(Photo by Rikimaru Hotta) The New National Theatre Tokyo is on the rise. Fresh off its announcement earlier this year that the company would be hosting the 2028 World Opera Forum, the organization has committed to expanding its repertory in recent seasons, taking on increasingly ambitious projects, oftentimes in collaboration with the major opera houses around the world. Over the {…}
(Credit: Anna Barbera) René Barbera has been awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. In a statement the tenor said, “Through this award, intended to reward those who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the cultural spheres, or by their support for the distribution of knowledge and works {…}
(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, {…}
The Dutch National Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season with Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The famed Verdi opera will be revived in Damiano Michieletto’s production, which opened in 2017. When the production opened critics were mixed and said, “the production is overanalytical and is ultimately sabotaged by its own cleverness.” In 2021, the staging was shown in Venice at the {…}
The Teatro San Carlo announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Dvořák’s “Rusalka” in a new production by Dmitri Tcherniakov. Dan Ettinger conducts a cast that includes Asmik Grigorian, Adam Smith, Ekaterina Gubanova, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Gábor Bretz. Performance Dates: Nov. 20-Dec. 7, 2024 Verdi’s “Don Carlo” will be conducted by Henrik Nánási and will star Piero Pretti, Gabriele Viviani, Ildar {…}
The Teatro Regio di Torino has announced its 2024-25 season. “Manon” Renato Palumbo conducts Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” with Arnaud Bernard directing. The cast will include Erika Grimaldi, Dinara Alieva, Andeka Gorrotxategui, Carlo Ventre, Carlo Lepore, and Alessandro Luongo. Performance Dates: Oct. 1-26, 2024 Massenet’s “Manon” wil star Ekaterina Bakanova, Martina Russomanno, Bjorn Burger Maxim Lisiin, Atalla Ayan, Andrei Danilov, Roberto {…}
The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced its 2024-25 season. Fall Nikola Hillebrand performs alongside Simply Quartet and Musicbanda Franui. Performance Date: Oct. 4, 2024 Winter J. S. Bach’s “Das Weihnachtsoratorium” will be conducted by Vinzenz Praxmarer and will star Anna El-Kashem, Stefanie Irányi, Martin Mitterrutzner, and Wilhelm Schwinghammer. Performance Date: Dec. 8, 2024 Asher Fisch conducts a new production of Puccini’s “La {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the entire season. Mainstage Karah Son sings the title role in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with Jonathan Tetelman, Hyona Kim, and Michael Sumuel also starring. James Conlon conducts the production by Mario Gas. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 13 2024 Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” returns for the first time {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) As the orchestra begins the overture of Rossini’s 1817 opera “Adelaide di Borgogna,” the curtain rises to reveal a busy stage with the stagehands running about, moving scenery and props. The singers are scattered about the stage. Some are preparing themselves for a rehearsal, while others are getting a drink from the vending machine or chatting among {…}
The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli is set to open a production of Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena.” The opera will be directed by Jetske Mijnssen in a co-production with the Dutch National Opera and the Palau de les Arts. Riccardi Frizza conducts a cast that includes Annalisa Stroppa, Maria Agresta, Alexander Vinogradov, and René Barbera. Regarding the opera, Frizza noted, “The score’s elevated, {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced a cast change for its production of “Anna Bolena.” The company said, “We inform our audience that, for a sudden unavailability of Xabier Anduaga, the role of Lord Riccardo Percy – for the production of Anna Bolena on stage from June 8 to 17 – will be performed by René Barbera.” Barbera has performed the role on one occasion {…}