Siyabonga Maqungo Stars in The Songmakers’ Guild’s ‘A Poet’s Journey’

The Songmakers’ Guild presents “A Poet’s Journey” with tenor Siyabonga Maqungo. Maqungo and pianist Florian Uhlig perform a program showcasing two masterpieces of German Lieder: Beethoven’s “An die ferne Geliebte” and Schumann’s “Dichterliebe.” A Poet’s Journey” is the the Songmakers’ Guild’s second installment of Schumann’s ‘Dichterliebe.” Countertenor Clint Van der Linde and harpist Vincianne Degroote opened the series back in Feb. {…}

Anna Netrebko, Marina Rebeka, Sonya Yoncheva & Elīna Garanča Lead Staatsoper Unter den Linden’s 2023-24 Season

Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2023-24 season. The season will showcase numerous revivals and new productions. Premieres Calixto Bieito directs a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” with Grigory Shkarupa, Elīna Garanča, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Marina Rebeka, María José Siri, Yusif Eyvazov, Ivan Magrì, René Pape, Erwin Schrott, Vladislav Sulimsky, and Alfredo Daza. Nicola Luisotti conducts.  Performance Dates: Oct. {…}

CD Review: Sondra Radvanovsky & Jonas Kaufmann’s ‘Turandot’

There is no shortage of good and, sometimes, exceptional recordings of Puccini’s “Turandot,” with aficionados generally swaying between Molinari-Pradelli’s studio release (with Franco Corelli and Birgit Nilsson) and Mehta’s landmark take from 1972. Add to this Franco Ghione and, in excerpts, Barbirolli’s visceral “Turandots” from the pre-war period, and nearly all aspects of Puccini’s swan song – from the ritualistic {…}

Matthias Goerne, Caroline Wettergreen & Gyula Orendt Lead Staatsoper Berlin’s ‘Die Zauberflöte’

(Credits: © Marie Staggat, Deutsche Grammophon / Bayerische Staatsoper official website / Gregor Hohenberg) The Staatsoper Unter den Linden will present the August Everding’s production of Mozart‘s singspiel “Die Zauberflöte” in December 2021. The opera stars Matthias Goerne and Grigory Shkarupa in the role of Sarastro; Siyabonga Maqungo and Peter Sonn as Tamino; Caroline Wettergreen as Die Königin der Nacht; {…}

Dagmar Schellenberger & Aris Argiris Highlight Theater Chemnitz’ 2019-20 Season

Theater Chemnitz has announced its 2019-20 opera season. Premieres The season will kick off with Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele,” directed by Balázs Kovalik and starring Magnus Piontek in the title role, Cosmin Ifrim as Faust, and Katerina Hebelkova as Margherita/Helena. They will be joined by Siyabonga Maqungo as Wagner/Nero and Sophia Maeno as Marta/Pantalis. Guillermo García Calvo and Jakob Brenner will {…}