The Teatro alla Scala has announced its cast for the 2026-27 season opening. As noted the company will open its season with a production of “Otello” directed by Damiano Michieletto under the direction of the company’s new music director Myung-Whun Chung. The cast will be headlined by Brian Jagde in the title role, alongside Eleonora Buratto as Desdemona and Luca {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has revealed the operas that will be performed during the 2026-27 season. As previously reported the company will open with “Otello” in a new production by Damiano Michieletto. The company will also showcase the company premiere of “Leonora” by Ferdinando Paër in a production by Daniele Menghini and conducted by Roland Böer. Valentina Carasco will direct {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has confirmed that the 2026-27 season will open with Verdi’s “Otello.” The production will be directed by Damiano Michieletto and will be conducted by Music Director Myung-Whun Chung. The opera will open on Dec. 7, 2026. The company also confirmed that the 2027-28 season will open with Verdi “Un ballo in maschera” under the direction of Chung. The {…}
(© Teatro alla Scala) A Wagnerian friend spoke of a dream where he is visited by the composer himself. Wagner tells him, “The entire Tetralogy is a stream of images, nothing more. I think back to that day by the Mediterranean when, in a dream, the melody of my Rhine-maidens that was to begin my entire Tetralogy came to me. {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has announced a major cast change for its “Ring Cycle,” revealing that Michael Volle has been forced to withdraw from three upcoming performances due to indisposition. The celebrated German baritone will miss the March 10 performance of “Das Rheingold,” the March 11 staging of “Die Walküre,” and the March 13 presentation of “Siegfried.” In his stead, {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has appointed Sebastian F. Schwarz as its new casting director. He take over the position starting March 1, 2026 and will succeed Alessandro Galoppini, who held the position since 2019. In his new position Schwarz will work alongside General Director and Artistic Director Fortunato Ortombina and artistic Cooridnator Paolo Gavazzeni. Born in Germany, Schwarz is a {…}
The Teatro alla Scala is set to be included in the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Feb. 2, 2026. The company announced that the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra will be conducted by Music Director Riccardo Chailly and will feature baritone Luca Salsi. The event is one of the many featured for the 2026 Winter Olympics which are set to {…}
(Credit: Marius Vepsta) The Teatro alla Scala has announced a cast change for its production of “Die Walküre.” The company said that “due to an indisposition, Elza van den Heever will be unable to perform in the performances of ‘Die Walküre.’ The role of Sieglinde will be sung by Vida Mikneviciute in her place.” Mikneviciute has performed with the Zürich {…}
(Photo: Brescia e Amisano | Teatro alla Scala) Composed between 1930 and 1932, when the young Dmitri Shostakovich had not yet turned thirty, “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” represents one of the boldest and most radical moments in the entire operatic output of the twentieth century. Riccardo Chailly described the work as “an opera of radical modernity.” At its {…}
On Dec. 24, 2025, the Teatro alla Scala’s 2025 Christmas Concert will be broadcast in Italy on Rai 1 and RaiPlay. The concert, which was performed on Dec. 20, features Lorenzo Viotti conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala, alongside soloists Krassimira Stoyanova, Julien Behr and Markus Eiche. The program opened with the orchestral suite from “Les Animaux {…}
The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to look back and reflect at what was and what will remain in our memories. As per usual, OperaWire has compiled the favorite performances of the year from many of our contributors. We won’t keep you waiting, here’s a look at the Staff Picks for the best performances of 2025. {…}