The etymology of the Italian word “maschera” (and its English equivalent “mask”) is rather obscure. It’s derived from the Arabic word “maskara,” meaning buffoonery and/or harsh derision. Indeed, a closer look at “Un ballo in maschera” reveals a higher degree of caustic bite far beyond the final act’s famous masked ball. Amelia seeks help from the soothsayer Ulrica to rid {…}
(Credit: Benjamin Girette/OnP) The Opéra National de Paris is set to present “Un Ballo in Maschera” in cinemas on Feb. 8, 2026. The opera, which will be presented in a production by Gilbert Deflo, will star Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Matthew Polenzani (Riccardo), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Sara Blanch (Oscar), and Elizabeth DeShong (Ulrica). Speranza Scapucci conducts. The opera will be shown {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2026 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Franck Ollu conducts Pascal Dusapin and Rita de Letteriis’s “Passion” starring Sarah Aristidou, Georg Nigl, and Schola Heidelberg. Performance Date: July 23, 2026 Asmik Grigorian stars as Bizet’s “Carmen” alongside Jonathan Tetelman, Kristina Mkhitaryan, and Davide Luciano. Teodor Currentzis conducts the production by Gabriela {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2025-26 cinema season. The company will feature five performances in cinemas, including two operatic performances. The first operatic performance will be Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” conducted by Speranza Scapucci in a production by Gilbert Deflo. The cast includes Matthew Polenzani (Riccardo), Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Sara Blanch (Oscar), and Elizabeth {…}
Spain’s Auditori de Girona has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. Sara Blanch and Vanessa García Diepa perform Donizetti, Rossini, Bellin, Tosti, De Curtis, and Mazzucchi e Di Capua. Performance Date: Oct. 5, 2025 Cor Maragall will perform music by Antonio Vivaldi, W.A. Mozart, Gabriel Fauré, John Lennon, Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, Enric Morera, and Duke Ellington. {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to watch the world premiere recording of a Rossini work as well as listen to two solo recitals. They will also get a chance to rediscover a Wagner Ring Cycle, which has been remastered. Here is a look {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Riccardo Frizza conducting Cherubini’s “Medea” in a production by Mario Martone. Sondra Radvanovsky stars in the title role alongside Francesco Meli, Giorgi Manoshvili, Désirée Giove, and Anita Rachvelishvili. Performance Dates: Dec. 3-16, 2025 Jessica Pratt, Maria Agresta, Désirée Giove, Francesco Demuro, and Mimmo Borrelli star in Ennio {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with “The Cunning Little Vixen,” featuring Peter Mattei, Anaïs Masllorens, David Alegret, Elena Tsallagova, Alejandro López, Milan Perišić, Sara Bañeras, Angela Brower, Mireia Pintó, Laura Brasó, and Mercedes Gancedo. Josep Pons conducts the production by Barrie Kosky. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-30, 2025 Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten” will star Anthony Roth Costanzo, {…}
The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced its 2025-26 season. Autumn Season Holger Falk will perform alongside Herbert Schuch, Vivi Vassileva, and Musicbanda Franui. Performance Date: Oct. 2, 2025 Julian Prégardien, Herbert Schuch, and Musicbanda Franui will perform in concert. Performance Date: Oct. 3, 2025 Winter Season Johann Sebastian Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium will be performed by Elisabeth Breuer, Ulrike Malotta, Gideon Poppe, {…}
Teatro Real presented a new production by Claus Guth of the unknown and rarely performed Mozart opera: “Mitridate.” The opera is a work that the talented Mozart composed when he was 14 -years -old and that followed the rigid structure of the XVIII century Italian opera, and therefore conforms with a series of recitatives (secco and accompagnato with piano forte {…}
The Royal Ballet and Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Oliver Mears. Anna Netrebko and Aleksandra Kurzak share the title role. Freddie De Tommaso and Gerald Finley also star. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 7, 2025 Speranza Scappucci conducts Verdi’s “I vespri siciliani” in a revival of Stefan Herheim’s production. Marina {…}