Angel Blue, Ailyn Pérez, Jonathan Tetelman, Pretty Yende, Isabel Leonard & Tamara Wilson Lead Houston Grand Opera’s 2026-27 Season

The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. Angel Blue headlines Floyd’s “Susannah” alongside Rod Gilfry, Bille Bruley, Aaron Blake, Deborah Nansteel, and Malcolm MacKenzie. James Gaffigan conducts Patricia Racette’s production. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-Nov. 8, 20-26 Matthew Polenzani headlines Gounod’s “Faust” with Pretty Yende, Ildebrando d’Arcangelo, Sean Michael Plumb, and Sun-Ly Pierce. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}

Jan 21, 2026

Opera Naples Announces Recital Featuring Samantha Hankey

Opera Naples has announced the addition of a recital featuring mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey on April 7, 2026, at Moorings Presbyterian Church. The mezzo will be joined by pianist Ramón Tébar. “I have been following Samantha’s career for some years now, and she is an artist I wanted very much to perform with. When I found out that she spent many {…}

Dec 10, 2025

Jennifer Holloway Leads Boston Lyric Opera & Boston Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Vanessa’

The Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is set to join forces with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Music Director Andris Nelsons to present a concert performance of Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa.” The performance will take place Jan. 8 & 10, 2026 at Symphony Hall with a cast that includes Jennifer Holloway in the title role of Vanessa, Samantha Hankey as Erika, {…}

Nov 26, 2025

Samantha Hankey & Myra Huang to Headline Concert at 89 Reade

The 89 Reade concert series will host mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey and pianist Myra Huang on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025. The showcase, which commences at 6:30 p.m. local time, will feature a preview of a recital program featuring works by Schumann, Satie, Kurt Weill, and Cole Porter. In 2026, Hankey is set to appear in “Vanessa” in Boston, “Ariadne auf Naxos” {…}

Jul 19, 2025

‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}

Jul 6, 2025

Nicholas Phan, Samantha Hankey & Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Lead Art Song Chicago’s 2025-26 Season

(Photo courtesy of Seattle Symphony) The Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago is celebrating its 15th anniversary by announcing its new name, “Art Song Chicago.” As Chicago’s premier institution devoted to the study and performance of art song and vocal chamber music, the new name reflects a bold vision for the future of art song performance in the city. In a {…}

Jun 21, 2025

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Samantha Hankey on Her Vocal Technique in the Role of Donna Elvira & Her Own Evolution as an Opera Singer

(Photo credit: Faymous) From the title role in “Carmen,” one of the most coveted mezzo roles, to Dorabella in “Cosi fan tutte,” a traditional soprano role, mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey sings it all. In her interview with OperaWire, Hankey discussed her nonconformist approach to repertoire and the technique behind her success. Hankey will be singing the role of Donna Elvira in {…}

Jun 19, 2025

Renée Fleming, Kathryn Lewek, Joyce DiDonato, Lauren Snouffer, Samantha Hankey Headline Oratorio Society of New York’s 2025-26 Season

Oratorio Society of New York has unveiled its 2025-26 season. First up is Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor and John Corigliano’s “Fern Hill” starring Jennifer Zetlan, Samantha Hankey, Alex Richardson, and Joseph Parish. The performance takes place at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. Performance Date: Nov. 10, 2025 Then comes the “Messiah” in time for the holidays. The {…}

Apr 29, 2025

Cecilia Bartoli, Elīna Garanča, Pretty Yende, Sir Bryn Terfel, Matthias Goerne, Asmik Grigorian & Roberto Alagna Lead Opéra de Monte-Carlo’s 2025-26 Season

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” starring Sir Bryn Terfel, Albert Dohmen, Asmik Grigorian, Daniel Behle, Angharad Lyddon, and Trystan Llyr Griffiths. Gianluca Marcianò conducts the semi-staged version. Performance Date: Nov. 2, 2025 Anna Pirozzi stars in Verdi’s “Aida” alongside Antonio Di Matteo, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Arsen Soghomonyan, Erwin Schrott, and Artur Rucinski. Massimo {…}

Apr 12, 2025

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Michael Volle, Ludovic Tézier, Pretty Yende, Rolando Villazón, Federica Lombardi, Nicole Car, Freddie De Tommaso & Juan Diego Flórez Headline Wiener Staatsoper’s 2025-26 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the operas and recitals for the new season. Premieres Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” will get a new production by Dirk Schmeding. The cast will be headed by Franz Xaver Schlecht, Margaret Plummer, Slávka Zámečníková, Ivo Stanchev, Monika Bohinec, Pavol Breslik, Michael Laurenz, Peter Kellner, Matthäus Schmidlechner, Ilia Staple, and Alex Ilvakhin. Tomáš Hanus conducts. A second cast will {…}

Apr 10, 2025

Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Golda Schultz, Sasha Cooke & Jennifer Holloway Lead Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 Season

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The BSO Opening Gala will be conducted by Andris Nelsons and will feature soloists Golda Schultz, James Carter, vibraphonist J. William Hudgins, and double bassist Caleb Quillen. The program includes music by John Adams, Barber, Gerswhin, and Montgomery. Performance Date: Sept. 19, 2025 {…}