Diana Damrau, Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli & Anja Harteros Lead Opernhaus Zurich’s 2018-19 Season

Opera Zürich has announced its 2018-19 season slate, which is among the largest in the world. It will feature a whopping 12 new productions, among a glut of exciting revivals. Let’s dive in. Premieres Gisbert Näther’s “Konrad oder das Kind aus der Konservenbüchse” gets a new production by Claudia Blersch. Ann-Katrin Stöcker conducts two cast which will include Irène Friedli, Katharina Peetz, Flurin {…}

Apr 6, 2018

Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend – International (4/6-8): Diana Damrau Makes A Major Role Debut

This weekend, the opera world will see a major role debut from a major star, as well as a number of singers continuing runs of role debuts and house debuts. There will also be a concert performance of a rarely performed Verdi work. Il Trovatore – Finnish National Opera, Finland Aquiles Machado sings the title in Verdi’s ever-popular opera alongside {…}

Mar 18, 2018

Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Kampe & Anja Harteros Headline Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2018-19 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2018-19 season, which is set to include eight new productions and a number of revival productions. The season will also include a number of concert performances as well as recitals in the company’s summer festival. Here is a look at all the operatic events. New Productions Amélie Niermeyer directs a new production of Verdi’s {…}

Mar 7, 2018

Mostly Mozart Festival Announces 2018 season

The Mostly Mozart Festival has announced its 2018 season featuring a Bernstein celebration and some of Mozart’s greatest works. Staged Productions Conductor Louis Langrée, the Festival Orchestra, bass-baritone Davóne Tines, and a huge cast of singers, musicians, and dancers celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s centennial with a fully staged production of his bold 1971 MASS. The production will be directed by SF Opera {…}

Feb 15, 2018

Six Metropolitan Opera Debuts Not To Be Missed In 2018-19 Season

Every season the Metropolitan Opera has some of the greatest stars in the world. Some return for the first time in years while others are Met veterans. But there are also debuts that are unexpected or important for the house. The 2018-19 season will undoubtedly bring six debuts that all opera goers need to see. Nicole Car -“La Boheme” The {…}

Jan 24, 2018

Royal Opera House Muscat 2017-18 Review: La Sonnambula: Rosa Feola Triumphs As Famed Bellini Heroine

Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” relies heavily on its star soprano for a satisfactory performance. Written to showcase Giuditta Pasta, one of the greatest divas of the time, the title role of Amina is known for its technical challenges which require the soprano to have complete command of long legato lines with great breath control. It also requires attacking trills and fast {…}

Jan 19, 2018

Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (1/19-21): Nina Stemme, Irina Lungu & Ángeles Blancas Gulin Lead Starry Weekend

In this week’s edition of our top five operas to see, we travel all around Europe and to Oman for five operas that are worth seeing with stellar casts. Let’s take a look. “Il Prigioniero” & “Das Gehege” – La Monnaie, Belgium Two rare masterpieces by Luigi Dallapiccola and Rihm will be showcased at the famous Belgium theater starring a Ángeles {…}

Nov 1, 2017

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017-18 Review – Rigoletto: Matthew Polenzani, Quinn Kelsey and Rosa Feola Dazzle in Verdi’s Tragedy

The Lyric Opera of Chicago opened its season with a fabulous collaboration with the Joffrey Ballet with the French version of “Orphée et Eurydice.” It was a sensational production, although the fact that Gluck’s work doesn’t really feature a great amount of singing perhaps left a void for some hearty Lyric operagoers. Anybody who felt that way certainly had their {…}

May 26, 2017

Roberto Alagna, Jose Cura, Olga Peretyatko & Gregory Kunde Headline Royal Opera House Muscat 2017-18 Season

The Royal Opera House Muscat has announced its 2017-18 season with a plethora of operas to see. The season opens on Sept. 14 with Verdi’s “Aida” starring Gregory Kunde and Kristin Lewis and conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Olga Peretyatko and Maxim Mironov then take the stage for Rossini’s “L’Occasione fa il Ladro.” The opera, which open on Oct. 27, 2017, {…}

Apr 14, 2017

Weekend Preview – International (4/14-16): Edita Gruberova And Eleonora Buratto Lead Easter Weekend

Easter Weekend is upon us and the opera companies around the world are doing their utmost to bring people to the theater. Here is a look at the things going around in the international opera scene. Austria Reiman’s “Medea” opens the weekend on Saturday at the Vienna State Opera with Claudia Barainsky, Stephanie Houtzeel, Monika Bohinec, Norbert Ernst, Adrian Eröd and {…}

Apr 11, 2017

Teatro alla Scala 2016-17 Season: ‘La Gazza Ladra’ Celebrates its 200th Anniversary With A Return To La Scala

On April 12, Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra” returns to the Teatro alla Scala, the house where it first premiered in 1817. In honor of the opera’s 200th anniversary Rossini expert, Riccardo Chailly conducts the work in a move to return the Bel Canto repertoire to La Scala. Meanwhile, famed film director Gabriele Salvatores makes his La Scala debut. Salvatores is {…}