Roberto Alagna, Venera Gimadieva & Alice Coote Headline Hamburg State Opera’s 2020-21 Season

Article in collaboration with Dejan Vukosavljevic The Hamburg State Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring six new productions and a number of revivals. Here is a look at the season. Oper Stabile Penderbayne’s “Unser kleines Scheißkaff” will be performed by Larissa Wäspy, Kady Evanyshyn, Ida Aldrian, Nicholas Mogg, Hubert Kowalczyk, Peter Galliard, and Katja Pieweck. Ingmar Beck conducts the {…}

Jan 15, 2020

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Review: La Bohème

(Photo Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera) On Jan. 9, 2020, the Metropolitan Opera resumed this season’s run of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Zeffirelli’s classically gorgeous production was enlivened by a solid cast of artists under the baton of conductor Marco Armiliato. For this revival, Gregory Keller directed the production which saw it’s performers through a myriad of comedic, animated interactions {…}

Dec 31, 2019

OperaWire’s Top 10 Must-See Operas In 2020

(Credit: Dario Acosta/Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music/Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The year 2019 offered up its fair share of amazing opera experiences. As the calendar changes to 2020, OperaWire is taking a look at some of the most hotly anticipated performances that the New Year will have to offer for audiences. Without further ado, here are the top 10 {…}

Dec 19, 2019

Aleksandra Kurzak & Roberto Alagna Headline New ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ & ‘Pagliacci At Arena Di Verona

The Arena di Verona has announced a one-night only cast for its upcoming production of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” The theater announced that Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna will sing both “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” in a performance on August 8, 2020. The performance will mark Roberto Alagna’s debut at the Arena di Verona and it will mark {…}

Dec 2, 2019

Roberto Alagna & Cecilia Bartoli Lead Les Chorégies d’Orange’s 2020 Festival

Les Chorégies d’Orange has announced its 2020 festival featuring two operas and a number of concerts. Here are the vocal highlights of the season. The season opens with Saint-Saens’ “Samson et Dalila” conducted by Yves Abel. The production will be directed by Jean-Louis Grinda and will star Marie-Nicole Lemieux and Roberto Alagna in the title roles. Ludovic Tézier rounds out {…}

Nov 9, 2019

Always Singing & Smiling – Roberto Alagna On His Undying Passion For His Art, Taking Care of His Voice, & The Challenges Facing Young Singers Today

(Credits: Charly Hel) OperaWire’s initial interview with Alagna was set to take place after his performance of “Don Carlos” in Paris. But two acts into the performance, he had to withdraw from the performance and also postpone the interview. “I’m sorry we have to postpone,” he warmly said that evening. “I’d better not use my cords today to keep it {…}

Nov 6, 2019

Ermonela Jaho & Roberto Alagna Lead New CD/DVD Releases – Nov. 8

It is a big week for CDs and DVD releases in the opera world. As companies get ready for the holiday season, numerous artists have new releases that are must buys. Here are our recommendations. Myrthen With “Myrthen,” baritone Christian Gerhaher embarks on the second chapter of his once-in-a-lifetime project: the complete recording of Robert Schumann’s lieder output. Lauded as {…}

Oct 29, 2019

Opéra National de Paris 2019-20 Review: Don Carlo

(Credits: Vincent Pontet/ Opéra National de Paris) When I saw Krzysztof Warlikowski’s new production of my favorite Verdi’s opera “Don Carlos” online two years ago, I was deeply disappointed. Even a “dream cast” couldn’t save it for me. Growing in Russian theatres I believed the famed Chekhov expression that “if there’s a gun on stage, it should eventually shoot.” And {…}

Oct 25, 2019

Roberto Alagna Replaced Midway Through Opening Night of ‘Don Carlos’ At Opéra National de Paris

(Credit: Vincent Pontet/ ONP) Audiences that went to check out Verdi’s “Don Carlo” at the Opéra de Paris this Friday on opening night wound up seeing two tenors in the leading role. Roberto Alagna was one of the star attractions of the production as he was set to appear in the famed opera alongside his wife Aleksandra Kursak. But Alagna, {…}

Oct 25, 2019

Anna Caterina Antonacci, Roberto Alagna & Aleksandra Kurzak Lead International Weekend – (1025-27)

(Credit: Teatro Comunale di Bologna/Vincent Pontet-Opera de Paris) This week, four rarely performed works get stagings and concert performances with formidable casts that should not be missed. There are also some classics with all-stars casts that make them unmissable. Macbeth – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Plácido Domingo returns to the Vienna stage amidst sexual misconduct allegations to sing the title role {…}

Oct 24, 2019

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Preview: La Bohème

(Credit: Cory Weaver/Metropolitan Opera) On Oct. 25, 2019 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will open at the Metropolitan Opera reviving Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production. The Mimì’s This season the production will feature three acclaimed Mimì interpreters who have performed the role throughout their Met careers. Ailyn Pérez will open the production in a role she has been hailed for. OperaWire stated, “Pérez’s Mimì {…}