Cast Change: Michael Volle to Jump into Production of ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’

The Bayreuth Festival has announced a new cast change for its August 19 performance of “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.” The company said that “Axel Kober will conduct instead of Daniele Gatti, while Michael Volle will sing the role of Hans Sachs instead of Georg Zeppenfeld and Ya-Chung Huang will take over the role of David for Matthias Stier.” Kober made his Bayreuth debut in 2013 and has since conducted {…}

Aug 6, 2025

Bayreuth Festival 2025 Review: Parsifal

(© Enrico Nawrath) First seen on the Green Hill in 2023, the director of “Parsifal,” 55-year-old Jay Scheib, professor of music and theatre arts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an American of international standing in the hi-tech world, is a technological wizard like no other! A couple of his credits include Thomas Adès’ “Powder Her Face” (New York {…}

Jul 24, 2025

Klaus Florian Vogt, Andreas Schager, Camilla Nylund, Asmik Grigorian, Michael Volle & Elza van den Heever Lead Bayreuth Festival’s 2026 Season

The Bayreuth Festival has announced its 2026 season. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts “Rienzi” with Andreas Schager, Gabriela Scherer, Jennifer Holloway, Michael Nagy, and Matthias Stier. Magdolna Parditka and Alexandra Szemeredy direct the rarely performed work. Performance Dates: July 26-August 26, 2026 Christian Thielemann will conduct The Ring Cycle, which Marcus Lobbes will curate. Michael Volle, Alexander Grassauer, Klaus Florian Vogt, Anna Kissjudit, Evelin Novak, Christa {…}

Jul 22, 2025

Atalla Ayan, Michael Volle, Franz Hawlata, Evelyn Herlitzius, Claudia Muschio & Anna Princeva Lead Staatsoper Stuttgart’s 2025-26 Season

The Staatsoper Stuttgart has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Sebastian Schwab conducts “I Did it My Way” by Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra. Ivo van Hove directs a cast that includes Lars Eidinger and Larissa Sirah Herden. Performance Dates: Sept. 26-28, 2025 Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” will get a new production by Stephan Kimmig. Ariane Matiakh conducts a cast {…}

Jul 9, 2025

Teatro alla Scala 2024-25 Review: Siegfried

(Photo Credit: Brescia e Amisano ©) This “Siegfried”… a popular musical in myth? Given the audience’s warmly animated reactions, as one witnessed upon attending various performances of its run, it would appear so. The lively, evocative melodic themes in this, the third of four operas of “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” are sustained by all the symbolic ingredients of a fairy {…}

Jun 6, 2025

Natalya Romaniw, Michael Volle, Golda Schultz, Ailyn Pérez & Corinne Winters Lead Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia’s 2025-26 Season

The Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia have announced its 2025-26 season. Concerts Daniel Harding conducts a staged version of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” by Vincent Huguet. The opera will star Michael Volle, Miina‐Liisa Värelä, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Jamez McCorkle, Stephen Milling, and Okka von der Damerau. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-27, 2025 Antonio Pappano conducts Natalya Romaniw, Szilvia Vörös, {…}

May 26, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Sara Jakubiak, Luca Salsi, Francesco Meli, Marina Rebeka, Michael Volle & Camilla Nylund Lead Teatro alla Scala’s 2025-26 Season

The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” featuring Alexander Roslavets, Sara Jakubiak, Najmiddin Mavlyanov, Alexander Kravets, Valery Gilmanov, Yevgeny Akimov, Jirí Rajniš, Oleg Budaratskiy, Ekaterina Sannikova, Goderedzi Janelidze, Elena Maximova, Natalya Romaniw, Huanhong Li, and Vasyl Solodkyy. Riccardo Chailly conducts the new production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Dec. {…}

May 9, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Ildiko Komlósi, Freddie De Tommaso, Asmik Grigorian, Ludovic Tézier, Aigul Akhmetshina, Michael Volle Headline Hungarian State Opera’s 2025-26 Season

The Hungarian State Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. New Productions “Lohengrin” will get a new production by András Almási-Tóth. Martin Rajna conducts two separate casts starring Christopher Sokolowski, Szabolcs Brickner, Johanni van Oostrum, Klára Kolonits, Egils Siliņš, Károly Szemerédy, Judit Kutasi, and Szilvia Rálik, among others. Performance Dates: Nov. 15-20, 2025 There will be a world premiere double bill {…}

Apr 12, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Michael Volle, Ludovic Tézier, Pretty Yende, Rolando Villazón, Federica Lombardi, Nicole Car, Freddie De Tommaso & Juan Diego Flórez Headline Wiener Staatsoper’s 2025-26 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the operas and recitals for the new season. Premieres Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” will get a new production by Dirk Schmeding. The cast will be headed by Franz Xaver Schlecht, Margaret Plummer, Slávka Zámečníková, Ivo Stanchev, Monika Bohinec, Pavol Breslik, Michael Laurenz, Peter Kellner, Matthäus Schmidlechner, Ilia Staple, and Alex Ilvakhin. Tomáš Hanus conducts. A second cast will {…}

Apr 10, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Elīna Garanča, Golda Schultz, Sonya Yoncheva, Cecilia Bartoli & Benjamin Bernheim Lead Opernhaus Zürich’s 2025-26 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the productions and concerts. Premieres Simon Steen-Andersen and Liliana Nikiteanu lead “Wie du warst! Wie du bist!” Performance Dates: Sept. 20, 2025-July 11, 2026 Diana Damrau, Günther Groissböck, Angela Brower, Bo Skovhus, and Emily Pogorelc star in a new production Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier.” Joana Mallwitz conducts the {…}

Dec 3, 2024

Lisette Oropesa, Asmik Grigorian, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Cecilia Bartoli & Sabine Devieilhe Lead Salzburg Festival’s 2025 Season

The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Bas Wiegers conducts Michael Jarrell’s “Kassandra” with actress Dagmar Manzel and the Ensemble Modern. Performance Date: July 23, 2025 Salvatore Sciarrino’s “Macbeth” will be conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni. Cody Quattlebaum, Alice Rossi, Leonardo Cortellazzi, Iris van Wijnen, and Davide Giangregorio. Performance Date: July 25, {…}