Pavol Breslik & Karita Mattila Highlight Janáček Brno Festival’s 2020 Season

The Janáček Brno Festival has announced its 2020 edition and confirmed it will begin as planned. For the purposes of this article, we have only focused on the vocal performances. Robert Carsen directs Leoš Janáček’s “Destiny” with a cast that includes Alžběta Poláčková and Szilvia Rálik. Marko Ivanović conducts the opening night opera. “Destiny,” created especially for the Janáček Opera, {…}

Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau & Elīna Garanča Highlight Opéra de Paris’s 2020-21 Season

The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions revivals. Here is a look. Domingo Hindoyan and Keri-Lynn Wilson lead performances of Bizet’s “Carmen” with Clémentine Margaine, Elīna Garanča, and Varduhi Abrahamyan sharing the title role and Vittorio Grigolo and Charles Castronovo as Don José. Adam Plachetka and Lucas Meachem alternate as Escamillo, {…}

Lisette Oropesa, Michael Volle & Diana Damrau Highlight Opernhaus Zürich’s 2020-21 Season

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2020-21 season with 13 new productions and a number of international stars. Premiere  Michael Volle sings the title role in a new production of Mussorgky’s “Boris Godunov” by Barrie Kosky. Lina Dambrauskaité, Irène Friedli, John Daszak, Konstantin Shushakov, Brindley Sherratt, Edgaras Montvidas, Oksana Volkova, Johannes Martin Kränzle, and Wenwei Zhang also star. Kirill Karabits {…}

Rolando Villazón, René Pape, Anja Harteros Highlight Semperoper Dresden’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Jiyang Chen / Marco Borggreve) The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2020-21 season featuring seven new operatic productions and a number of revivals. Here is a look at the operatic productions. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell,” written by de Jouy and Bis. The new production by Georg Schmiedleitner will star Christoph {…}

Watch Marina Rebeka in Vienna State Opera’s Live Stream of ‘Eugene Onegin’

The Vienna State Opera will live stream Tchaikovsky’s ”Eugene Onegin” on Nov. 26, 2019. The opera will showcase soprano Marina Rebeka as Tatiana, Boris Pinkhasovich in the title role, Ferruccio Furlanetto as his signature Gremin, Pavol Breslik in his noted interpretation of Lensky, and Margarita Griskova as Olga. The Falk Richter production will be conducted by Michael Güttler. The stream {…}

Staatsoper Berlin 2019-20 Review: Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor

(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor,” like the vast majority of Singspiele, is not well-known outside the German-speaking world. Even in its native Germany, it’s mounted infrequently. Its story, however, is almost universally known. Like Verdi’s “Falstaff,” it’s closely based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” A few details are Germanized: Alice Ford becomes Frau Fluth, and her {…}

Ermonela Jaho & Marlis Petersen Lead Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend Internationally (7/5-7)

(Credit: Javier del Real/Teatro Real, Bayerische Staatsoper, Prudence Upton/Opera Australia) This weekend will showcase numerous leading divas and a number of new productions that will entice opera lovers. Here is a look. Anna Bolena – Opera Australia, Australia Ermonela Jaho takes on the title role in Donizetti’s demanding opera. She is joined by Leonardo Cortellazzi, Carmen Topciu, and Teddy Tahu Rhodes and conductor Renato {…}