Sonya Yoncheva, Joyce DiDonato & Diana Damrau Highlight Festspielhaus Baden Baden 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Jiyang Chen/Javier del Real/ Simon Pauly) The Festspielhaus Baden Baden has announced its 2020-21 season. For this article we will only highlight vocal performances. The season opens with Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and “Bluebeard’s Castle.” Rinat Shaham and Gerald Finley star in the later with Sir Simon Rattle conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. Performance Date: Sept. 20, 2020 Benjamin {…}

Mar 10, 2020

Michael Volle Confirms He is Healthy Despite Erroneous Reports

Michael Volle does NOT have Coronavirus, despite what some members of the media might have you think. The bass-baritone confirmed via social media stating, “We are all very good, we are all tested negative, it’s only me who has to stay two days more at home. From Thursday on it’s over. And we only can hope that correspondent to all {…}

Mar 6, 2020

Lisette Oropesa, Michael Volle & Diana Damrau Highlight Opernhaus Zürich’s 2020-21 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2020-21 season with 13 new productions and a number of international stars. Premiere Michael Volle sings the title role in a new production of Mussorgky’s “Boris Godunov” by Barrie Kosky. Lina Dambrauskaité, Irène Friedli, John Daszak, Konstantin Shushakov, Brindley Sherratt, Edgaras Montvidas, Oksana Volkova, Johannes Martin Kränzle, and Wenwei Zhang also star. Kirill Karabits {…}

Mar 3, 2020

Rolando Villazón, René Pape, Anja Harteros Highlight Semperoper Dresden’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Jiyang Chen / Marco Borggreve) The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2020-21 season featuring seven new operatic productions and a number of revivals. Here is a look at the operatic productions. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell,” written by de Jouy and Bis. The new production by Georg Schmiedleitner will star Christoph {…}

Jan 20, 2020

Vienna State Opera Live Stream: Lise Lindstrom, Waltraud Meier to Star in ‘Salome’

(Credit: Rosie Hardie) The Vienna State Opera will live stream Richard Strauss’ “Salome” on Jan. 24, 2020. Taking on the title role will be Lise Lindstrom with Waltraud Meier as her mother Herodias and Herwig Pecoraro as the villainous Herodes. As Jochanaan, audiences will see Michael Volle. Mikko Franck is set to conduct the production directed by Boleslaw Barlog. The {…}

Nov 22, 2019

Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča & Carmela Remigio Lead International Weekend – (11/22-24)

This weekend its all about star performances, repertory staples, new productions and a season opening. Check out what we believe you need to see. Eugene Onegin Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Marina Rebeka continues the run in her first Tatiana alongside a star cast that includes Boris Pinkhasovich in the title role, Pavol Breslik as Lenski and Ferruccio Furlanetto as Gremin. The {…}

Oct 12, 2019

Staatsoper Berlin 2019-20 Review: Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor

(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor,” like the vast majority of Singspiele, is not well-known outside the German-speaking world. Even in its native Germany, it’s mounted infrequently. Its story, however, is almost universally known. Like Verdi’s “Falstaff,” it’s closely based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” A few details are Germanized: Alice Ford becomes Frau Fluth, and her {…}

Oct 4, 2019

Joyce DiDonato, René Pape & Asmik Grigorian Headline Top 7 To See This Weekend Internationally (10/4-6)

It is the first weekend of October, which means that it is one filled with opening nights, new productions, contemporary works, classics, and baroque works. Let’s have a go. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Lawrence Zazzo, Erin Morley, Théo Touvet, Peter Kellner, Szilvia Vörös, Josh Lovell, Rafael Fingerlos, Rachel Frenkel, Valentina, Naforniţa, Peter Rose, Benjamin Hulett, Wolfgang {…}

Jun 21, 2019

Lisette Oropesa & Piotr Beczala & The Top 7 Operas To See This Weekend – International

Credit: Opera de Pairs/Teatro alla Scala/Wiener Staatsoper/Opera Royal de Wallonie It’s a weekend filled with broadcasts, premieres and new productions that are not be missed. Tosca – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Piotr Beczala receives his Kammersänger honor after the performance of Puccini’s masterpiece. He is joined by Nina Stemme and Carlos Álvarez. The starry cast is joined by Marc Armiliato in the {…}

May 27, 2019

Anna Netrebko, Saioa Hernández & Sonya Yoncheva Headline Teatro Alla Scala’s 2019-20 Season

The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2019-20 season featuring numerous new productions, rare works, and a number of stars. Anna Netrebko opens the Teatro alla Scala in the title role of Puccini’s ‘Tosca” with Luca Salsi in the role of Scarpia. Riccardo Chailly conducts the production by Davide Livermore. Saioa Hernández sings three performances of the title role. Performance {…}

May 14, 2019

The Best Performances of the Met Opera’s 2018-19 Season

Another big season at the Metropolitan Opera has come and gone. The 2018-19 was a rather fascinating one from a repertory perspective, offering up a wide range of music from some of the greatest composers. The year wound up being a mixed bag of sorts from a quality standpoint with the best performances arguably taking place once the calendar turned {…}