Diana Damrau, Xabier Anduaga & Jonathan Tetelman Lead Festival Castell de Perelada’s 2023 Season

The Festival Castell de Perelada has announced its 2023 summer festival. The season opens with Freddie De Tommaso performing Verdi alongside Audrey Sain-Gil. Performance Date: July 28, 2023 Diana Damrau and Nicola Teste perform music by Ponchielli, Chopin, Bellini, Thomas, Strauss, Donizetti, and more. Helmut Deutsch accompanies on piano. Performance Date: July 29, 2023 Nuria Rial pays tribute to Victoria {…}

May 5, 2023

Nicky Spence & Serena Saenz Lead Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias’ 2023-24 Season

Spain’s Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Nuno Coelho conducts Massenet’s “Manon” at the Opera de Oviedo. Performance Dates: Sept. 10-16, 2023 Christoph Gedschold conducts Wagner’s “Lohengrin” at the Opera de Oviedo. Performance Dates: Jan. 25-Feb. 3, 2024 Nuno Coelho conducts Serena Saenz and Samuel Hasselhorn in {…}

Mar 17, 2023

Serena Sáenz, Xabier Anduaga & Lester Lynch Lead Festival Napa Valley’s 2023 Season

The Festival Napa Valley has announced the 2023 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Gordon Getty’s “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” will be shown. Performance Date: July 12, 2023 Festival Live! Concert Series will feature the 2023 Manetti Shrem Summer Conservatory Fellows. Performance Date: July 14, 2023 Serena Sáenz, Francisco Fullana, Sophia Bacelar, and Pablo Sáinz-Villegas {…}

Dec 29, 2022

Teatro Real de Madrid 2022-23 Review: La Sonnambula (Cast B)

The Teatro Real de Madrid has rounded out the year with 13 performances of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula,” a title which had not been performed in Madrid for 22 years. What is often considered Bellini’s most balanced composition was presented with a strong double cast of international singers and a new production directed by the Spanish stage director Barbara Lluch. Salem {…}

Nov 18, 2022

Anthony Clark Evans, Iván Ayón-Rivas, & Serena Sáenz Lead Teatro Municipal de Santiago’s 2023 Season

The Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Chile has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the operatic offerings. Ramón Gutiérrez, Rony Ancavil, Francisca Muñoz, Francisca Jünemann star in “El Demonio Mudo” with Ramiro Albino conducting and Gonzalo Cuadra directing. Performance Dates: May 12-20, 2023 Roberto Rizzi Brignoli conducts Bizet’s “Carmen” with Rodrigo Navarrete directing. Natalia Kutateladze and Evelyn Ramírez star alongside Galeano {…}

Nov 17, 2022

Jessica Pratt, Francesco Demuro, Nardus Williams, Serena Saenz, Xabier Anduaga Headline International Opera Awards 2022 Program

(Credit: © Bertie Watson/Gemma Escribano) The International Opera Awards has announced the program and performers for its upcoming ceremony on Nov. 28, 2022 at the Teatro Real de Madrid. Jessica Pratt and Francesco Demuro will headline a duet from “I Puritani” with soprano Nardus Williams presenting “Dovo sono” from “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Audiences will also hear soprano Barno Ismatullaeva {…}

Nov 9, 2022

Artist of the Week: Serena Sáenz

A week ago Serena Sáenz made headlines when she won second place at the Operalia Competition. Following numerous other competitions over the years, the soprano finally had her major breakout and is likely set for a major career. That career will get a significant boost this week when she makes her Wiener Staatsoper debut in a production of “Ariadne auf {…}

Oct 31, 2022

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Another Cast Change for ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The company said that Serena Sáenz will sing the role of Zerbinetta, replacing Caroline Wettergreen on Nov. 9, 11, 14, and 17. Sáenz is set to join a cast that includes Eric Cutler, Camilla Nylund, and Michael Arivony. Thomas Guggeis conducts the production by {…}

Oct 30, 2022

Operalia Competition Winners Announced

The Operalia Competition has announced its 2022 winners. The competition, which held its finale at the Latvian National Opera, announced that Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan and U.S. tenor Anthony León won first prize. Meanwhile, second prize went to Spanish soprano Serena Sáenz, U.S. tenor Duke Kim, and German Countertenor Nils Wanderer. Third Prize went to U.S. mezzo-soprano Maire Therese Carmack, {…}

Oct 26, 2022

Operalia Competition Announces 2022 Finalists

The World Operalia Competition has announced the finalists for the 2022 edition. The finalists in the opera category include USA mezzo-soprano Maire Therese Carmack, USA tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro, Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan, South Korean bass-baritone Jongwon Han, Finnish soprano Jenni Hietala, South Korean bass In-Ho Jeong, bass, USA tenor Duke Kim, USA tenor, Anthony León, USA tenor James Ley, South {…}

Oct 26, 2022

Operalia Competition Announces 2022 Semifinalists

The World Operalia Competition has announced the semifinalists for the 2022 edition. The semifinalists in the opera category include Australian mezzo Fleuranne Brockway, US mezzo Maire Therese Carmack, US tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro, Belgian soprano Louise Foor, Armenian soprano Juliana Grigoryan, Korean bass-baritone Jongwon Han, Korean soprano Yewon Han, Finnish soprano Jenni Hietala, Korean bass In-Ho Jeong, US tenor Duke Kim, {…}