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 {…}
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, {…}
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” {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Juilliard Orchestra is set to perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 on April 14. The orchestra will perform the symphony for the first time in 20 years and will return to Carnegie Hall for its annual performance. David Robertson, Juilliard’s director of conducting studies, will lead the orchestra with soloist mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey, the Preparatory Division Chorus—composed {…}