(Credit: © Ilkka Saastamoinen) Sebastian Fagerlund‘s new opera, based on Karl Ove Knausgård’s novel “Morgenstjernen” in Swedish or “The Morning Star” in English, inhabits that rare territory where literature, music, and visual spectacle converge to create something genuinely original — unsettling and beautiful at the same time. Gunilla Hemming’s libretto doesn’t so much adapt Knausgård’s labyrinthine 666-page narrative as distill {…}
The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” will get a new production by Richard Jones and will be presented for the first time since 1996. The new Finnish translation by Mikko Koivusalo will star Tommi Hakala, Samuli Takkula, Tuija Knihtilä, Maiju Vaahtoluoto, Elli Vallinoja, Polina Liiv, Suvi Väyrynen, Emma Mustaniemi, Dan Karlström, and Roland Liiv. Antony Hermus conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}
The Theater Dortmund has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Verdi’s “La Traviata” will get a new production by Vincent Boussard and Will Humburg will conduct. The opera will star Anna Sohn, Sooyeon Lee, Jessica Nuccio, Andrea Caré, Sungho Kim, and Mandla Mndebele. Performance Dates: Sept. 15, 2024-Jan 3, 2025 Gil Mehmert directs a new production of “Sweeney Todd” with Ks. {…}
Photo Credit: Stefan Bremer/Finnish National Opera “Covid fan tutte“ is a reconceptualization of Mozart’s comic opera organized by the Finnish National Opera in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story is a farcical reimagining of “Così fan tutte,” focusing on the impact of COVID-19 and the ability of opera singers to perform. Most of the opera takes a satirical look {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of Wagner’s “Parsifal” on June 2, 2023. The company said that baritone Tommi Hakala will sing the role of Amfortas, replacing Matthias Goerne. Hakala has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Staatsoper Dresden, Strasbourg, Copenhagen, De Vlaamse Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, Savonlinna Opera Festival, De Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam, {…}
The Volksoper Wien has announced its 2023-24 season. Here are the opera productions. New Productions Strauss’ “Salome” will star Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, Ursula Pfitzner, Astrid Kessler, Tommi Hakala, and JunHo You. Omer Meir Wellber conducts the Salzburger Festspiele 1992 by Luc Bondy. Performance Dates: Sept. 15-Oct. 29, 2023 Offenbach’s “Die Reise zum Mond” is set to be conducted by Alfred Eschwé and {…}
The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season featuring new productions and classic opera. Here is a look at the opera productions for the season. “Between” features music by Kaija Saariaho, Matias Vestergård, and Sebastian Hilli. Clément Mao-Takacs conducts a cast that includes Thomas Kellner, Tuuli Lindeberg, and Peter Herresthal. Performance Dates: August 31-Sept. 3, 2022 “CircOpera 2.0″ will {…}
The Savonlinna Opera Festival has announced its 2022 festival, which will feature five operas and several concerts. First up will be a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” by director Phillipp Himmelmann who asserts that “’Aida’ must be retold, because the world has changed irrevocably.” The opera will star Adina Aaron and Helena Juntunen sharing the title role alongside Gaston Rivero, {…}
On Sept. 1, the Finnish National Opera will stream “COVID fan tutte” by Mozart and Minna Lindgren. The production, which opened the 2020-21 season, will be showcased on the company’s Stage24 and Yle Areena at 7 p.m. European time. “COVID fan tutte” is an adaptation of Mozart’s famed “Così Fan Tutte” and uses lockdown experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic. The {…}
September brings the opening of several major companies in Europe. And that means new streaming opportunities of concerts and operas. Before we kick off our list, don’t forget to check out important discussions taking place regarding issues of race and equality in opera with such programs as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and Mark S. Doss’ “Heart and Soul” series {…}
(Image Provided by Savonlinna Opera Festival) The Savonlinna Opera Festival has announced that it will broadcast Karita Mattila’s recital to homes around the world starting on July 1, 2020. The broadcast will be made in collaboration with Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. ”I’m really looking forward to singing at the castle and performing with Ville the program we specifically put together {…}