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 {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
The Operalia Competition has announced the singers who will participate in this year’s Competition at the Latvian National Opera in Riga. This year’s participants come from the USA, Australia, Venezuela, Mexico, South Korea, Italy, New Zealand, Latvia, Finland, Spain, Russia, Mongolia, Germany, China, Turkey, Belgium, and Armenia. Rolex will sponsor the 2022 edition, which will be held between Oct. 24 {…}
The Teatro de la Zarzuela has announced its 2022-23 season. Zarzuela The season opens with “La Celestina” by Felip Pedrell. The concert version will star Ketevan Kemoklidze, Miren Urbieta Vega, Andeka Gorrotxategi, Juan Jesus Rodriguez, Simon Orfila, and Sofia Esparza. Guillermo García Calvo conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 9 & 11, 2022 Barbieri’s “Pan y toros” will be conducted by Guillermo García {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The company noted that Serena Saenz will sing the role of Pamina instead of Papagena, replacing Nuria Rial in performances scheduled for June 21,25,27,30, and July 2, 2022. Saenz is a rising star who recently won the Montserrate Caballé Vocal Competition and {…}
The Auditori in Barcelona has announced its 2022-23 season. Here are vocal highlights for the season. Audrey and Ludovic Morlot join forces for Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. Performance Date: Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2022 Sarah Connolly and Ludovic Morlot perform a program of music by Mahler, Dvorak and Rio-Pareja, and Rachmaninoff. Performance Dates: Oct. 15 & 16, 2022 Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano {…}
(Credit: Fay Fox/Jaclyn Simpson/Lynn Lane) It’s been a tough 2021. After some hope settled into the opera world with the reopening of most companies around the globe, the end of the year seemed to revert to what we saw for much of 2020 – more lockdowns, more COVID, more cancelations. But despite what seems like a dark ending to the {…}
Soprano Serena Sáenz has won first place at the Concurso de Canto Montserrat Caballé. The XVI edition took place at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and saw Sáenz win 15.000 € as well as special mention by the audience, the Liceu and the Festival Castell de Peralada. Sáenz has performed at the Staatsoper Berlin, Liceu Opera, L’Òpera de Sabadell, Ópera {…}
