Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Diana Damrau, Rolando Villazon, Asmik Grigorian, Ludovic Tézier, Jonathan Tetelman, Serena Sáenz & Sondra Radvanovsky Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2025-26 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}

Feb 6, 2025

Federica Lombardi, Emily D’Angelo, Rosa Feola & Adam Plachetka Lead Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’

The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive “Le Nozze di Figaro” for 13 performances. The opera will be conducted by Joana Mallwitz, who makes her company debut and will showcase Richard Eyre’s production. There will be two casts for the work, the first of which showcases Federica Lombardi, Olga Kulchynska, Sun-Ly Pierce, Joshua Hopkins, and Michael Sumel. The second cast {…}

Dec 26, 2024

Royal Opera House 2024-25 Review: La Bohème

(Photo: Puccini’s most beloved masterpiece is a feast at any time of the year, but as a Christmas treat, promises to deliver many gifts. Alas, like ALL gifts, some are more desirable than others; some special, some expected and some unwanted. As is the case with this fifth revival of Richard Jones’s classic 2017 production, where some presents are more {…}

Aug 21, 2024

Carnegie Hall Announces ‘Concert for the Children and Youth of Ukraine’

(Credit: Courtesy of Carnegie Hall) Carnegie Hall has announced a “Concert for the Children and Youth of Ukraine: A Benefit for Direct Relief.” The concert, which will be held on Oct. 23 at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, will showcase the Orchestra for Ukraine conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. The evening will include soloists violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, soprano Olga Kulchynska, {…}

Jul 8, 2024

Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón & Piotr Beczała Lead ‘Masters of Classic’s’ First Season

A new festival, “Masters of Classic,” will celebrate its first year in Bucharest, Romania with a star-studded lineup. The festival will occur between Sept. 1 and 15, 2024 at the Sala Palatului and the National Opera House in Bucharest. For this article, vocal performances will be emphasized. The season opens with Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov performing in concert. Performance {…}

Apr 30, 2024

Royal Opera House 2023-24 Review: Carmen

(Credit: Camilla Greenwell) At the very opening of Damiano Michieletto’s new production of “Carmen,” I was struck by a very vivid sense of déjà vu! Before the curtain rises, a very sombre, spectral lady enters the stage, dressed in black with lace mantilla. For a brief instant, I thought I was back, four days PREVIOUSLY in the same house, where {…}

Apr 25, 2024

Aigul Akhmentshina Headlines the Royal Opera House’s ‘Carmen’ in Cinemas

The Royal Opera House is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” in cinemas on May 1, 2024. The company will showcase the new production by Damiano Michieletto and will star Aigul Akhmentshina in the title role. She will be joined by Piotr Beczala as Don José, Kostas Smoriginas as Escamillo, and Olga Kulchynska as Micaëla. The cast will be rounded out by Blaise {…}

Feb 19, 2024

Aigul Akhmetshina & Vasilisa Berzhanskaya Lead Royal Opera House’s New ‘Carmen’

The Royal Opera House is set to perform a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” directed by Damiano Michieletto. The opera will be performed between April 5 and May 31, 2024 and will be broadcast on May 1, 2024 in the cinema theatres of over 50 countries. Micheieletto has directed three other productions at the Royal Opera House including “Guillaume Tell {…}

Feb 17, 2024

Roberto Alagna, Elena Pankratova, Christine Goerke & Aleksandra Kurzak Lead Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Turandot’

The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “Turandot” for 17 performances. The production will showcase Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv in her Met debut with two casts. The first cast will feature Elena Pankratova in the title role opposite tenor SeokJong Baek as Calàf. They will be joined by Aleksandra Kurzak as Liù and Vitalij Kowaljow {…}

Oct 15, 2023

Metropolitan Opera 2023-24 Review: La Bohème

Photo: ©Met Opera press Metropolitan Opera is presenting Puccini’s “La Bohème” with set designs by the masterful Franco Zeffirelli for its 2023-24 season run with a total of 18 performances which began on October 10th, continuing through January 3, 2024. The season opener marked the 1,347th performance at the opera house, and in order to not get lost in the {…}

Sep 12, 2023

Federica Lombardi & Anita Hartig Lead Metropolitan Opera’s ‘La Bohème’

The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Puccini’s “La Bohème” for 18 performances in the fall and winter. The opera, which is set to run between Oct. 10 and Jan. 13, will first star Federica Lombardi in the lead role alongside Matthew Polenzani, Olga Kulchynska, and Adam Plachetka. The cast also includes Sean Michael Plumb in his Met role debut as {…}