Opera Europa has selected a new president. The association announced that Teatro Real’s General Director Ignacio García-Belenguer will be the new President of Opera Europa, the association that brings together more than 200 lyric theaters and festivals in Europe, China, New Zealand, India and Israel, among others. The association also selected Martin Glaser, General Director of Narodni divadlo Brno, as {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has rounded out the year with 13 performances of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula,” a title which had not been performed in Madrid for 22 years. What is often considered Bellini’s most balanced composition was presented with a strong double cast of international singers and a new production directed by the Spanish stage director Barbara Lluch. Salem {…}
The Academia de las Artes Escénicas in Spain has awarded the 2022 Medallas de Oro to the Teatro Real de Madrid. The medal will be given to the theater for its “essential role in the dissemination and practice of the performing arts.” The Teatro Real is among the elected companies to receive this high honor alongside Festival Internacional de Teatro {…}
(This review is for the Oct. 30, 2022 performance with Anna Netrebko, Jorge de Leon, Ketevan Kemoklidze, Gevorg Hakobyan and Simón Orfila.) The Teatro Real opened its 2022-23 season at the Madrid Coliseum with Verdi’s masterpiece “Aida” (the season had officially opened with five performances of Philip Glass Orphée at Teatro del Canal theatre). Anna Netrebko was originally set to {…}
Following criticism regarding her wigs for the opening night production of “Aida” at the Teatro Real, Jamie Barton has apologized and has vowed never to use culturally approproiated wigs again. In a statement on social media, the mezzo said, “I am listening, I am learning, and I am taking action. I will not perform in makeup that is meant to {…}
The Teatro Real has announced the final replacements for Maria Agresta in Verdi’s “Aida.” The company announced that for the performance on Oct. 29, Robert Mantegna will perform the title role while on Nov. 11, Vittoria Yeo will join the roster in the title role. Finally, on Nov. 14, Krassimira Stoyanova will perform. Stoyanova and Mantegna will add one performance {…}
The Teatro Real has announced a cast for “Aida.” The company noted that Maria Agresta has canceled her performances of the title role for personal reasons. In a statement she said, “I am thankful to the Teatro, Hugo de Ana, and Nicola Luisotti for understanding and to my colleagues, a big hug. Arriverdeci, I’ll see you soon.” As a result, {…}
On Sept. 15, the Teatro Real de Madrid made history when it took the stage of Carnegie Hall for the first time in its history. The concert, which was titled “A Celebration of Spanish Music First Gala Concert,” was in truth a celebration of a culture and its fiery and passionate spirit. Falla & Albéniz The concert opened with Falla’s {…}
This review is from the third performance, on the 8th of July. The Teatro Real closed its 2021-22 season with 15 performances of what is probably Verdi’s most famous early opera: “Nabucco.” With four baritones sharing the titular role, three sopranos, and three basses, this production promised to be one of the highlights of the season. But despite having such {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced a cast change for its production of Rufus Wainwright’s “Hadrian.” The company noted that Ainhoa Arteta will no longer sing the role of Plotina and will be replaced by Alexandra Urquiola. The news comes days after the soprano posted a video on Instagram studying the score of the opera and noting that it {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has confirmed that it will not use blackface for its upcoming revival of “Aida.” Following the controversy at the Arena di Verona, OperaWire reached out to the Teatro Real regarding the revival of Hugo de Ana’s 1998 production which was last revived in 2018 and saw all its artists using blackface. The theater subsequently responded {…}