(Photo: Birgit Gufler) Baroque opera is no stranger to theatrical excess. With its lavish sets, fabulous costumes, spectacular stage effects, and array of mythical heroes, gods and monsters, it could never be accused of understatement. Yet, Antonio Cesti’s 1668 opera, “Il pomo d’oro,” took it all to a new level. This was an opera on a whole new scale, one {…}
(Photo: Amir Kaufmann) As a court composer in 1720s Vienna, Antonio Caldara occupied a unique position in Baroque music. His style—characterized by dense, contrapuntal orchestral textures, intricate imitative writing, and a strict avoidance of cheap theatrical indulgence—gives his operas and oratorios an almost scholarly quality. Much like Alessandro Scarlatti, Caldara was a master of deep psychological portraiture, yet his commitment {…}
This year’s Monteverdi Festival showcased a special performance in the heart of Mantua, Italy, in the 18th-century Teatro Bibiena di Mantova (Scientific Theater of Mantua), where a (nearly) 14-year-old Mozart gave his first Italian concert (alongside his father). The theater’s bell-shaped layout and ornate tiers of wooden boxes with painted frescos were designed by Antonio Galli da Bibiena to host {…}
The Teatro Carlo Felice has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera Jordi Bernàcer conducts Emilio Sagi’s production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The cast includes Roberto de Candia, Christian Senn, Carmela Remigio, Sara Cortolezzis, Daniela Cappiello, Lucrezia Drei, Vito Priante, Giorgio Caoduro, Josè Maria Lo Monaco, and Irene Molinari. Performance Dates: Oct. 16-25, 2026 Fabrizio Beggi, Jessica Pratt, Annalisa Stroppa, Luca {…}
The National Forum of Music announces its 2026-27 season. This article feature classical voice works only. Mark Padmore performs Bach’s “Ich habe genug” at the Krzyżowa-Music festival. Performance Date: Aug. 30, 2026 Thomas Guggeis conducts a concert version of Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” starring Brian Jagde and Anita Rachvelishvili in the title roles. They are joined by Kostas Smoriginas, Peter {…}
Innsbruck Festival of Early Music announces its 50th season. This article only features vocal events. Ottavio Dantone leads the Accademia Bizantina Ensemble in a workshop concert. Performance Date: July 25, 2026 Lauren Lodge-Campbell, Nicolò Balducci, and Jonathan Eyers perform alongside Il Gusto Barocco Ensemble under the direction of Jörg Halubek. Performance Date: August 1, 2026 Anna Bonitatibus gives a masterclass. {…}
The Wratislavia Cantans announces its 2026 season. This article only features vocal events. Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” stars Brian Jagde, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Kostas Smoriginas. They are joined by the NFM Choir led by Lionel Sow and the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic. Thomas Guggeis conducts. Performance Date: September 3, 2026 Angelica Antonini performs with Il Giardino Armonico under the baton of {…}
(Credit: Fabrice Demessence) The Monteverdi Festival announces its 2026 programming. This article only features vocal concerts. Cecilia Bartoli opens the Festival in a gala concert with Les Musiciens du Prince conducted by Gianluca Capuano. Performance Date: May 28, 2026 The Monteverdi Festival opens with “Vespers Of The Blessed Virgin” under the baton of Leonardo García-Alarcón. Performance Date: June 7, 2026 {…}
(Photo: Zani-Casadio) Following on from the previous day’s performance of Monteverdi’s “Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria,” Ravenna’s Teatro Alighieri continued with a production of Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” coupled with “Hail, Bright Cecelia,” presented by the same cast under the musical direction of Ottavio Dantone. The fact that Pier Luigi Pizzi, who had been responsible for the lackluster staging {…}
(Photo: Zani-Casadio) In his program notes, the director, Pier Luigi Pizzi, writing about “Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria,” stated that “the opera speaks for itself,” adding, “we must not induce or force its interpretation… It is up to the audience to confront it, to think about it, and to decide for themselves whether or not it is worthwhile.” Even {…}
(Photo credits: Ribaltaluce Studio & Laurus Design) The lineup for “48 Days Of Early Music In Herne” has been announced. For the purposes of this article only vocal works are included. This year’s theme is “Reduce – Reuse – Recycle.” Soprano Deborah Cachet and mezzo-soprano Marianne Beate Kielland perform “Passgenau,” with the B’Rock Orchestra conducted by Cecilia Bernardini. Performance Date: {…}