(Credit: Elena Cherkashyna) The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its production of “Manon.” The company noted that Pretty Yende will take over the title role of “Manon“ in the performance on Feb. 4, 2022. Yende most recently starred in Hamburg’s production of “La Traviata” and previously performed the title role of “Manon” at the Paris Opera. This season {…}
After struggling with the general rise in COVID infections, the Palau de Les Arts managed to lift its curtain to present “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on the 23rd of January, after cancelling the original premiere date of January 20th. Expectations were high, as this production used one of the most complete critical editions (by M. Kaye & J.C. Keck), which contains {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, which represents the 100th anniversary of the organization. To that effect, the company will aim to honor its history as just the third American opera company to ever reach the centennial milestone. The season will kick off with an “Opera Ball – The Centennial Celebration” which will feature such performers as Nadine {…}
On Jan. 1 the Teatro La Fenice is set to televise the New Year’s Eve concert. The concert, which will be presented on WDR + ARTE DE and ARTE FR, will be conducted by Fabio Luisi and will star Pretty Yende and Brian Jagde. The evening will showcase the orchestra performing Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No 9 in e minor in the first {…}
(Credit: Festival de Saint-Denis official website) The Festival de Saint-Denis has announced its 2022 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Selene Zanetti, mezzo-soprano Marianna Pizzolato, tenor Xabier Anduaga, and bass Gianluca Buratto perform Mozart’s “Ave Verum” and Rossini’s “Stabat Mater” alongside conductor Myung-Whun Chung, the Chœur de Radio France, and {…}
(Credit: Riga Jurmala Music Festival) The Riga Jurmala Music Festival has announced its 2022 slate. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Soprano Pretty Yende, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, tenor Julien Prégardien, and bass René Pape perform Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626. The rest of a program features Sibelius’ Symphony No. 4 {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera House official website) The Royal Opera House has announced multiple cast changes for its upcoming productions of Puccini’s “Tosca,” Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” Per an official press release, Oksana Lyniv will conduct the full run of Tosca in 2021, replacing Francesco Ivan Ciampa who was due to conduct the performances on Dec. 11, 14 & {…}
(Credit: Chorégies d’Orange official website) Les Chorégies d’Orange Festival has announced its 2022 slate, featuring two operas and international stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on vocal performances only. Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” spotlights René Barbera as Nemorino, Andrzej Filończyk as Belcore, Erwin Schrott as Dulcamara, Anna Nalbandiants as Giannetta, and Pretty Yende as Adina. Giacomo Sagripanti {…}
PBS has announced that it will start broadcasting two Great Performances at the Met this December and January. First up will “Bryn Terfel & Friends in Concert,” which will premiere on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 at 12 p.m. on New York’s THIRTEEN. The concert, which was recorded in December 2020 will feature the famed bass-baritone as he performs holiday favorites {…}
(Credit: Karin Cooper) During the Washington National Opera’s 2021-22 season Opening Night gala, the company announced that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family honored her love for the Washington National Opera with a gift of her piano. The gift also included the costume worn for her appearance in a WNO’s production of Donizetti’s “La fille du régiment” in 2016. The company was {…}
(Credit: Scott Suchman) On Nov. 6, the Washington National Opera opened its 2021-22 in celebratory fashion by showcasing a gala with five international artists. But it wasn’t just any old gala, it was particularly themed and carefully constructed. The evening was divided into three parts – the arts celebrating the return of opera and the artistic world after gloomy days {…}