Johan Reuter, Susan Bullock, Natalya Romaniw, Elisabet Strid, Ricarda Merbeth & Russell Thomas Lead Finnish National Opera’s 2025-26 Season

The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” will get a new production by Richard Jones and will be presented for the first time since 1996. The new Finnish translation by Mikko Koivusalo will star Tommi Hakala, Samuli Takkula, Tuija Knihtilä, Maiju Vaahtoluoto, Elli Vallinoja, Polina Liiv, Suvi Väyrynen, Emma Mustaniemi, Dan Karlström, and Roland Liiv. Antony Hermus conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}

Dec 14, 2024

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées 2024-25 Review: Dialogues of the Carmélites

(Photo: © Vincent Pontet) A few moments before the start of the opera, a friend of mine told me that this is the first time Aquarius has been in Pluto’s orbit since 1789. Whether or not that is true, I cannot say; I did not have the willingness to check. Still, it could be a sign from the stars that {…}

Jul 24, 2024

Munich Opera Festival 2024 Review: Die Passagieren

(Credit: W.Hoesl) It was particularly notable to watch Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s opera, “Die Passagieren” in Munich, even all these years after World War II. To walk the same streets where once goose-stepping Nazi soldiers rallied round Hitler and to visit the elegant, rebuilt National Theater to see an opera about the tragedy of that very subject intensified the experience. “Die Passagieren” {…}

Apr 24, 2023

Michael Spyres & Chevalier Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get a chance to hear a soundtrack from an anticipated film and the new album from one of the most interesting tenors in the industry. Ariadne auf Naxos Dynamic releases Strauss’ work in a production by Matthias Hartmann. The Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is led by Daniele Gatti and production from Florence stars Krassimira Stoyanova {…}

Apr 11, 2023

Matthias Goerne, Levy Sekgapane & Karine Deshayes Lead Opéra national du Capitole’s 2023-24 Season

The Opéra national du Capitole, Toulouse has announced its 2023-24 season featuring seven productions and recitals. Opera Victorien Vanoosten conducts Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles” with Thomas Lebrun Mise directing. The cast includes Anne-Catherine Gillet, Mathias Vidal, Alexandre Duhamel, and Jean-Fernand Setti. Performance Dates: Sept. 26-Oct. 8, 2023 Andris Poga conducts Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” in a production by Olivier Py. The {…}

Mar 5, 2023

Jonas Kaufmann, Saioa Hernández, Lise Davidsen & Sonya Yoncheva Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2023-24 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2023-24 season. New Productions The first new production of the season will be Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Stefano Montanari conducts the production by Evgeny Titov. The cast will include Huw Montague Rendall, Mattia Olivieri, Elsa Dreisig, Maria Bengtsson, Louise Alder, Konstantin Krimmel, Avery Amereau, and Dorothea Röschmann. Performance Dates: Oct. 30, 2023-July 17, 2024 {…}

Jun 30, 2022

Renée Fleming, Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Piotr Beczala, Asmik Grigorian Headline Opera Naples’ Summer Film Series

Opera Naples will be presenting a summer film series starting on July 6, 2022 and running through Oct. 19. The screenings, which will take place at the Wang Opera Center, will kick off with a performance of “Madama Butterfly” from the Teatro alla Scala. The showcase, which is conducted by Riccardo Chailly and stars María José Siri, features the original {…}

May 5, 2022

Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Brian Jagde & Charles Castronovo Lead Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2022-23 Season

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2022-23 season featuring 10 new productions. Premieres Benedict Andrews directs Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with Vladimir Jurowski conducting a cast that includes Louise Alder, Avery Amereau, Konstantin Krimmel, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Sandrine Piau, and Christian Gerhaher. Performance Dates: Oct. 26, 2022-July 17, 2023 Wagner’s “Lohengrin” will be conducted by François-Xavier Roth and directed by film director {…}

Apr 6, 2022

Sophie Koch, Anita Hartig, Rosa Feola & Nina Stemme Lead Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse’s 2022-23 Season

The Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse has announced its 2022-23 season featuring opera and recitals. Here is a look: Opera The season opens with Dvorák’s “Rusalka” conducted by Frank Beermann and directed by Stefano Poda. The opera stars Anita Hartig, Aleksei Isaev, Piotr Buszewski, Béatrice Uria-Monzon, and Janina Bachle. Performance Dates: Oct. 6-16, 2022 Vannina Santoni, Anaïs Constans, Kévin Amiel, {…}

Jul 3, 2021

Nino Machaidze, Enea Scala & Sophie Koch Lead Opéra de Marseille’s 2021-22 Season

France’s Opera de Marseille has announced its 2021-22 season featuring seven operatic productions. Here is a look: The season will open with Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell” starring Alexandre Duhamel, Enea Scala, and Angélique Boudeville. Michele Spotti conducts the new production by Louis Désiré. Performance Dates: Oct. 12-20, 2021 Nino Machaidze stars in Rossini’s “Armida” alongside Enea Scala, Matteo Roma, Chuan Wang, {…}

Jun 23, 2021

Annette Dasch, Patrizia Ciofi, Ève-Maud Hubeaux & Levente Molnár Lead Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur official website) L’Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera “Réunion de Famille” features music and arias from “Akhnaten,” “La Dame blanche,” “Macbeth,” and “Le Voyage dans la lune,” and spotlights the Choeur de l’Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur. Daniele Callegari conducts. Performance date: {…}

sophie koch