(Photo: Bart Grietens) Dutch National Opera opened its 2026 season with a double bill centered on infidelity and adultery. Written close together in the late 19th century and later combined into a single evening, both short operas share a foundation of love, betrayal, and honor killings. Their shared history also includes triumphant premieres, set to gorgeous, Puccini-like music that remains {…}
On Sept. 5, the Dutch National Opera is set to open its 2025-26 season with the double bill “Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo and “Cavalleria rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni. The production by Robert Carsen will be revived with Italian conductor Andrea Battistoni leading the two verismo masterpieces. The production will showcase Raehann Bryce-Davis returning to Amsterdam for her role debut as {…}
(Photo: Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Studios) On the surface, this production of “Das Lied von der Erde” as a drama is an interesting idea. Mahler wrote no operas, but “The Song of the Earth” is the closest one gets. Schoenberg’s arrangement is also a hidden gem that fits the inauguration of Boston Lyric Opera’s new music hall perfectly (a small but {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. Angel Blue headlines Floyd’s “Susannah” alongside Rod Gilfry, Bille Bruley, Aaron Blake, Deborah Nansteel, and Malcolm MacKenzie. James Gaffigan conducts Patricia Racette’s production. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-Nov. 8, 20-26 Matthew Polenzani headlines Gounod’s “Faust” with Pretty Yende, Ildebrando d’Arcangelo, Sean Michael Plumb, and Sun-Ly Pierce. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana” will be conducted by Andrea Battistoni. Leoncavallo’s work will star Corinne Winters, Riccardo Massi, Roman Burdenko, and Hubert Zapiór while Mascagni’s will star Raehann Bryce-Davis, SeokJong Baek, Enkelejda Shkoza, Roman Burdenko, and Maria Warenberg. Performance Dates: Sept. 5 – 23, 2026 Shostakovich’s “Cherry Town” will {…}
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season. here is a look at the vocal performances. Kwamé Ryan and Raehann Bryce-Davis team up for a program of works by Carlos Simon, Mahler, and Schubert. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-25, 2026 Aram Demirjian conducts Händel’s “Messiah.” Performance Dates: Dec. 4-6, 2026 Kwamé Ryan conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The program also {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Norman Garrett headlines Verdi’s “Macbeth” with Alexandra LoBianco, David Junghoon Kim, and Zaikuan Song. David Angus conducts the production by Steve Maler. Performance Dates: Oct. 10 & 12, 2025 Christine Goerke and Morris Robinson lead Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” with David Angus conducting. Performance Dates: Nov. 12, 2025 Andris Nelsons conducts the {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to see a complete recording of Verdi’s early masterpiece with one of the most important baritones of today. There is also a debut album but one of today’s primadonnas and an experimental debut album by an esteemed mezzo. {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Mainstage Productions The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” in Francesca Zambello’s production. Kwamé Ryan conducts with Jennifer Rowley starring in the leading role. She is joined by Adam Smith, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Agnieszka Rehlis, Shenyang, and Morris Robinson. Amber R. Monroe and Robert Watson also star in the lead roles. Performance Dates: {…}
(Photo: Marc Brenner/Royal Ballet & Opera) Entombing doom in monochrome, director Robert Carsen’s 2022 production of “Aïda” buries its protagonists before they’re dead. Façades of forced conformity define it – popping through parades of khaki uniforms, authentic footage of exploding bombs and regimented training. A fictitious flag that features stars and stripes across red, white and blue confirm its commentary {…}
The Royal Ballet and Opera has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The company said that Raehann Bryce-Davis will replace the originally announced Ekaterina Semenchuk. For her part, Bryce-Davis took to social media and said, “Aaaand, it’s official! I’ll be jumping into a run of Aida at the Royal Ballet and Opera singing my beloved Amneris. {…}