The Opera de Paris is officially reopening to the public on May 19. In a message, General Director Alexander Neef said, “As rehearsals for our productions have continued over the past few weeks despite the health crisis, we are able to offer you a varied program at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, as well as at the Théâtre {…}
(Credit: https://www.paris-normandie.fr/) French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot has been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19. Per sources of French newspaper “Libération,” Bachelot attended a closed performance of Gounod’s “Faust” at Opéra National de Paris on Friday, March 18, the day before her symptoms developed. The opera will be streamed on March 26, 2021. Bachelot initially developed breathing problems, but then her symptoms {…}
In lieu of the recent postponement of its 2020-21 season opening, the Opéra National de Paris has announced that it will be streaming several works that were originally set to open its new season. First up, the company will stream Verdi’s “La Traviata” in Simon Stone’s modern take. Pretty Yende and Benjamin Bernheim headline the famed opera. Audiences will also {…}
(Photo: Oleg Laptev) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. The choice of topics discussed, how they are researched, and how they are portrayed is conducted independently of OperaWire’s editors. First, I’ll say, that the {…}
The Opera de Paris has announced cast changes for its upcoming concert performances of The Ring Cycle. The company announced that Jonas Kaufmann and Eva-Maria Westbroek will no longer perform the roles of Siegmund and Sieglinde and as a result, they will be replaced by Lise Davidsen and Stuart Skelton. Davidsen recently performed her first Sieglinde at the Deutsche Oper {…}
Alexander Neef, Managing Director of the Opera de Paris, has released a statement following France’s latest lockdown. In a press release Neef said, “Following the Government’s decision to close establishments receiving the public as of midnight on Oct. 30, and for a period of a month, the Paris Opera is unfortunately compelled, once again, to alter its programs and activities. {…}
(Credits: Andreas Schager official website / Polina Plotnikova) The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that heldentenor Andreas Schager and Russian bass Alexander Vinogradov will take part in the New Year Gala concert on Jan. 2, 2021. Schager and Vinogradov will join a cast that includes Sara Jakubiak, Anna Pirozzi, Aigul Akhmetshina, and Amartuvshin Enkhbat. The Australian-born Kapellmeister of the Deutsche {…}
(Credit: © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical) Famed tenor Jonas Kaufmann will give an exclusive recital at the Teatro alla Scala on Oct. 22, 2020. For this occasion, Kaufmann will partner with his longtime collaborator, pianist Helmut Deutsch. The program reflects the tenor’s personal choice of repertoire, much of it has been featured on Kaufmann’s latest album Selige Stunde. The {…}
The Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that tenor Charles Castronovo will take over the singing part of the role of Nadir in a performance of Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles,” replacing tenor Pavol Breslik. Breslik will still appear onstage, acting the role of Nadir. Castronovo will join a cast that includes Olga Peretyatko, Alfredo Daza and Paul Gay. Victorien {…}
(Credit: Opéra National de Paris) The Opéra National de Paris has announced that it will come up with the plan of redesigned performances, following the order by the French President Emmanuel Macron to impose an overnight curfew in Paris and eight other cities in the country. “The decision that was announced yesterday will have important consequences for the performances of {…}
(Credit: Karina Schwarz/DG) The Berliner Philharmoniker has announced that the recital of mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča that was scheduled for Nov. 10 2020, had to be cancelled. Per an official statement on the Berliner Philharmoniker’s website, the reason for the cancellation is the quarantine requirement when entering Germany from the risk areas. Germany’s official health regulatory body Robert Koch Institute evaluates {…}