Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, & Jonas Kaufmann To Be Featured At Theatre Des Champs-Élysées 2018-19 Season

The Théâtre Champes-Élysées has announced its 2018-19 season. Let’s break it down Staged Productions  Jérémie Rhorer conducts a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Deborah Warner directing. Vannina Santoni stars in the title role alongside Saimir Pirgu and Laurent Naouri.  Performance Dates: Nov. 28-Dec. 9, 2018 Katie Mitchell directs Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos” with Camila Nylund and Roberto Sacca. Kate Lindsey and Olga Pudova round out {…}

Royal Opera House 2017-18 Review – Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci: Verismo Duo Falls Prey to Verismo Schtick

In the beginning of the 20th-century there was a snootiness about verismo opera. All of its propagators – Puccini, Giordano, Mascagni, among others – were accused of simplifying opera by eliminating many of its challenges. Those long showy lines of coloratura were long gone. In place of it, the singers began interspersing notes and passages with great long sighs or {…}

Top 5 Opera To See This Weekend – International (12/1-3): Jonas Kaufmann & Sonya Yoncheva Lead Productions

The weekend sees two new high profile productions open with star-studded casts. Meanwhile, Jonas Kaufmann and Elina Garanca headline major revivals throughout Europe. Hagen-Siegfried-Brundhilde – Theater an der Wien, Austria On Dec. 1, the Theater an der Wien will open a new ring cycle which was developed based on Richard Wagner’s music and was especially done for the Theater an der Wien. {…}

Weekend Preview – International (10/20-22): Bilbao Opens New ‘I Masnadieri’ While The Scottish Opera Inaugerates ‘La Traviata’

Opera season continues in full circle with many of the leading companies bringing some of the top stars and showcasing favorite works. Australia  Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov continue their tour in Australia, performing in Auckland. Austria  The Vienna State Opera kicks off its weekend with “The Gambler” starring Dmitry Ulyanov, Elena Guseva, Misha Didyk, Linda Watson, Thomas Ebenstein, Elena Maximova, {…}

Weekend Preview – International (10/13-10/15): Angela Gheorghiu Highlights A New Production of ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’ & Virginia Tola Highlights Rome’s ‘Tosca’

It’s another weekend filled with some of the greatest stars and some popular titles. Austria  The Vienna State Opera kicks off its weekend with “Don Giovanni” starring Adam Plachetka, Irina Lungu, Benjamin Bruns, Dorothea Röschmann and Robert Gleadow and will be followed by “The Gambler” with Dmitry Ulyanov, Elena Guseva, Misha Didyk, Linda Watson, Thomas Ebenstein, Elena Maximova, and Morten Frank Larsen. {…}

Weekend Preview – International (6/30-7/2): Vienna State Opera Ends Its Season While Plácido Domingo Graces The Mariinsky Theatre

Two companies’ seasons end this weekend with a number of stars continuing runs of important works. Austria The Wiener Staatsoper will showcase Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” starring Franz-Josef Selig, Bernarda Fink, Adrian Eröd, Simon Keenlyside and Olga Bezsmertna ending the season. Czech Republic The Prague Summer Nights festival continues with Opera scenes and the opening of   Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” {…}

Nino Machaidze, Simon Keenlyside & The Figaro Trilogy Headline Grand Theatre de Genève 2017-18 Season

The Gran Theatre de Genève has announced its 2017-18 season. The Three Figaro Operas Geneve will present three operas from the life of Figaro, over three days. The series will begin with  Gioachino Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” followed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Le Nozze di Figaro and concluding with Elena Langer’s “Figaro Gets a Divorce.” The operas will run {…}

Simon Keenlyside to Get High Honor From Vienna State Opera

Simon Keenlyside is slated to be named a Kammersänger at the Vienna State Opera next Monday. The baritone has performed with the company throughout the past 20 years. Among the operas he has appeared in are “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” “Eugene Onegin,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “La Traviata,” “Macbeth,” “Rigoletto,” “Don Giovanni,” “La Bohème,” “Wozzeck,” “Don Carlo,” “Billy Budd,” and {…}