(Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning) The Buxton International Festival has unveiled its 2025 season. This article features opera and choral events only. A full cast list will be announced at a later date. Ambroise Thomas’ “Hamlet” stars Gregory Feldmann in the title role. He is joined by Alastair Miles, Yewon Han, Richard Woodall, and Allison Cook, among others. Jack Furness directs {…}
(Photo credit: Sean O’Riordan) The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival unveils programming for its 15th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, only vocal works are featured. Recitals & Mainstage Performances Festival artists and the Discover Singing Children’s Choir perform in the opening ceremony. Performance Date: May 27, 2025 (Lismore Millennium Park) Purcell’s “Dido And Aeneas” is presented by mezzo-soprano {…}
(Photo: Vincent Pontet) Certainly a hidden gem of the mainstream operatic repertoire, Leoš Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” is one of the most lovable pieces of musical theater ever composed. Its lyrical music, melancholic charm, and even lack of dialogue make this opera hard to resist. Paris Opera’s revival of the work has all the elements needed to succeed: Nicky {…}
(Photo credit: Sean O’Riordan) Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has announced its the line up for its 2025 season. From May 26 to June 2, the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival will present opera productions, concerts, educational events, and more. In total there will be 23 events and concerts held in 12 historic venues across the Blackwater Valley. Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s {…}
(Photo credit: Mark Allan) The English Concert announces the details of its spring 2025 spring season. Soprano Lucy Crowe performs a program of works by Handel and Corelli, under the baton of The English Concert’s founder, Trevor Pinnock. Performance Date: January 30, 2025 (Wigmore Hall) Up next sopranos Isabel Schicketanz and Joanna Songi, mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot, tenor Samuel Boden, and {…}
The Opéra de Rouen Normandie has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Joyce El-Khoury stars in Verdi’s “Aida” alongside Adam Smith, Alisa Kolosova, Adolfo Corrado, and Nikoloz Lagvilava. Pierre Bleuse conducts the production by Philipp Himmelmann. Performance Dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2024 Sally Matthews, John Findon, Paula Murrihy, and Caroline Wettergreen headline Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” with Ben Glassberg. The production {…}
The Irish National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The company will open with a double bill featuring “Mary Motorhead” and “Trade.” Naomi Louisa O’Connell, Oisin O’Dalaigh, and John Molloy star in the production. Elaine Kelly conducts and Tom Creed directs. Performance Date: August 8–Oct. 23, 2024 Paula Murrihy and David Portillo lead Berlioz’s “Béatrice and Bénédict,” alongside Anna Devin, {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr. The production will star Krzysztof Bączyk, Bekhzod Davronov, Marjukka Tepponen, and Martina Gedeck. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 24, 2024 Richard Strauss’s “Intermezzo” will be conducted by Patrick Hahn and directed by Axel Ranisch. The cast will include Maria {…}
Photo: © Marco Borrelli Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” is one of those operas that is larger than life. Arguably, two operas in one night. Everything sounds like the realization of romanticism’s epic promise and showcases the musicians’ talents overflowing in the hall. It is hard to not expect a lot from a performance of Berlioz’s opera with a revolutionary and Romantique {…}
Photo Credit: Curtis Brown Santa Fe Opera’s production of Nico Muhly’s “Orfeo” will be available for broadcast on Classical Public Radio KHFM for unlimited streaming from August 29 to Sept. 29, 2023. Muhly’s new orchestration of Monteverdi’s opera received its premiere on July 29, 2023. This radio broadcast features tenor Rolando Villazón in the title role, with Lauren Snouffer and {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2024 season. Conductor Corrado Rovaris conducts Louisa Muller’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The cast includes Mané Galoyan, Bekhzod Davronov, and Carlos Arámbula. Performance Dates: June 28-August 24, 2024 Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will be conducted by Harry Bicket. Stephen Barlow directs the production with Ryan Speedo Green, Teresa Perrotta, Rachael Wilson, David Portillo, Nicholas Newton, {…}