(Credit: Karen Almond) In his book, “A New Philosophy of Opera,” director Yuval Sharon notes that “Tristan und Isolde,” alongside “Pelléas et Mélisande” are not only two of the most difficult operas to stage, but “seem like a losing proposition” for any director to take on. He reflects on how oftentimes, director’s attempt to “find physical form for what the {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to premiere a new production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” The new production will be directed by Yuval Sharon in his company-debut and will star Lise Davidsen in her long-anticipated company role debut as Isolde. She will be joined by tenor Michael Spyres stars as Tristan, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova as Brangäne, bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as {…}
The Festival Aix-En-Provence has announced its 2026 season. Opera Leonardo García-Alarcón conducts Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” with Clément Cogitore directing. The production will star Ying Fang, Mauro Peter, Sabine Devieilhe, Sean Michael Plumb, Brindley Sherratt, and Edwin Crossley-Mercer. Performance Dates: July 2-21, 2026 Klaus Mäkelä conducts Strauss’ “Die Frau one Schatten” in Barrie Kosky’s production. The cast will include Michael Spyres, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Nina {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2026 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Franck Ollu conducts Pascal Dusapin and Rita de Letteriis’s “Passion” starring Sarah Aristidou, Georg Nigl, and Schola Heidelberg. Performance Date: July 23, 2026 Asmik Grigorian stars as Bizet’s “Carmen” alongside Jonathan Tetelman, Kristina Mkhitaryan, and Davide Luciano. Teodor Currentzis conducts the production by Gabriela {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, the Metropolitan Opera releases a modern opera while Joyce Didonato continues her exploration of the baroque repertoire. Grounded Deustche Grammophon releases Jeanine Tesori and George Brant’s new work in a recording from the Metropolitan Opera. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the opera with {…}
The Palau de les Arts has announced its 2025-26 season. Lorenzo Viotti conducts Gounod’s “Faust” in a production by Johannes Erath. Iván Ayón-Rivas, Alex Esposito, Ruth Iniesta, Florian Sempey, and Ekaterine Buachidze. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-15, 2025 Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s “La descente d’Orphée aux enfers” will star Josipa Bilić, Camille Chopin, Sarah Fleiss, Tanaquil Ollivier, Sydney Frodsham, Richard Pittsinger, Bastien Rimondi, Attila {…}
The Opéra de Dijon has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. The Orchestre National de France performs alongside Cristian Măcelaru and Joyce DiDonato. The program includes music by Alma and Gustav Mahler and Strauss. Performance Date: Oct. 9, 2025 Lea Desandre stars as Händel’s “Theodora” with Hugh Cutting, Véronique Gens, Laurence Kilsby, and Alex Rosen. Thomas Dunford {…}
The 2025 lineup for the Ravello Festival has been announced. For the purposes of this article only classical voice concerts are included. Uniting Voices Chicago led by director Josephine Lee is first. Performance Date: July 11, 2025 Mezzo-soprano Annika Schlicht serves as soloist with the Dresden Philharmonic in Wagner’s “Wesendonck-Lieder.” Felix Mottl conducts. Performance Date: August 2, 2025 Tenor Michael {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with “The Cunning Little Vixen,” featuring Peter Mattei, Anaïs Masllorens, David Alegret, Elena Tsallagova, Alejandro López, Milan Perišić, Sara Bañeras, Angela Brower, Mireia Pintó, Laura Brasó, and Mercedes Gancedo. Josep Pons conducts the production by Barrie Kosky. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-30, 2025 Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten” will star Anthony Roth Costanzo, {…}
Opera Comique has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” with Michael Spyres, Héloïse Mas, Amina Edris, and Jean-Sébastien Bou. Pierre Dumoussaud conducts the production by Lotte De Beer. Performance Dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 5, 2025 Gluck’s “Iphigénie en Tauride” will star Tamara Bounazou, Theo Hoffman, Philippe Talbot, Jean-Fernand Setti, Léontine Maridat-Zimmerlin, Fanny Soyer, and Lysandre Châlon. Louis {…}
Opera Rara is set to stream its March 16 concert featuring Michael Spyres and Marie-Nicole Lemieux. The showcase, which took place at Cadogan Hall on March 10, will be available to stream on Opera Rara’s YouTube for 30 days starting on March 16, 2025. The performance featured several songs by Donizetti, interspersed with works by Berlioz. The two singers were {…}