(Credit: Javier de Real) Some operas carry the weight of national myth—and that weight can obstruct a purely musical experience. Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” is very much one of them. When it was first performed in Prague in 1866, the Czech nation had no state of its own, and this first opera in the Czech language became something far greater {…}
The Liceu Opera+ has announced its 2026-27 streaming season. The season opens with “Aida” with Anna Pirozzi, Ksenia Dudnikova, Piotr Beczała, and Igor Golovatenko. Shirin Neshat directs the production. Stream Date: Oct. 25, 2026 Adrian Noble directs Bellini’s “I Capuleti e I Montecchi” with Marko Mimica, Lisette Oropesa, Raffaella Lupinacci, and Iván Ayón Rivas. Stream Date: Nov. 22, 2026 Giacomo {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2026-27 season. Shirin Neshat directs Verdi’s “Aida” with four sopranos taking on the title role. Anna Netrebko, Anna Pirozzi, Olga Maslova, and Ewa Plonka star alongside Ekaterina Semenchuk, Ksenia Dudnikova, Fiorenza Cedolins, Yusif Eyvazov, Piotr Beczała, Arsen Soghomonyan, Artur Ruciński, Igor Golovatenko, Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar, Riccardo Fassi, George Andguladze, Manuel Fuentes, Alexander Köpeczi, {…}
Thomas Hampson and Pavel Černoch have withdrawn from performances of Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa” presented by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Lyric Opera. As a result, Hampson will be replaced by Patrick Carfizzi. Hampson also took to social media and said, “It is with profound frustration, depression, that I must cancel my week in Boston singing Barber’s ‘Vanessa’ due to {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is set to join forces with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Music Director Andris Nelsons to present a concert performance of Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa.” The performance will take place Jan. 8 & 10, 2026 at Symphony Hall with a cast that includes Jennifer Holloway in the title role of Vanessa, Samantha Hankey as Erika, {…}
(Photo credit: Tristram Kenton) Profane escapes scale heights heretical in offbeat tales. These contests of one-upmanship with God breed killers; lesser sinners stray with strangers. Dvořák’s unnamed “Spectre’s Bride” – the leading lady of his 1885 cantata – steals away with a dead demon. Four decades later a Chinese adventurer is robbed and killed in Bartók’s “The Miraculous Mandarin,” a {…}
The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances for the season. The Symphoniker Hamburg, alongside Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg and Knabenchor Hannover, perform Rufus Wainwright’s Dream Requiem. Mandy Fredrich and Isabelle Huppert are the soloists with Lucie Leguay conducting. Performance Date: August 22 & 23, 2025 Manuel Winckhler, Mauro Peter, Kathryn Lewek, Elsa Dreisig, Äneas {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Otello,” starring Brian Jadge, Jorge de León, and Angelo Villari in the title role. The cast includes Igor Golovatenko, Artur Ruciński, Gabriele Viviani, Airam Hernández, Asmik Grigorian, and Maria Agresta. Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Mentuccia conduct the production by David Alden. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
(Photo credits: Vedinaș, Behrmann, & Adjahoe) The George Enescu International Festival 2025 announces its star-studded lineup. This article only features vocal works. The opening concert features the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. Iosef Ion Prunner and Cristian Măcelaru conduct. Performance Date: August 24, 2025 Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen performs with the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra under the direction of Keri-lynn Wilson. {…}
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the vocal performance. Andris Nelsons conducts the opening night concert with Lang Lang and Gina Alice Redlinger as well as Susan Graham and Keila Wakao. The program includes music by Carlos Simon, Ravel, Canteloube, Saint-Saens, and Ravel. Performance Date: Sept. 19, 2024 Andris Nelsons conducts Mahler’s {…}
Conductor Andris Nelsons, in collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhausorchester have announced a Shostakovich Festival in Leipzig scheduled for 2025. From May 15-June 1, 2025, the conductor and ensembles will present all of the famed composer’s symphonic works, concertos, and other major works to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his passing. Additionally, there will be a third orchestra {…}