Klangvokal Music Festival Dortmund 2026 Review: Les Boréades

(Photo: Oliver Hitzegrad) A volatile world of sonic storms, earthquakes, and lightning flashes (forces of nature tightly bound to dangerous political subversion) was completely locked away when Jean-Philippe Rameau’s last opera, “Les Boréades,” was abruptly shelved in 1763. Paranoid of the libretto’s Masonic undercurrents, French royal censorship chose to suppress an extraordinary amount of musical energy. The score’s modern resurrection {…}

May 8, 2026

Elionor Martínez, Sabrina Gárdez, Matthias Goerne & Kathleen O’Mara Lead’s L’Auditori’s 2026-27 Season

L’Auditori in 2026–2027 in Barcelona has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the New York Philharmonic and Orfeó Català in music by Adams, Zosha Di Castri, and Prokofiev. Performance Date: Oct. 12, 2026 Lina Johnson and Matthias Winckhler perform Brahms’ “German Requiem” under the direction of Jordi Savall. Performance Date: Oct. {…}

May 8, 2026

Juan Diego Flórez, Nadine Sierra, René Pape, Cecilia Bartoli, Franco Fagioli, Josep Bros, Lea Desandre, Magdalena Kožená & David Butt Philip Lead Palau de la Música Catalana’s 2026-27 Season

The Palau de la Musica Catalana has announced its 2026-27 season. Here are the vocal performances. Pianist Albert Guinovart leads concert with Cor de Cambra Femení Scherzo and conductor Esteve Nabona in music by A. Guinovart. Performance Date: Oct. 1, 2026 Alba Valdivieso, joins forces with instrumentalists Seungyeon Baik,Patricia Cordero, Noelia Cotuna, Jéssica Duarte, Gugg Piano Duo, Duo Jiménez-Berlinches, and Ot {…}

Apr 8, 2026

Sonya Yoncheva, Jakub Józef Orliński, Nadine Sierra, Sabine Devieilhe, Franco Fagioli, Théo Imart & Catherine Trottmann Lead Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles’ 2026-27 Season

The Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera Salieri’s “Tarare” is set to star Reinoud Van Mechelen, Éléonore Pancrazi, Jean-François Lapointe, Gwendoline Blondeel, Enguerrand de Hys, Alexandre Adra, Jean-Gabriel Saint-Martin, Alexandre Baldo, Clara Penalva, and Isaure Brunner. Théotime Langlois de Swarte conducts the production by Jean-Romain Vesperini. Performance Dates: Oct. 10-18, 2026 Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will {…}

Feb 22, 2026

Klangvokal Music Festival Dortmund Unveils 2026 Season Featuring Pene Pati, Varduhi Abrahamyan & Daniel Behle

(Photo credit: Kirschbaum) Klangvokal Music Festival Dortmund announces its 2026 season. The season opens with Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Les Boréades.” Reinoud Van Mechelen, Gwendoline Blondeel, Lisandro Abadie, Tomáš Král, Robert Getchell, Philippe Estèphe, and Lore Binon make up the cast. The Belgian period ensemble a nocte temporis acommpanies. Performance Date: May 22, 2026 Tenor Pene Pati presents the concert, “Neapolitan Canzoni” {…}

Jun 10, 2025

Jonas Kaufmann, Jakub Józef Orliński, Asmik Grigorian, Elīna Garanča, Pretty Yende, Kate Lindsey, Marina Rebka, Julian Prégardien & Ludovic Tézier Lead Wiener Konzertahus’ 2025-26 Season

The Wiener Konzerthaus has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. The Constellation Choir & Orchestra under Sir John Eliot Gardiner perform Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Performance Date: Sept. 14, 2025 Fabio Luisi conducts the Wiener Symphoniker in Franz Schmidt’s “Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln.” Soloists incude Maximilian Schmitt, David Steffens, Giulia {…}

Jan 30, 2025

Opéra National de Paris 2025 Review: Castor et Pollux

(Photo: Vincent Pontent) Few operas have a more melancholic plot than this one: two brothers, twins with different fathers– one must die so the other can live. The twist? The brother destined to die happens to be immortal. In the end, they are forever united in the sky. Rameau’s “Castor et Pollux” is one of history’s great musical triumphs, and {…}

Sep 5, 2023

Les Talens Lyriques’ 2023-24 Season to Feature the World Premiere of Salieri’s Opera ‘Kubla Khan’ (‘Cublai, Gran Kan De Tartari’)

©Sandrine Expilly The world premiere of Antonio Salieri’s opera “Kubla Khan” (“Cublai, Gran Kan De Tartari”) is among the many highlights of Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques’ 2023-24 season. Here is the full rundown of what audiences can expect this year. Starting off, sopranos Marie Lys and Judith van Wanroij perform “Ave Maris Stella” with Christophe Rousset at the {…}

Mar 29, 2023

Marianne Crebassa, Brian Jagde, Christian Van Horn & Franco Fagioli Lead Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’ 2023-24 Season

The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2023-24 season featuring opera, opera in concert, and recitals. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Opera Thomas Hengelbrock conducts Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” in a production by Damiano Michieletto. Marina Viotti, Levy Sekgapane, Edward Nelson, and Peter Kálmán. Performance Dates: Oct. 9-19, 2023 Mozary’s “Die Zauberflöte” will be conducted {…}

Feb 28, 2023

Les Arts Florissants 2022-23 Review: Orphée et Eurydice

Photo: William Beaucardet It was the third production of Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice” in Paris this season; still, it sounds like a completely different opera each time. Les Arts Florissants is arguably the most well-regarded historically informed group in France, so it was with not a little anticipation that I entered the Philharmonie de Paris building for this “Orphée.” First, {…}

Dec 31, 2021

William Christie & Kenneth Tarver Lead New CD/DVD Releases

The year is about to end but before it does, here are two new releases that you can’t miss. What’s more, they are rarely performed operas. Titon et l’Aurore Naxos releases Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville’s opera with Reinoud van Mechelen, Gwendoline Blondeel, Emmanuelle de Negri, Marc Mauillon, Julie Roset, and Renato Dolcini. Les Arts Florissants is led by William Christie {…}