(Photo: © Eric Bouloumier) From May 16 to 23, the Opéra de Bordeaux presents Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio,” directed by Valentina Carrasco. There are a lot of naïveté in this production. The director sets the drama in the final days of the Occupation in France. The back of the stage is used as a screen to show images of the Occupation {…}
The Opéra National de Bordeaux has announced a cast change for its concert on Oct. 27, 2022. The company noted that due to health reasons Ekaterina Semenchuk will not be able to perform at the concert. As a result, Marina Prudenskaya has agreed to replace Semenchuk on short notice. Prudenskaya will join conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson in a program that includes {…}
Natalie Dessay is in the running to be one of the successors to the Opéra National de Bordeaux’s general director Marc Minkowski. Per Díapason Magazine in France, the soprano is being considered to take on the position of general director when Minkowski’s contract expires in 2022. Per the report, other candidates being considered include Eric Blanc de la Naulte, who {…}
(Credit: Irina Arkhipova Foundation) Russian tenor Vladislav Piavko has died at the age of 79. Piavko began his career as a student at the Moscow Conservatory before continuing his studies in Milan. The tenor performed major roles at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow for over 25 years, including the role of Radames in Verdi’s “Aida” and Manrico in “Il Trovatore;” {…}
(Credit: Eric Bouloumié) After months of closure, the Opéra de Bordeaux opens its 2020-21 season with a modified production of Verdi’s beloved “La Traviata.” The masterpiece will get a starry cast including Rachel Willis-Sørensen, who makes her role debut as Violetta. Since her win at the Operalia competition in 2014, Willis-Sørensen has become well known for her lush sound and {…}
The Opéra National de Bordeaux in France has announced its 2020-21 season featuring five operas and several recitals and concerts. Opera Paul Daniel conducts a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” by Pierre Rambert. Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Elbenita Kajtazi alternate the role of Violetta with Benjamin Bernheim and Kevin Amiel as Alfredo and Lionel Lhote and Anthony Clark-Evans as Germont. {…}
After French government banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people to contain the coronavirus, French theaters are responding in different ways. Some theaters have announced temporary closure while others will continue performances at this time. The Philharmonie de Paris announced that concerts through March 22 scheduled in the Grande Salle Pierre Boulez will be canceled. Among the performances include concerts {…}
(Credit Nick Tucker) Adam Smith is set to sing the title role in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” in the Opera de Bordeaux’s production. The company announced that due to health reasons, Eric Cutler had to withdraw from the production. As a result, Smith will replace him. The production will mark Smith’s debut with the company. The 2018-19 season saw the rising {…}
The Opéra de Bordeaux has announced its 2019-20 season featuring numerous new productions, great stars and a number of acclaimed recitals. Eric Cutler and Adam Smith share the title role in Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” with Jessica Pratt singing the four heroines, Nicolas Cavallier as the four villains, and Aude Extrémo as Nicklausse. Marc Minkowski conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 19-Oct. 1, 2019 Marianne Crebassa {…}
The Opera de Bordeaux has announced its 2018-19 season featuring six productions, recitals and a number of concert performances of diverse repertoire for opera lovers. The season will also include a number of international opera singers making role debuts and anticipated debuts. Here is a look. Operas Bordeaux opens a new production of Offenbach’s “La Perichole” with Aude Extremo in the {…}