The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2025 season. The 46th edition of the event will take place from August 10 to 22, 2025. Operas The festival will open with a new production of “Zelmira,” conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti. The production will be directed by Spanish director Calixto Bieito, making his debut in Pesaro. Pretty Yende stars in the title {…}
(Photo by Manon Leprevost) On Dec. 7, a concert will be held to commemorate the reopening of Notre Dame. The showcase commences at 9 p.m. local time and will feature numerous classical music stars, including several opera superstars. Among them are Pretty Yende, Nadine Sierra, Benjamin Bernheim, and Julie Fuchs, all regulars of the Opéra National de Paris. Also on {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper is set to present a new production of Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment.” The new production will be directed by Damiano Michieletto, who is returning to the Bayerische Staatsoper after his acclaimed “Aida.” The show centers on the search for one’s own identity and Michieletto explains, “The story moves between two levels – nature and the city. Nature {…}
Acte 4 has announced its 2024-25 season. This article only features vocal works. Sopranos Emőke Baráth and Lauranne Oliva, countertenor Tim Mead, tenor Robin Tritschler, and baritone Benjamin Appl are soloists in Handel’s “Messiah.” They are joined by The Spiritual Concert orchestra and choir and directed by Hervé Niquet. Performance Dates: December 11, 2024 Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre sings Sapho, Iphise and Eglé {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2025 season. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” with Riccardo Frizza conducting a cast that includes Carmen Giannattasio, Angelo Villari, and Claudio Sgura. Paul Curran directs. Another cast includes Ann Petersen, Amadi Lagha, and Gustavo Castillo. Performance Dates: Jan. 24-30, 2025 Jessica Pratt, Giovanni Sala, Marko Mimica, and Lucas Meachem lead Donizetti’s {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s 2024-25 live in HD series is set to open with Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” The opera will be shown in HD on Oct. 5 with Benjamin Bernheim taking on the lead role. The HD will mark his second following his acclaimed run of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.” He will be joined by {…}
“Puccini: Love Affairs” is Sony Classical’s response to the marketing of the centenary of the Lucchese composer’s death. Sadly, instead of a complete opera recording, it is yet another compilation (in the fullest sense!) of familiar duets, and an aria from “Tosca” and “La Bohème” each. Jonas Kaufmann – its titular singer – represents the main selling point. The German {…}
The Metropolitan Opera season is only one week away and with a new season comes anticipated new productions and revivals and will showcase some of the world’s best singers. So without further ado here are OperaWire’s most anticipated productions of the 2024-25 season. Ainadamar As listed in the 10 operas to see this fall, the Osvaldo Golijov is one of {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will get to hear one of the great tenors of his generation alongside some of the greatest sopranos in one album dedicated to Puccini. There are also world premiere recordings of new works and one debut album. Here is a {…}
(Credit: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino) The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced its 2025 season. Stefano Ranzani conducts a production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” by Davide Livermore. Celso Albelo, Daniel Luis de Vicente, Leon Kim, Olga Peretyatko, Alessio Cacciamani, and Eleonora Filipponi star. Performance Dates: Feb. 16-23, 2025 Michele Spotti conducts Bellini’s “Norma” in a production by Moshe Leisier and Patrice Caurier. Jessica Pratt, {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has announced his new album entitled “Puccini: Love Affairs.” The new record will be released on Sept. 13 by Sony Classical and will feature several duets from the composer. In a statement, Kaufmann said, “For my latest album, I had the pleasure of collaborating with some of today’s leading sopranos to celebrate Puccini’s centenary year. What really appealed {…}