(Photo: Baptiste Lacaze) Lully’s “Atys” is said to have been Louis XIV’s favorite opera. Using a libretto by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688), “Atys” is based on the story of Attis from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses.” In the original story, Atys/Attis is a handsome Phrygian youth beloved by the goddess Cybèle. She demands his absolute fidelity but he betrays her with a nymph. As {…}
(Photo: Matthias Baus) One of the highlights, if not the highlight, of La Monnaie’s 2024–25 season must be its world premiere of Monteverdi’s new opera “I Grotteschi,” a mammoth work, lasting almost seven hours, not including intervals, performed over two evenings. Rafael R. Villalobos as Scenario, Director & Costume Designer conceived and created the production, using extracts from the Monteverdi’s {…}
(Photo Credit: Bettina Stöß / Photo courtesy of Deutsche Oper Berlin) Voices that move your heart and acting that moves your heart – this is Opera. With a tux in Vienna or a smart-casual look in Covent Garden. Champagne or water. Sustained attention or simply laying back and enjoying the night. Pleasing surprises and unbelievable disappointments. From the Met to {…}
The Grand Théâtre de Genève has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” opens the season with Gwyn Hughes Jones, Burkhard Fritz, and Elisabet Strid in the title roles. Marc Albrecht conducts the production by Michael Thalheimer. The cast will also include Tareq Nazmi, Kristina Stanek, Craig Colclough, and Julien Henric. Performance Dates: Sept. 15-27, 2024 Tomáš Netopil {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2024-25 season. Monteverdi’s “Combattimenti” will star Ferran Albrich, Johanna Rosa Falkinger, Luciana Mancini, Ambra Biaggi, and Ilyà Dovnar. David Bergmüller conducts the production by Olivier Fredj. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 18, 2024 David Bates conducts Mozart’s “Idomeneo” in a new production by Stefan Herheim. The cast includes Attilio Glaser, Emily Sierra, Jeanine De Bique, Elena Tsallagova, Ya-Chung Huang, and Levente {…}
La Monnaie de Munt has announced the 2024-25 season. Opera Wagner’s “Siegfried” will star Magnus Vigilius, Peter Hoare, Gábor Bretz, Scott Hendricks, Wilhelm Schwinghammer, Ingela Brimberg, Nora Gubisch, and Liv Redpath. Alain Altinoglu conducts Pierre Audi’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 4, 2024 Kris Defoort’s “The Time of Our Singing ” will star Mark S. Doss, Claron Mcfadden, Simon Bailey, Levy {…}
©Sandrine Expilly The world premiere of Antonio Salieri’s opera “Kubla Khan” (“Cublai, Gran Kan De Tartari”) is among the many highlights of Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques’ 2023-24 season. Here is the full rundown of what audiences can expect this year. Starting off, sopranos Marie Lys and Judith van Wanroij perform “Ave Maris Stella” with Christophe Rousset at the {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced its 2024 season. The festival will open with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” starring Andreas Schager, Günther Groissböck, Camilla Nylund, Olafur Sigurdarson, Birger Radde, and Ekaterina Gubanova. Semyon Bychkov conducts the production by Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson. Performance Dates: July 25-August 26 2024 Günther Groissböck, Klaus Florian Vogt, Markus Eiche, Olafur Sigurdarson, Jens-Erik Aasbø, and Elisabeth Teige {…}
Opera Lafayette has unveiled its 2023-24 season, titled “Era of Madame de Maintenon.” It all kicks off with “Couperin le Grand” at The Kennedy Center and the Kosciuszko Foundation. The concert, which features music by Couperin, will be headlined by conductor Christophe Rousset, bass-baritone Jonathan Woody, and violinist Jacob Ashworth. Performance Dates: Oct. 25 (DC), Oct. 26 (NYC) Next up is {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced several cast changes for its 2023-24 season. For its production of “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” Kieran Carrel will take over the role of Almaviva in place of Matthew Newlin on Sept. 6, 9, and 29,2023. Meanwhile, on Dec. 31, Kangyoon Shine Lee will take over the role of Almaviva in place of Matthew Newlin. {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2023-24 season featuring opera productions and opera in concert. Opera Jérémie Rhorer conducts Donizetti’s “Les Martyrs” with Cezary Tomaszewski directing. Roberta Mantegna and John Osborn lead the cast, which also includes Mattia Olivieri, David Steffens, Nicolò Donini, and Patrick Kabongo. Performance Date: Sept. 18-28, 2023 Philip Venables’s “Denis & Katya” will star {…}
