(Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski) The journey to Opera Lesna – literally translated as Forest Opera – is an experience in itself. From Gdansk by car, bike or bus, you arrive in the parking lot of the forest and have to make a a short pilgrimage to the site – yes, there is an unintended resemblance to approaching the hallowed halls of {…}
(Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski) What do you expect to find in a Polish forest? Chanterelles or blueberries, deer or foxes perhaps. But opera? That’s how it is in the forest of the seaside resort of Sopot, not far from Gdansk, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. And has been since 1909! Not continuously, but over and over, so much so {…}
(Photo credit: LA Opera, Karpati&Zarewicz) The Baltic Opera Festival has announced its 2024 season lineup. Liudmyla Monastyrska and Rafał Siwek perform the lead roles in “Turandot.” Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. Waldemar Zawodziński directs. Performance Dates: July 20 & 25, 2024 (Forest Opera in Sopot) Natalia Babińska’s production of Engelbert Humperdinck, “Hansel and Gretel” is next. The cast {…}
The Polish National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. New Opera Productions The first new production is Krzysztof Penderecki’s “The Black Mask” directed by David Pountney. Bassem Akiki conducts a cast that includes Jacek Laszczkowski, Natalia Rubiś, Katarzyna Drelich, Anna Lubańska, Szymon Rona, and Wojtek Gierlach. Performance Dates: Nov. 22-29, 2024 Ill-starred love is also the theme of Łukasz Godyla’s “Wòlô bòskô.” The cycle of {…}
One of the main events at this year’s Opera Forward Festival in Amsterdam was a Sophocles-inspired double bill featuring Stravinsky’s 1927 work “Oedipus Rex” and the world premiere of Samy Moussa’s new composition “Antigone.” Although neither piece is defined as an opera as such, both sit comfortably at home within the repertoire. “Oedipus Rex” is described as an opera-oratorio and {…}
(Photo credit: © Marta Syrko) The Dutch National Opera and Dutch National Ballet take the stage together for the world premiere of Wayne McGregor and Samy Moussa’s “Jocasta’s Line.” Choreographer and stage director McGregor along with composer Moussa combined the Greek tragedies “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone.” Moussa composed new music for “Antigone,” but will use Stravinsky’s original score, with the {…}
The Teatro Verdi Trieste has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the operas the theater will showcase. The season opens with Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in a production by Guy Monavon. Gianna Fratta conducts a cast that includes Lana Kos and Alessandra di Giorgio, Roberto Aronica, and Murat Karahan. Fernando Cisneros and Matteo Peirone also star. Performance Dates: Nov. {…}
The Teatro Lirico di Cagliari has announced its 2023 season. Cilea’s “Gloria” will star Ramaz Chikviladze, Mattia Denti, Anastasia Bartoli, Valentina Boi, Franco Vassallo, Ivan Inverardi, Carlo Ventre, and Denis Pivnitsky. Francesco Cilluffo conducts the production by Antonio Albanese. Performance Dates: Feb. 10-19, 2023 Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” will star Dave Monaco, Chuan Wang, Christian Senn, Andrea Vincenzo Bonsignore, Giulio Mastrototaro, {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring new productions, new voices, films, and a festival dedicated to Orpheus. Productions Zemlinsky’s “Der Zwerg” opens the season in a new production by Nanouk Leopold. Lorenzo Viotti conducts the opera which is set to star Clay Hilley in the title role, Olga Kulchynska as Donna Clara, Annette Dasch as Ghita, {…}
The Dutch National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring new productions and a number of world premieres. Boito’s “Mefistofele” opens the season with a new production by Tatjana Gürbaca. Marco Armiliato conducts the production with Christian Van Horn in the title role, Charles Castronovo, Olga Busuioc, and Guanqun Yu. Performance Dates: Sept. 5-24, 2020 Paula Murrihy, Sandrine Piau, Tuomas {…}
Anna Netrebko has announced via Twitter that opera fans will soon be able to tune into broadcasts of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” from Arena di Verona. The broadcasts will take place on Jul. 13 at 6:30 p.m. (via 3sat), Jul 14 at 10:15 p.m. (via ZDF), and Jul 20 at 10:20 p.m. (via France Télévisions). Netrebko stars as Leonora alongside Yusif Eyvazov {…}