Benjamin Appl, Helen Charlston, Roderick Williams, & Lotte Betts-Dean Among Performers in Oxford International Song Festival 2025

The Oxford International Song Festival has announced its line up for 2025. This article only features classical vocal concerts. Baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist Sholto Kynoch open the festival with a concert highlighting the works of Franz Schubert. Performance Date: October 10, 2025 Baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist Sholto Kynoch perform a small selection of songs in “Song Sofa.” This {…}

May 3, 2025

Germán Enrique Alcántara, Julieth Lozano, Soraya Mafi, & Robert Lewis Star in Opera Rara’s 55th Season

Opera Rara announces its 55th season. Concerts The Salon Series recital co-presented with Temple Music Foundation features baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara and pianist Anna Tilbrook. Performance Date: October 10, 2025 The final, 1921 version of Puccini’s “La rondine” features Ermonela Jaho, Iván Ayón-Rivas, Nicola Alaimo, Ellie Neate, Juan Francisco Gatell, Jessica Robinson, Julieth Lozano, Joanna Harries, Robert Lewis, and William {…}

Mar 29, 2025

Komische Oper Berlin Announces 2025-26 Season

The Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres The children’s opera “Conrad or The factory-made boy” by Samuel Penderbayne will star Mengqi Zhang, Andreja Schneider, Philipp Meierhöfer, Ulrike Helzel, Johannes Dunz, and Junoh Lee. Anne Hinrichsen conducts the production by Ruth Brauer-Kvam. Performance Dates: Oct. 10-Dec. 26, 2025 James Gaffigan conducts a new production of Strauss’ “Salome.” The {…}

Jun 24, 2024

Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2024 Review: The Merry Widow

(Photo © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton) There was much to fuel the excitement around a brand new production of Franz Lehár’s “The Merry Widow” for Glyndebourne Festival Opera this year. It’s the first time the work has ever been mounted there, and it’s always a treat to see what the slickly-oiled operatic operation, with its six weeks of {…}

May 16, 2024

Anna Devin, Soraya Mafi, Andrew Foster-Williams, Andrew Hamilton Headline Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the classical vocal performances on offer. Karl-Heinz Steffens conducts music by Vaughan Williams, Beethoven, and Holst. The program features the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. Performance Dates: Oct. 2 & 4, 2024 Soprano Anna Devin and baritone Andrew Foster-Williams will be featured in a program that includes works by {…}

May 11, 2024

David Portillo, Michael Chioldi, Claudia Boyle & Soraya Mafi Lead Irish National Opera’s 2024-25 Season

The Irish National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The company will open with a double bill featuring “Mary Motorhead” and “Trade.” Naomi Louisa O’Connell, Oisin O’Dalaigh, and John Molloy star in the production. Elaine Kelly conducts and Tom Creed directs. Performance Date: August 8–Oct. 23, 2024 Paula Murrihy and David Portillo lead Berlioz’s “Béatrice and Bénédict,” alongside Anna Devin, {…}

Mar 13, 2024

Soraya Mafi, Daisy Brown, Robert Hayward & Roland Wood Lead Opera North’s 2024-25 Season

Opera North has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” with Claire Lees, Soraya Mafi, Egor Zhuravskii, Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, Anna Dennis, Msimelelo Mbali, Justin Hopkins, Emyr Wyn Jones, Pasquale Orchard, Colin Judson, and Andri Björn Róbertsson. Christoph Koncz, Patrick Lange, and Emilia Hoving share the podium and James Brining directs. Performance Dates: Sept. 27, {…}

May 15, 2023

Sonya Yoncheva, Riccardo Massi, Jennifer France, Soraya Mafi Headline Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s 2023-24 Season

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, under Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan, has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a breakdown of the vocal performances on offer. There will be a performance of Beethoven’s “Mass in C” alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. Jennifer France, Claire Barnett-Jones, Oliver Johnston, and Dominic Sedgwick will be the soloists. The performance will also feature music by {…}

Jun 7, 2022

Rosa Feola, Pene Pati, Karine Deshayes & Jakub Józef Orliński Lead Opéra de Rouen’s 2022-23 Season

The Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a number of productions, concerts and special guests. Here is a look. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring Sergio Vitale, Rosa Feola, Pene Pati, Agnès Letestu, and Paul Gay. Ben Glassberg conducts the production by Richard Brunel. Performance Dates: Sept. 22-Oct. 2022 “Mon amant de Saint-Jean” will {…}

May 19, 2022

Seattle Opera 2021-22 Review: The Marriage of Figaro

Every element in Seattle Opera’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” which I saw on opening night, focused the production into a sunny comedy brimming with goodwill. You’d have to look hard to find any political overlays, class resentment, sexual aggression, or personal bitterness on stage amidst the humorous antics. Any elements of the story that might harbor threats of dark antagonism {…}

Jan 21, 2022

BBC Symphony Orchestra Announces ‘Total Immersion: Music for the End of Time’

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is set to present its program “Total Immersion: Music for the End of Time” on Jan. 23, 2022 in Barbican Hall. Events for Total Immersion Day will begin that morning at 10:30 a.m. with the showing of the film “The Music of Terezín.” The first concert starts at 1:30 p.m. featuring “The Theresienstadt Orchestra,” followed by {…}

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