(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 {…}
(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, {…}
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 {…}
(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to listen to a tribute album to one of the greatest sopranos in history, two new DVDs and a soundtrack to one of this year’s most acclaimed films. The Distances Between SOMM Recordings releases “The Distances Between,” the second volume of songs – including 17 first recordings – by Stephen Dodgson marking the {…}
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Robert Howarth conducts Händel’s “Messiah.” Performance Date: Dec. 13, 2023 There will be an evening of Christmas Carols. Performance Date: Dec. 23, 2023 David Hill conducts Verdi’s Requiem. Performance Date: Feb. 28, 2024 Olga Kulchynska sings the title role of Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” alongside {…}
