Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, Benjamin Bernheim, Derek Welton, Gerald Finley, Freddie de Tommaso, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, & Piotr Beczała Lead Wiener Konzerthaus’ 2026-27 Season

The Wiener Konzerthaus has announced its 2026-27 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. VOCES8 leads a program of music by William Byrd, Virgil Thomson, Caroline Shaw, Morten Lauridsen, William Billings, Bobby McFerrin, Eric Whitacre, Taylor Scott Davis, Samuel Barber, Richard Rodgers, and Billy Strayhorn. Performance Date: Sept. 16, 2026 The Mahler Academy Orchestra will be joined by Fleur Barron and Philipp von Steinaecker in music by Mahler. Performance {…}

Feb 22, 2026

Donald Runnicles Leads Dresden Philharmonic in ‘Elektra’

On March 12 and 15, 2026, the Dresden Philharmonic will perform Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” in concert form at the Dresden Kulturpalast. The work will be conducted by chief conductor Sir Donald Runnicles, who has become an acclaimed interpreter of Strauss’ masterwork following performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, BBC Proms, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. {…}

Jan 6, 2026

Juan Diego Flórez, Maria Bengtsson, Dave Monaco, Ludovic Tézier & Marina Rebeka Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for the first edition of 2026’s CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. The year kicks off with star-studded new releases including a new Verdi recording and an Offenbach opera that features some of today’s greatest performers. Luigi Gordigiani: Romantic Florence – Songs For Voice And Piano Dynamic releases mezzo-soprano Marina Comparato’s latest album. She is {…}

Mar 18, 2025

Karita Mattila, Ausrine Stundyte, Heidi Stober & Christina Landshamer Lead Dresdner Philharmonie’s 2025-26 Season

The Dresdner Philharmonie has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Gunter Berger conducts the Children’s Choir with Malte Arkona moderating. Performance Date: Sept. 28, 2025 Hans-Christoph Rademann conducts Bach’s Mass in B Minor with Christina Landshamer, Marie Henriette Reinhold, Patrick Grahl, and Matthias Winckhler. Performance Date: Oct. 3, 2025 The music of Astor Piazzolla, {…}

Feb 26, 2025

Latvian National Opera 2025 Review: Salome

(Photo: Agnese Zeltiņa | Files.fm.) I’m not generally given to elaborating on opera plots; preferring for the audience to discover them for themselves, even where the outline of the tale is fairly well known. Alas, I feel somewhat compelled to at least superficially proffer some brief abridgement of “Salome,” if only to illustrate and accentuate the bizarre, outlandish and frequently {…}

Nov 25, 2024

Joyce DiDonato, Rihab Chaieb, Attilio Glaser, & Johan Reuter Lead Bregenz Festival’s 2025 Season

The Bregenz Festival has announced its 2025 season. Opera The festival will present Weber’s “Der Freischütz” in a production by Philipp Stölzl. The cast will include Liviu Holender, Johannes Kammler, Franz Hawlata, Raimund Nolte, Mandy Fredrich, Elissa Huber, Irina Simmes, Hanna Herfurtner, Gloria Rehm, Katharina Ruckgaber, Christof Fischesser, David Steffens, Oliver Zwarg, Thomas Blondelle, Attilio Glaser, and Mauro Peter. Performance Dates: July 17-August 17, 2025 Enescu’s {…}

Nov 8, 2024

Elīna Garanča, Cecilia Bartoli & Thomas Blondelle Lead Lucerne Festival’s 2025 Summer Seson

The Lucerne Festival has announced its 2025 summer season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly perform Mahler with Elīna Garanča. Performance Date: August 15, 2025 The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra and Keri-Lynn Wilson perform Strauss and Beethoven. Rachel Willis-Sørensen is the guest soloist. Performance Date: August 18, 2025 Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di {…}

Jun 11, 2024

Deutsche Oper Berlin 2023-24 Review: Der Ring des Nibelungen

(Photo credit: Bernd Uhlig) The man who gave the opera world its most dazzling 21st century “Parsifal,” Stefan Herheim, continues his quest to interrogate the Romantic text that is Richard Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelungen.” Inspired refreshing of a 150-year-old work of art can provide new insights and flashes of illumination. But conceptual pyrotechnics can just as easily destroy its {…}

May 30, 2024

Deutsche Oper Berlin 2024 Review: Der Ring des Nibelungen

(Photo by Bernd Uhlig) I’m back in Berlin, a city I favor and enjoy so much, ready for yet another Ring cycle at Deutsche Oper, a large, comfortable 1850-seat theatre boldly designed in the Modernist style and simply ideal for large-scale productions. And none comes much larger than those penned by Giacomo Meyerbeer, Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner Therefore, with {…}

Feb 23, 2024

Amanda Majeski, Derek Welton & Marie Perbost lead New CD/DVD Releases

Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week several complete recordings will be released, as well as a unique take on Beethoven ‘s Symphony No. 9. Janáček: Katya Kabanova The second release in LSO Live’s cycle of Janáček opera recordings is “Katya Kabanova.” The album’s cast includes the superb {…}

Apr 27, 2023

Anna Netrebko, Michael Volle & Klaus Florian Vogt Lead Staatstheater Wiesbaden’s 2023-24 Season

The Staatstheater Wiesbaden has announced its 2023-24 season featuring premieres, revivals, and recitals. Premieres Wagner’s “Lohengrin” will be conducted by Michael Güttler and directed by Henriette Hörnigk. The cast will be led by Mirko Roschkowski, Marco Jentzsch, Klaus Florian Vogt, Heather Engebretson, Khatuna Mikaberidze, KS Thomas de Vries, Egils Silins, Young Doo Park, and Timo Riihonen. Performance Dates: Sept. 16, 2023-May {…}