Joyce El-Khoury, Davone Tines, Matthias Winckhler, & Núria Rial Star in L’Auditori’s 2025-26 Season

(Photo credit: Gisela Schenker) L’Auditori presents its 2025-26 season, “Renaixements.” For the purpose of this article only vocal works are included. Beethoven’s “Symphony” No. 9 stars Joyce El-Khoury, Silvia Tro Santafé, Elgan Llyr Thomas, and Davone Tines. They are joined by the Orfeó Català and the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) under the direction of Ludovic Morlot. {…}

May 5, 2025

CD Review: Pentatone’s ‘Duke Bluebeard’s Castle’

“Bluebeard,” or Barbe bleue, may very well rank among the most disturbing of Perrault’s fairy tales. Its notoriety is such that bluebeard, in everyday language, is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a man who marries and kills one wife after another.” The storyline is precisely that—though it has a happy ending, if slaying the murderous protagonist is the type of justice {…}

Apr 16, 2025

Clay Hilley, Sara Jakubiak, Gerald Finley, Chen Reiss & Marlis Petersen Lead London Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 Season

The London Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The season opens with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting a Bernstein and Copland program featuring Dame Felicity Palmer and Katharina Konradi. Performance Date: Sept. 14, 2025 Sir Simon Rattle conducts Janáček’s “The Makropulos Affair” with Marlis Petersen, Aleš Briscein, Jan Martiník, Svatopluk Semand Peter {…}

May 11, 2024

Lise Davidsen, Andrè Schuen, Fleur Barron & Michael Volle Lead Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” will be conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and star Mark Padmore, Camilla Tilling, Magdalena Kožená, Andrew Staples, Roderick Williams, and Georg Nigl. Performance Dates: Sept. 26 & 27, 2024 Sir Simon Rattle conducts music by De {…}

Mar 16, 2024

Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Nicholas Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, Pretty Yende & Christopher Maltman Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2024-25 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Tobias Krazter directs a new production of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” with Nicholas Brownlee, Milan Siljanov, Sean Panikkar, Markus Brück, Matthias Klink, Matthew Rose, Timo Riihonen, Ekaterina Gubanova, Mirjam Mesak, and Wiebke Lehmkuhl. Vladimir Jurowski conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27, 2024-July 31, 2025 Damiano Michieletto directs Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” with {…}

Jan 9, 2024

Gran Teatre del Liceu Announces Major Cast Change for ‘Carmen’

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of “Carmen.” The company said mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham will assume the title role in the opera “Carmen” by Bizet in all previously announced performances with Varduhi Abrahamyan, who is forced to withdraw due to indisposition. Shaham already performed the production on Jan. 3 and 7, 2024. She is {…}

Jan 3, 2024

Gran Teatre del Liceu Announces Cast Change for ‘Carmen’

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of “Carmen.” The company said that for the Jan. 3 performance (Liceu Under35) and next Sunday, Jan. 7, the titular role will be played by the mezzo Rinat Shaham. She will replace Varduhi Abrahamyan who is indisposed. Shaham is a mezzo who has performed in Vienna, Rome, {…}

Oct 12, 2023

Opera Singers Speak Out on Israel-Palestine Conflict

Following the escalating declaration of war on Hamas by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, several opera artists have released statements regarding the situation. Soprano Olga Peretayko wrote “In times of unimaginable hardship and heartbreaking news, it is important for us to come together as one global community. The reality of war is a painful truth that affects everyone, regardless of which {…}

May 8, 2023

Fleur Barron, Lauren Michelle, Marina Rebeka & Tamara Wilson Lead L’Auditori de Barcelona’s 2023-24 Season

L’Auidotri de Barcelona has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Haydn’s “The Creation” will be performed by Jone Martínez, Jorge Navarro Colorado, and José Antonio López. Marta Gardolińska conducts. Performance Dates: March 2, 2024 Fleur Barron performs a program of music by Ravel, García-Tomás, and Montsalvatge. Ludovic Morlot conducts. Performance Dates: March 15-17, 2024 {…}

Dec 5, 2021

Anna Netrebko, Javier Camarena, Roberto Alagna & Nadine Sierra Lead Teatro Colon’s 2022 Season

The Teatro Colon de Buenos Aires has announced its 2022 season featuring opera, concerts, and great performers. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Verónica Cangemi, Alexandra Grigoras, Saimir Pirgu, Behzod Davronov, Giuliana Gianfaldoni, María Belén Rivarola, Alfonso Mujica, Armando Noguera, Fernando Radó, Lucas Debevec Mayer, Juan Font, Felipe Carelli, Sergio Spina, and Iván Maier. Alain Guingal conducts the {…}

Nov 26, 2021

Christopher Maltman, Markus Brück, Benjamin Bernheim, Saimir Pirgu, Olga Peretyatko & Rinat Shaham Lead ‘Rigoletto’ at Gran Teatre del Liceu

(Credit: Antoni Bofill) The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced the upcoming performances of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The opera will star Benjamin Bernheim, Saimir Pirgu and Josep Bros in the role of Duca di Mantua; Olga Peretyatko and Aigul Khismatullina as Gilda; Grigory Shkarupa and Liang Li in the role of Sparafucile; Rinat Shaham and Nino Surguladze as Maddalena; and Christopher {…}