(Photo: Neil Harrison) Since Cameron Menzies took on the position of artistic director of Northern Ireland Opera in 2020, the company has undergone something of a Renaissance. Although working on a slim budget, enough to fund only one main stage production each season, its imaginative and innovative approach has led to it staging a stream of high-quality short works, which {…}
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music has announced that tenor Norman Reinhardt will be joining its vocal faculty and has been appointed artist-in-residence of voice, effective Sept. 1, 2024. Reinhardt is the co-founder of Living Opera, a multimedia startup that aims to empower and educate artists at every stage of their careers. “I am thrilled to join the Bienen School {…}
The Staatsoper Hannover has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a wide variety of repertoire from repertoire staples to new operas. Here is a look Premieres Verdi’s “Otello“ gets a new production starring Martin Muehle in the title role. He will be joined by Pavel Yankovsky, Daniel Miroslaw, Marco Lee, Sunnyboy Dladla, Barno Ismatullaeva, and Kiandra Louise Howarth. Stephan Zilias conducts the {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2021-22 season, which will feature six productions. It all starts with Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Carolyn Sproule, Richard Trey Smagur, Christian Pursell, and Heidi Stober. Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts a production directed by Rob Ashford. Performance Dates: Oct. 22 – Nov. 7, 2021 Next up is the world premiere of “The Snowy Day.” The new {…}
With opera companies returning in full force digitally, this week’s selections will highlight a mix of repertory staples with some unique and experimental new works. Before we kick off our list, don’t forget to check out important discussions taking place regarding issues of race and equality in opera with such programs as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and Mark {…}
Rai 5 is set to stream Nicola Antonio Manfroce’s rarely performed “Ecuba” on August 3. The performance comes from the 2019 Festival Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca and was helmed by legendary director Pier Luigi Pizzi. The production features rising star Lidia Fridman in the title role, Norman Reinhardt, Mert Süngü, Roberta Mantegna, Martina Gresia, and Lorenzo Izzo. Sesto Quatrini {…}
This week, four complete operas, as well as an oratorio recording, will be available to stream. Here is a look. Otello After long delays, Sony Classical will finally release the full studio recording of Verdi’s masterpiece opera with Jonas Kaufmann singing the title role and Antonio Pappano conducting the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Soprano Federica Lombardi sings her {…}
This week, a slew of rarely performed works are set for release, including live recordings and some world premieres. La Nonne Sanglante Gounod’s rarely performed work gets a release from the Opera Comique. The new release, by Naxos, stars Vannina Santoni, Marion Lebègue, and Michael Spyres. Laurence Equilbey conducts the Insula Orchestra in David Bobee’s production from 2018. Jane Eyre Louis Karchin’s {…}
(Credit: Thomas Aurin/Arena di Verona) This weekend will feature the celebration of a major milestone for the living legend Plácido Domingo. But there are also a few fascinating productions around Europe (though to be fair, 80 percent of our choices are located in two countries) that you definitely have to check out if you have the chance. Médée – Salzburg Festival, {…}
It might not be a coincidence that Teatro Real decided to program the last theatrical composition of Strauss after the last one of Verdi. “Capriccio” was presented at the Teatro Real for the very first time, in a new production directed by Christof Loy. The performance also featured the debut of Malin Byström (Countess Madeleine), the baritone Josef Wagner (Count), {…}
While the holiday season might mean a slow-down of productions in some countries, there are still a plethora of opera productions for those so included. This weekend is dedicated to classic pieces in productions or featuring star casts. There is also one rarely performed work, that is intriguing as it is directed by one of the most acclaimed theaters in {…}