(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) On Thursday, the Metropolitan Opera will open its fourth production of the season – Puccini’s “Turandot.” This run of performances is unique because they represent the first time that the Met Opera’s music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts an opera by Puccini at the famed house. To this point, he has tackled works by Bizet, {…}
(Credit: Yusifeyvazov.com/Salvatore Sportato) The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its upcoming revival of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company announced that Roberto Aronica has withdrawn from the role of Calàf due to personal reasons. As a result, Yusif Eyvazov will sing Calàf in the Oct. 3, 6, 9, and 12 while Riccardo Massi will sing the role in performances {…}
The Teatro Carlo Felice has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a number of great stars and new productions. Giuseppe Talamo stars in the title role of Enjott Schneider’s “Marco Polo” with a cast that includes Xiaotong Cao, Yunpeng Wang, Ying Liu, Haojiang Tian, Kejia Xiong, Enrico Rinaldo, Davide Bartolucci, and Xu Shuai. Muhai Tang conducts Kasper Holten’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2019 Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” returns with {…}
The weekend is here and it’s an interesting one. Two of the works we recommend feature some of the most acclaimed singers in the world and then there is a “Tosca” marathon with three of the greatest interpreters performing the role in Dresden, London, and Barcelona. Manon – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Juan Diego Flórez and Nino Machaidze continue their first {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to perform Puccini’s “Tosca” as it closes out the 2018-19 season. The production is set to star two casts featuring Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist alumna Keri Alkema and WNO newcomer Latonia Moore in the title role. Alan Held will reprise his 2011 role of Scarpia, while Riccardo Massi will portray his signature Cavaradossi. American tenor Robert {…}
The Opera Royal de Wallonie-Liege has announced its 2019-20 season featuring nine operas, six of which are new productions. Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” opens the season in a new production by Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera. Two casts will be led under the baton of Speranza Scappucci, featuring Svetlana Aksenova and Yasko Sato sharing the title role, Alexey Dolgov and Dominick Chenes {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2019 season with 10 productions all year. The Italian company is giving its native repertory most of the stage-time, with a total of seven productions this season; there are two German works and one in English, that will also appear. So let’s dive in and break it down. “Il Trovatore” opens the {…}
This weekend, OperaWire goes a little traditional in its weekend offerings. Granted if you look at the list many of the works recommended are not the most popular. Instead, there are rarely performed works, role debuts, and in the case of one production, a legendary showcase that has to be seen every time it is on stage. Here is a look {…}
Tenor Riccardo Massi will make his role debut as Gabriele Adorno in “Simon Boccanegra” at the Opéra de Marseille on Oct. 2, marking a major dream come true for the artist. The tenor will appear in a production directed by legendary baritone Leo Nucci with conductor Paolo Arrivabeni at the podium. Over the course of four performances, Massi will work {…}
Festival season continues while some of the bigger opera companies start to open up in time for the fall showcase. This weekend will feature some acclaimed stars as well as a world premiere and a rarely performed work. Here is what we recommend. Aida – Opera Australia, Australia Natalie Aroyan, Riccardo Massi, and Milijana Nikolic star in Verdi’s epic classic. {…}
The Opéra de Marseille announced its 2018-19 season, featuring eight productions and a number of concert performances. The season will include a number of revivals and new productions as well as some of the biggest rising stars. Here is a look. Productions The season opens with Leo Nucci directing Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” starring Juan Jesús Rodriguez, Riccardo Massi, and Olesya {…}