With the holiday season returning, the Bach Collegium Japan has announced that it will continue its annual tradition of presenting Händel’s “Messiah” at Suntory Hall on Dec. 24, 2024. The showcase will be conducted once more by Masaaki Suzuki and features soprano Rachel Nicholls, countertenor Alexander Chance, tenor Makato Sakurada, and bass Toru Kaku. Nicholls worked with the Bach Collegium {…}
Korean National Opera is set to present “Die Tote Stadt” on May 23-26, 2024 at the Seoul Arts Center. For performances on May 23 and 25, audiences will see Roberto Sacca, Rachel Nicholls, and Antonio Yang. For the May 24 and 26 showcases, the cast will be headlined by James Lee, Mi-Seon Oh, and Insik Choi. Participating in both casts {…}
The Royal Philharmonic has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Daniel Hyde conducts Mozart’s “Requiem” with Rachel Nicholls, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Michael Lafferty, and Thomas Humphreys. The program also includes music by Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Performance Date: Nov. 12, 2024 at Cadogan Hall John Rutter conducts the Bach Choir in a Christmas Celebration. Performance Date: {…}
(Photo: Marc Brenner) “Tristan und Isolde” isn’t an opera generally known for its laughs. Indeed, sniggers from the audience generally indicates that something has gone drastically wrong in the direction department with this particular work. But in the this new production from Grange Park Opera, just outside of London, a sprinkling of giggles and smiles are testament to the zippy {…}
(Credit: David Shoukry) The Longborough Festival Opera has announced a cast change for Korngold’s “Die tote Stadt.” The company noted that soprano Noa Danon withdrew from the production due to illness. As a result, soprano Rachel Nicholls will make her role debut as Marie / Marietta in the festival’s forthcoming production. Nicholls returns to the festival after having performed the role {…}
(Credit: © Tristram Kenton) It is some 20 years since ENO saw a complete “Ring.” Over the next few years they launch a new production, beginning with “The Valkyrie,” reverting next year to “Das Rheingold,” and then on. It is a bold undertaking to launch a new “Ring” in these challenging times for opera, with no little financial and artistic {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera official website) The Metropolitan Opera House will stage Wagner’s epic tetralogy “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in a brand new production by the British theatre and opera director Richard Jones. Per an article from the New York Times, the Metropolitan Opera House will begin presenting Jones’ production in 2025, and will produce full cycles by the end of {…}
Opera North has announced new live performances. The company will present Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” which will be the first large-scale production for over a year as the Company builds back towards a fuller program of public events. The production will be staged by Matthew Eberhardt and conducted by Paul Daniel. The cast will include Rachel Nicholls as Leonore, Toby Spence as Florestan, {…}
(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony / Rachel Harnisch official website / LA Opera official website / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website) Stadtcasino Basel has announced its 2020-21 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is the full rundown. Baritone Christian Gerhaher will perform works by Schoeck, Moser, and Schubert. Heinz Holliger conducts {…}
(Credit: Michael Orenstein / Chris Singer) The Aldeburgh Festival has unveiled its 2020 festival, which will take place between June 12-28, 2020. The festival will open at Bury St. Edmund’s Abbey with a concert that features such artists and ensembles as Britten Sinfonia, Allan Clayton, Ian Bostridge, Clare Hammond and Ryan Wigglesworth, among others. The concert will feature the world {…}
Oper Frankfurt’s new season is massive. It is loaded up with over a dozen new productions and even more revivals. Premieres Damiano Michieletto directs a new production of Rossini’s “Otello” starring Enea Scala in the title role, Karolina Makuła as Desdemona, Theo Lebow as Iago, and Jack Swanson as Rodrigo. Sesto Quatrini conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 8-Oct. 20, 2019 Asmik Grigorian sings {…}