(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” is a glorious opera. Full of lush melodies, an elegant libretto, tense dramatic set pieces, and a propulsive pace it always baffles me how little attention it has gotten at the Metropolitan Opera in recent years. Since premiering in 1921, it has had 186 performances with the most recent prior to {…}
(Credit: Manfred Baumann) Soprano Sonya Yoncheva is one of the most unique modern opera stars in the world. Where most take the conventional path, the soprano tends to experiment and move in directions that are constantly surprising. She’s engaged with the baroque repertoire, the bel canto, works by Mozart, romantic repertory, and verismo with a fluidity and mastery that few {…}
(Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” for the first time since 2014. The opera will be presented six times between Nov. 24 and Dec. 13, 2025, and will star tenor Piotr Beczała, soprano Sonya Yoncheva, and baritone Igor Golovatenko. The opera will reunite Beczała and Yoncheva after performing in a {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has canceled her performance of “Iolanta” at the Wiener Staatsoper on Sept. 10, 2025. The soprano took to social media and said, “Dear All, some of you have noticed that I couldn’t take part at the Gala in Vienna last Sunday. The night before while performing ‘Iolanta’ at the Wiener Staatsoper, I felt an incredible physical fatigue, which {…}
Sonya Yoncheva and Freddie de Tommaso are set to revive Giordano’s “Marina.” The performances will be held on Feb. 12 and 14, 2026 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan and will feature the world premiere of the lost opera in a critical edition by ura di Andreas Gies, Editio Princeps, Libreria Musicale Italiana, Edizione Nazionale delle Opere di Umberto {…}
(Credit: © Julia Wesely, © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music, © Sarah Katharina) The Wiener Staatsoper is set to launch its 2025-26 season with an open-air gala concert on Sept. 7. The gala marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation from National Socialism and the establishment of the Second Republic and will also celebrate the 70 years of the State {…}
On July 19, the Teatro Real will broadcast the iconic Willy Decker production of “La Traviata,” marking 20 years since the production premiered. When it opened in 2005, it became an instant classic for its modern, minimalist approach and its stark staging focusing on the three main characters. The production also emphasized time and Violetta’s impending death through a large {…}
The Opéra National de Bordeaux has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances of the season. Opera The season opens with Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” starring Gaétan Borg, Jasmine Roy, Scott Emerson, Jeanne Jerosme, Sinan Bertrand, Marion Préïté, Arnaud Masclet, Camille Mesnard, Eva Gentili, Loïc Suberville, Camille Nicolas, Neïma Naouri, Myriana Hatchi, and Joseph De Cange. Performance Dates: Sept. 24-27, 2025 Hervé Niquet conducts Purcell’s “King Arthur” with Olivia Doray, Robin Tritschler, Cyril Auvity, {…}
(This review was written in collaboration with Francisco Salazar) The road to the Met Opera’s second performance of “The Queen of Spades” on Wednesday, May 28, was almost as dramatic as the opera itself. The role of Hermann is a monster. One of the most difficult in the repertoire, not only does it challenge the tenor taking it on with {…}
The 64th edition of the Festival de Pollença has announced its season. The festival will be held between August 9 and 29, 2025. Here is the sole vocal performance for the season. Sonya Yoncheva will perform alongside the Orchestre de l’Royal de Versailles. Stefan Plewniak conducts the concert. Performance Date: August 16, 2025 The festival also includes performances by Janine {…}
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Kelsey Thomas and Edward Lloyd perform a lunchtime recital. Performance Date: Sept. 22, 2025 Geoffrey Paterson conducts Julian Bliss and Agustin Pennino in Boccherini, Bernstein, Copland, Einojuhani Rautavaara, and Sibelius. Performance Date: Oct. 11, 2025 Domingo Hindoyan conducts Brahms’ Requiem with Sophie Bevan and {…}