(Photo: Xiomara Bender) Being one of his most fascinating works, Handel’s “Ottone” was famous in its day as a massive box-office hit. It also served as the vehicle for legendary singer Francesca Cuzzoni’s London debut. The famous story between her and Handel during the rehearsal is unforgettable. Yet today, it rarely gets the stage share awarded to “Giulio Cesare” or {…}
(Photo: Simon von Rompay) Anyone fortunate enough to have been present at La Monnaie for the world premiere of Iain Bell and Lydia Steier’s “Medusa” would have left the theater with little doubt that communing with the gods of Ancient Greece is something that should be avoided at all costs. To say that they are an egotistical, self-serving bunch of hedonists that {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2026-27 season, marking Intendant Bernd Loebe’s 25th season with the company. New Productions Karsten Januschke conducts Tchaikovsky’s “Mazeppa” in a Frankfurt premiere, directed by Matthew Wild with set and costume designs by Herbert Murauer. Petr Sokolov, Nombulelo Yende, Alexander Roslavets, Mikhail Pirogov, Karolina Makuła, Jarrett Porter, Jihun Hong, and Kudaibergen Abildin make up the cast. {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2026 season. Here are the vocal performances. The festival opens on with pianist Yunchan Lim and tenor Thomas Atkins joining Dalia Stasevska and the BBC Symphony Orchestra for music by Ravel, Copland, Gershwin and Finzi. There will also be a world premiere by Josephine Stephenson. Performance Date: July 17, 2026 Gianandrea Noseda leads Beethoven’s Symphony {…}
(Photo credit: BMF) The Beijing Music Festival announces the details of its 28th festival. This article only features vocal concerts. Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen sings the title role in The English Concert’s production of Handel’s “Rinaldo.” Mary Bevan, Paula Murrihy, Alexander Chance, Ashley Riches, Rachael Wilson, and Andy Shen Liu round out the cast. Harry Bicket serves as conductor and harpsichordist. {…}
(Photo: John D Kelly) With its intimate space and reflective ambiance, St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore proved to be the ideal venue for the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s performance of Purcell’s chamber opera, “Dido and Aeneas.” Seating approximately 350 to 400 people, the cathedral allowed the audience to enjoy a very personal and close-up experience of the composer’s masterpiece. A {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, two albums celebrating Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau will be released. There is also a legendary recording from teh Wiener Staatsoper which will be released. Audiences can also check out several recordings featuring unknown composers. Chant in a Wail Navona releases composer and tenor {…}
The Hessische Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Gershwin’s “Summertime” will star Fleuranne Brockway, Inna Fedorii, Hovhannes Karapetyan, Josefine Mindus, Alyona Rostovskaya, Joshua Sanders, and Camille Sherman. Leo McFall conducts. Premiere Date: August 30, 2025 Menotti’s “The Telephone” will be performed in a double bill with Monteverdi’s “Il combattimento.” Tim Hawken conducts the production by Kilian Bohnensack. Premiere {…}
La Monnaie de Mont has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Falstaff” starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role, Lionel Lhote, Bogdan Volkov, Sally Matthews, Benedetta Torres, and Daniela Barcellona. Alain Altinoglu and Ouri Bronchti alternate and Laurent Pelly directs the new production. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 9, 2025 Ricard Soler Mallol and Grey Filastine showcase {…}
(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 {…}