(Photo: Studio UV – Fondazione Teatro Donizetti) At the beginning of the 1840s, Gaetano Donizetti was the most celebrated Italian opera composer in Europe. After conquering Paris with adaptations of his Italian successes and new works such as “La fille du régiment” and “La favorite,” his life unfolded in constant travel between the continent’s principal musical centers. He composed with {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}
(Photo: ©2025 Camilla Greenwell) I have been somewhat critical in the past of Adele Thomas’ staging of one of Verdi’s most potent works. With its painfully dark tale told in a rather insidious manner, employing the use of creepy props and actors infused with more than a generous helping of Hieronymus Bosch influence; alas, perplexingly, this time round it kind {…}
The Festival Verdi has announced its 2024 season. The festival will take place in Parma and Busseto from Sept. 21 and Oct. 21, 2024. Opera The season opens with the Verdi Street Parade at the Parma, Centro storico and Oltretorrente. Performance Date: Sept. 21, 2024 Verdi’s “Macbeth“ will be presented at the Teatro Regio di Parma in its French version {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its Nov. 6 performance of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The company said that Riccardo Fassi will sing the role of Figaro replacing Peter Kellner. Fassi has performed at the Wiener Staatsoper, the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Opera de Paris, the Royal Opera House, and the Berliner Staatsoper. He has performed the {…}
(Credit: Michele Crosera) After 1,100 years as an independent state, Napoleon’s invasion of Venice in 1797 brought the Venetian Republic to an end. Once the Queen of the Adriatic, with an empire extending throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, it has since been reduced to a small city in the north-east of Italy, with a declining population and overrun by tourists. Unfortunately, {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to hear a new album by a great tenor and complete operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Moniuszko, and Gluck. Romances Star tenor Piotr Beczala presents a selection of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, together with the acclaimed accompanist Helmut Deutsch. In a statement, Beczala noted, “When I first began to study singing at the Katowice Academy of {…}
(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 {…}
Credit: Danae Kinova The Olympia City Music Theatre Maria Callas has unveiled its 2023-24 season, which includes three operas in both staged productions and concert versions. The season features a blend of Greek artists and international stars, including a concert by soprano Julie Fuchs. For the purposes of this article only opera and classical voice performances are listed. The season {…}
The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2023 season featuring three productions and concerts. The first production of the season will be “Eduardo e Cristina” in a new production by Stefano Poda. Jader Bignamini conducts Enea Scala, Anastasia Bartoli, Daniela Barcellona, Grigory Shkarupa, and Matteo Roma. Performance Dates: August 11-20, 2023 “Aureliano in Palmira” will be conducted by George Petrou {…}
Opera is going through a transition with companies trying to modernize works in order to bring younger audiences and bring the art form into the modern world. In some cases, it works and in other cases, it becomes a mere distraction that puts a concept up front and places the work and its music in the background. For the Teatro {…}
