This Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden opens its production of the famed Italian double bill often known as “CavPag.” “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” will get 11 performances this season with the final one slated for Jan. 13, 2018, almost a month-and-a-half after it opens its run. Here are reasons to see this year’s “CavPag” at {…}
Michele Pertusi has withdrawn from singing the role of Assur in The Royal Opera’s “Semiramide” As a result, the role will now be sung by Mirco Palazzi. Palazzi has previously sung the role of Assur for Opera di Firenze, Opéra de Bordeaux and at a concert performance with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Mark Elder at the {…}
The Loesje Sanders agency has announced the untimely death of designer Paul Brown on November 13th, 2017. Born in Glamorgan, South Wales, Brown made his debut with the Royal Opera House in 1991 for Graham Vick’s production of “Mitridate, re di Ponto.” With the Royal Opera House, he has also designed sets for “The Midsummer Marriage,” “Falstaff,” “King Arthur,” as {…}
In a bold move, the Royal Opera House will showcase a rare production of “La Tragedie de Carmen” between Nov. 3 and Nov 14 at Wilton’s Music Hall. The opera, which uses passages from Bizet’s famous score is actually a reworking of the story to showcase a different angle that some purport is closer in line with the original novella {…}
Soprano Lisette Oropesa is one of the most exciting artists in the world. At just 34, the New Orleans native has already had a storied career, winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions at the age of 22, rising through the ranks of the Met Lindemann Young Artist Program, and then going on to sing at all the major houses {…}
“Lucia di Lammermoor” is one of opera’s undisputed staples. The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will be bringing back the work on Oct. 30, 2017, for an eight-performance run starring the great American soprano Lisette Oropesa in Katie Mitchell’s sexy and bloody production. When one thinks of “Lucia” at the Royal Opera House, it is impossible to disassociate the opera {…}
On Oct. 12, 2017, the Royal Opera House brings back Verdi’s “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” in Stefan Herheim’s production, which appeared at the theater in 2013. The production reunites Bryan Hymel, Michael Volle and Erwin Schrott, both of which took on the production during its initial run. Hymel took on the heroic role of Henri, Volle of his father Guy de {…}
The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden has announced US and Canadian dates for its cinema transmissions of the 2017-18 season. Things kick off on Oct. 17, 2017, with a production of “The Magic Flute.” Janai Brugger, Tuomas Katajala, Florian Sempey, In Sung Sim, and Christina Poulitsi. Next up is a Nov. 1, 2017, transmission of Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Michael {…}
Romanian-born British soprano Simona Mihai has cancelled the Oct. 3 performance of Musetta in “La bohème” due to illness. As a result, the role will be sung by Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury, who is scheduled to perform the role on Oct. 6, 7 and 10. However, Mihai will sing the role of Mimì on Oct. 6 and 10. She is {…}
German soprano Anett Fritsch has withdrawn from singing the role of Micaëla in The Royal Opera’s “Carmen” due to pregnancy. As a result the role will be sung on Feb. 6, 10, 14, 20, 23 and March 3 and 6 by Russian soprano Kristina Mkhitaryan, who will make her Royal Opera debut in the role. She recently sung the role {…}
This weekend, a number of productions continue runs all over the world with many of the biggest stars singing. Check out what companies have to offer. Austria At the Vienna State Opera, Carlos Álvarez and Dorothea Röschmann continue their run of “Le Nozze di Figaro” on Friday while on Sunday audiences get another chance at “Chowanschtschina” with Ferruccio Furlanetto. On Saturday, {…}
