Stefan Vinke, Barry Banks, Michael Mayes & Meigui Zhang Lead Atlanta Opera’s 2024-25 Season

The Atlanta Opera has announced its 2024-25 Season. Here is a look at the diverse productions that will be performed. Discoveries Series: The Atlanta Opera immersive “Bohème Project” Following the present season’s traditional production of Puccini’s “La bohème,” in September the Atlanta Opera Discoveries series continues the “Bohème Project” with two immersive productions at Pullman Yards. Produced by Tomer Zvulun {…}

Oct 26, 2023

Houston Grand Opera 2023-24 Review: Intelligence

Photo: Michael Bishop Houston Grand Opera’s season premiere, “Intelligence,” is not just another opera to take in – it’s an experience to be absorbed. It masterfully fulfills art’s big-picture role: sparking dialogues and bridging emotional divides, even when the discussions are challenging and the ties seem broken. This riveting work is realized through the collective genius of composer Jake Heggie, {…}

Aug 22, 2023

Top 10 Operas to See During Fall 2023

It’s that time of the year again! The 2023-24 season is about to begin and audiences are getting ready to choose performances as they head back to the opera. With so much to choose from, OperaWire is breaking down 10 opera productions that are must-sees for all opera lovers from around the world. Aida – Berlin State Opera – Opens {…}

Aug 17, 2023

Seattle Opera 2023-24 Review: Das Rheingold

(Photo credit: Seattle Opera © Philip Newton) Why build an elaborate faux-underwater set for the Rhine scenes in Wagner’s “Ring” when you have an orchestra pit that can make a perfectly plausible stage river? It’s an idea so obvious, you think surely, it must have been tried already. This is the solution found by Brian Staufenbiel, tasked with staging “Das {…}

Jun 24, 2023

Atalla Ayan, Iréne Theorin & Michael Mayes Lead Staatsoper Stuttgart’s 2023-24 Season

The Staatsoper Stuttgart has announced its 2023-24 season. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Strauss’ “Die frau ohne Schatten” with Benjamin Bruns, Simone Schneider, Evelyn Herlitzius, Martin Gantner, and Iréne Theorin. Cornelius Meister conducts the production by David Hermann. Performance Dates: Oct. 29-Dec. 2, 2023 “La Fest,” featuring music by Vivaldi and Händel, will star Claudia {…}

May 27, 2023

Staatsoper Stuttgart to Present Anna-Sophie Mahler’s ‘Pilgrimage with Messiaen’s Saint Francis’

Photo credit: Matthias Baus Anna-Sophie Mahler’s new production of Olivier Messiaen’s “Saint François d’Assise” will make its premiere at the Staatsoper Stuttgart on June 11. The piece will be presented in an unconventional manner. The audience will be led on a journey from the opera house to the Killesberg open-air stage and back. The nearly four-hour opera becomes an “eight-hour {…}

Feb 2, 2023

The Dallas Opera to Perform ‘Das Rheingold’ with Nicholas Brownlee

The Dallas Opera is set to premiere a new production of Wagner’s epic tale “Das Rheingold.” The opera returns to the company after a 20-year absence with Emmanuel Villaume conducting. Tomer Zvulun, General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera, directs a cast led by Nicholas Brownlee as Wotan, Michael Mayes as Alberich, Amanda Echalaz as Fricka (TDO debut), Brenton {…}

Dec 5, 2022

English National Opera 2022 Review: It’s a Wonderful Life

Photo: © Lloyd Winters Unlike ballet, which has “The Nutcracker” as a festive staple, there aren’t very many Christmas operas. “La bohème” opens on Christmas eve, and there is invariably snow, but yuletide is hardly the subject of the opera. ENO were scheduled to perform John Adams nativity oratorio “El Niño” during lockdown, but it sadly got canned. Along comes {…}

Sep 15, 2022

Michael Mayes & Susan Bullock Headline The Atlanta Opera’s ‘Bluebeard’s Castle’

The Atlanta Opera’s Discoveries Series is set to kick off the 2022-23 Season with Bela Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” on October 7- 9. The opera, which will be presented in association with Atlanta State University School of Music from Kennesaw, will star Michael Mayes and Susan Bullock. It will be directed by Daisy Evans and conducted by Stephen Higgins. “We’ve been {…}

Jun 28, 2022

Megan Marino, Alexandra LoBianco, Michael Mayes Headline Creede Musical Arts Collective’s 2022 Festival

Opera stars Megan Marino and Michael Mayes have launched Creede Musical Arts Collective, which will have its inaugural season in 2022. The festival was founded by the duo following their 2021 residency with the Midnight Cricket Club at the Creede Hotel & Restaurant. “The Musical Arts Collective is a great opportunity to attract high-caliber artists from all over the country {…}

Jun 3, 2022

Corinne Winters, Lucio Gallo, Federica Lombardi & Atalla Ayan Lead Staatsoper Stuttgart’s 2022-23 Season

The Staatsoper Stuttgart has announced its 2022-23 season Premieres “Liebstod” from concept by Johannes Müller and Philine Rinnert will be performed. Performance Dates: Sept. 23-25, 2022 Wagner’s “Siegfried” will star Daniel Brenna, Matthias Klink, Tommi Hakala, David Steffens, Beate Ritter, Stine Marie Fischer, and Simone Schneider. Cornelius Meister conducts the production by Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito. Performance Dates: Oct. 9, {…}

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