The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has canceled French conductor Frédéric Chaslin’s contract for “Aida” due to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. According to a report in “La Repubblica,” issues started to occur in February, when Chaslin arrived in Palermo to conduct a concert dedicated to Beethoven as the orchestra members were uneasy due to Chaslin’s alleged proximity with Epstein. As a {…}
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. {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera Rachmaninov’s “Aleko” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” will be performed in a double bill. Francesco Lanzillotta conducts the production by Silvia Paoli, who will put the two operas in a dialogue. Brian Jagde, Carolina López Moreno, and Elchin Azizov star. Opening Night: Nov. 21, 2025 Puccini’s “La bohème” will star Anastasia Bartoli, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Hasmik {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has appointed Marco Betta the new superintendent. On Nov. 18, the board of directors of the Fondazione Teatro Massimo di Palermo voted unanimously to confirm Betta to the position. Regarding the new position Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli said, “It is a new step, albeit in consistent continuity. Palermo will become the leading city of {…}
The Teatro Mssismo di Palermo has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera The season opens with Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre” which will be performed for the first time in Palermo. Omer Meir Wellber conducts the opera in a production by Barbora Horáková. Performance Dates: Nov. 24-Dec. 1, 2024 Mario Martone directs Verdi’s “Otello” with a cast that includes Yusif Eyvazov, Nicola {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “I Capuleti e Montecchi.” Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production by Idan Cohen. The cast includes Maria Kataeva and Anna Pennisi as Romeo and Marina Monzó and Francesca Pia Vitale as Giulietta. Ioan Hotea, Mert Süngü, Marco Spotti, and Gabriele Sagona round out the {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced its 2022-23 season. Opera The season opens with the new creation “Kaiserrequiem” by Omer Meir Wellber and Marco Gandini. The work, which unites “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” by Viktor Ullman and the Mozart’s Requiem will be conducted by Omer Meir Wellber and directed by Marco Gandini. Markus Werba, Karl Huml, Antonio Gares, Cameron {…}
The Dutch National Opera, Wiener Staatsoper and the Teatro Massimo are set to collaborate on a new opera entitled “Animal Farm.” The work by Moscow composer Alexander Raskatov is based on George Orwell’s book. In the press release, the companies said, “The Vienna State Opera, the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam and the Teatro Massimo di Palermo have announced the {…}
Plácido Domingo has been awarded the official medal of the city of Palermo. The singer was given the honor by the Mayor of the City Leoluca Orlando on Feb. 15 in anticipation for his Teatro Massimo di Palermo debut. Domingo is set to perform a production of “Simon Boccanegra” from Feb. 19 through 27, 2022. He will be joined by {…}
(Credit: Teatro It official website) Francesco Giambrone has been appointed the new Superintendent of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Giambrone is a medical doctor specialized in cardiology who has worked intensively as a music and dance critic for the “Giornale di Sicilia,” “il Mattino,” “la Repubblica,” and for magazines such as “Danza & Danza,” “Segno,” and “Nuove Ephemerides.” Giambrone was {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermos is set to open its 2022 season with Giuseppe Verdi’s “Les Vêpres Siciliennes.” The new production will be conducted by Omer Meir Wellber and will be staged by Emma Dante. The production will mark the first time Palermo present the Verdi work in its five-act French version; this version of “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” will be {…}