As part of this week’s CD / DVD releases, audiences will get an early Christmas, solo albums, a world premiere recording, and a classic recording. Here is a look at what audiences can watch or listen to this week. Anima Aeterna Countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński brings his latest album to Erato, showcasing an adventurous album of sacred arias and motets {…}
(Credit: Staatsoper Unter den Linden / Marcus Ebener) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin has announced its Barocktage. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal works only. Here is a look. Baritone Adam Kutny kicks off the festival with the children opera “Theseus’ Reise in die Unterwelt.” Carolina Nees is the moderator. Performance Dates: Nov. {…}
(Photo: Jean-Louis Fernandez) Postponed from last year, owing to COVID restrictions, Kaija Saariaho’s new opera “Innocence” finally received its world premiere at this year’s Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and it did not disappoint. The libretto, written by Sofi Oksanen, interweaves two narratives which relate to a school shooting. One focuses on the students and their teacher who were present at the time {…}
Photo credit: Toni Härkönen Festival Aix-en-Provence is set to live stream Kaija Saariaho and Sofi Oksanen’s new opera, “Innocence,” on July 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm EDT on Arte Concert. The opera had its in-person world premiere at the Festival on July 3. Directed by Simon Stone, Saariaho and Oksanen’s opera presents the story of a fictional school shooting in {…}
(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony Music / Brennecke Art official website / Franck Juery / Alpha Classics / Operabase official website) Opéra de Massy in France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Bizet‘s “Carmen” opens the season. Thomas Bettinger performs Don José, Christian Helmer portrays Escamillo, and Ahlima Mhamdi takes on the title role. The cast also {…}
This week audiences can two Handel operas performed by some of the greatest baroque specialists. There is also a new recoding of Bizet’s “Carmen” featuring one of great interpreters of her generation. Rodelinda Handel’s 1725 hit opera is released with The English Concert and artistic director Harry Bicket. Lucy Crowe and Iestyn Davies are the devoted partners Rodelinda and Bertarido, {…}
(Photo Credits: In Art Management / © Jiyang Chen / Gillian Riesen / © Raphael Brand / LA Opera official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot) La Monnaie De Munt has announced its new 2021-22 season, consisting of 12 operas and seven recitals. Here is the full slate. Operas Kris Defoort and Peter van Kraaij’s opera “The time of our singing” {…}
(Credit: Wiener Staatsoper official website / Marisol Montalvo official website / © Christel Loetzsch / © Sandrine Expilly) France Musique will stream two vocal performances on Jan. 19 & 20, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. CET. First up, on Jan. 19, audiences will get a chance to hear a concert of soprano Sandrine Piau at L’Auditorium du Louvre featuring works by {…}
The Festival Aix-En-Provence has announced its 2021 season. The French festival will showcase Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and directed by Simon Stone. The production will star Stuart Skelton, Nina Stemme, Jamie Barton, Franz-Josef Selig, and Josef Wagner. Premiere Date: July 2, 2021 Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” will be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock and directed by {…}
This week audiences will get to hear the debut album of one of today’s greatest divas and two new pieces in world premiere recordings. Anima Rara Ermonela Jaho releases her debut recital disc “Anima Rara.” Recorded in Valencia in November 2019 with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and Andrea Battistoni, this recording brings together music championed by the Italian {…}
(Credits: Sandrine Expilly / Bertie Watson) The Gramophone has announced its 2020 Awards. The top Opera recording went to the Erato’s release of Handel’s “Agrippina”, featuring Joyce DiDonato, Elsa Benoit, Luca Pisaroni, Franco Fagioli, Jakub Józef Orliński, Andrea Mastroni, Carlo Vistoli, Biagio Pizzuti, and Marie-Nicole Lemieux. Maxim Emelyanychev conducted the Il Pomo d’Oro orchestra. Sandrine Piau received the Recital prize {…}