. Opera Nicola Alaimo leads Verdi’s “Falstaff” alongside Vladimir Stoyanov, René Barbera, Selene Zanetti, Caterina Sala, Sara Mingardo, and Veronica Simeoni. Myung-Whun Chung conducts the production by Adrian Noble. Performance Dates: Nov. 18-26, 2022 Bruno Maderna’s “Satyricon” will star Francesca Gerbasi, Matteo Ferrara, Manuela Custer, Christopher Lemmings, William Corrò, and Marcello Nardis. Alessandro {…}

Apr 11, 2022

Regula Mühlemann, Diana Damrau, Karita Mattila, & Christian Gerhaher Lead Wigmore Hall’s 2022-23 Autumn Season

Wigmore Hall has announced details for its Autumn 2022 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Regula Mühlemann soprano and La Folia Barockorchester open the season with Cleopatra featuring music by Hasse, Vivaldi, Legrenzi, Graun, and Händel. Performance Date: Sept. 8, 2022 Elizabeth Llewellyn and Simon Lepper perform a program of music by Coleridge-Taylor, G Mahler and Strauss. {…}

Jun 24, 2021

Joélle Harvey, Nicholas Phan & Mary Bevan Lead Handel and Haydn Society’s 2021-22 Season

The Handel and Haydn Society in Boston has announced its 2021-22 season returning to live performances. For the purposes of this article, we will only focus on vocal performances. For the 168th consecutive year, the company will celebrate the holiday season with performances of Handel’s “Messiah,” at Symphony Hall. For the last time as Artistic Director, Harry Christophers will lead {…}

May 13, 2021

VOCES8 Foundation Announces ‘Live from London – Summer’ Festival

The VOCES8 Foundation has announced “LIVE from London—Summer,” a return to live performance set to start this July. The festival will feature 14 concerts running between July 4 and August 22, with audiences able to stream performances until August 31, 2021. VOCES8 is set to appear in every performance, which will include such artists and organizations as the King’s Singers, {…}