(Photo: Yasuko Kageyama) Opera Roma rolled out the red carpet for the opening evening of its 2019-20 season, with a rare performance of Verdi’s grand opera “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” in its original French version. Overshadowed by his three preceding middle period operas, “Rigoletto,” “Il Trovatore” and “La Traviata,” and by the mature works which followed, it has struggled to gain {…}
(Credit: Moritz Schell Fotografie/Catherine Ashmore/Yasuko Kageyama / TOR) Three rarely performed works highlight the international weekend with three other repertory staples. There are also two new productions opening with one company premiere. Here is a look at what we recommend. Halka – Theater an der Wien, Austria Łukasz Borowicz conducts a new production of Moniuszko’s masterpiece. Mariusz Treliński directs the {…}
The Macerata Opera Festival has announced its 2020 program. This season the festival will showcase three popular operas with renown casts starting on July 17 through August 9, 2020. The festival opens with Puccini’s “Tosca” conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta and directed by Valentina Carrasco. The production will star Rebeka Lokar in the title role, Piero Pretti as Cavaradossi, and Roberto {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced the 2020 season, which will feature a number of new productions, stars, and concert performances. Opera The season opens with Wagner’s “Parsifal” conducted by Omer Meir Wellber and directed by Graham Vick. The work stars Daniel Kirch in the title role, Eva Maria Westbroek, Evgeny Nikitin, John Relyea, and Thomas Gazheli. Performance Dates: Jan. {…}
This week two new DVDs are set for release. There is also an intriguing choral CD that will include some world premiere recordings. Check it out! Il Barbiere di Siviglia Naxos is set to release a new production from the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris with Florian Sempey in the title role, Michele Angelini as the Count, Catherine Trottmann as Rosina, {…}
The Teatro Verdi Trieste has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a number of new productions. The season opens with Puccini’s “Turandot” starring Mlada Khudoley, Marcelo Puente, Desirée Rancatore, and Andrea Comelli. Nikša Bareza conducts the production by legendary soprano Katia Ricciarelli. Performance Dates: Nov. 29-Dec. 8, 2019 Fabrizio Maria Carminati conducts Katia Ricciarelli’s production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The opera will star Anna Litvinova, Gianluca Terranova, Anastasia Boldyreva, and Andrea Borghini. {…}
The Teatro La Fenice has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a number of productions and concerts. Opera Alex Esposito, Piero Pretti, Julian Kim, and Maria Agresta star in Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” Myung-Whun Chung conducts a production by Robert Carsen. Performance Dates: Nov. 24-Dec. 7, 2019 Enrico Calesso conducts a new production of Carlo Collodi’s “Pinocchio.” Gianmaria Aliverta directs the production in a new version with Silvia Frigato {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2019-20 season featuring numerous new productions and two special concerts. Daniele Gatti conducts a new production of Verdi’s “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” by Valentina Carrasco. The production stars Roberto Frontali, John Osborn, Michele Pertusi, and Roberta Mantegna. Performance Dates: Dec. 10-22, 2019 Lyudmila Monastyrska and Monica Zanettin share the title role in Puccini’s “Tosca” with Giorgio Berrugi {…}
This weekend showcases popular works with one dominating Spain. There is a popular zarzuela with two important rising stars and the start of a new season. Check it out. La Traviata – Teatro Cafam, Colombia The Fundación Arte Lírico en Coproducción con el Ministerio de Cultura de España will begin a four-week long season of opera and Zarzuela. Verdi’s masterpiece {…}
The Teatro Real has announced its 2019-20 season featuring seven Teatro Real premieres and three Spanish premieres. Here is a look at what to expect. The season opens with Verdi’s “Don Carlo“ with Nicola Luisotti conducting a production by David McVicar. The opera returns after a 14 year absence with Francesco Meli, Andrea Carè, and Alfred Kim sharing the title {…}
This weekend, celebrate Valentine’s day with a plethora of dramatic works and tragedies. This weekend will not include repertory staples but rarely performed works that are getting revivals or new productions. Check it out. Salome – Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Italy Ausrine Stundyte takes on the title role in Strauss’ early masterwork. Gabriele Lavia directs a production, which also stars Doris Soffel, Tuomas Pursio, and Ian {…}