(Credit: Marco Borrelli) Sometimes one has the impression that anniversaries are used to rationalize our infatuation with the music of an already popular composer. Such is the case this year when opera houses around the globe are commemorating the centenary of Puccini, the most performed opera composer after Verdi and Mozart. The Opéra de Monte-Carlo is no exception and in {…}
The Théâtre du Châtelet has postponed Jonas Kaufmann’s Viva Puccini concert to Nov. 4, 2024. The concert, which was originally set for Oct. 9, 2024, was postponed due to Kaufmann’s COVID illness. The news comes a few days after Kaufmann was forced to postpone his Oct. 6 concert at the Teatro San Carlo due to the illness. On Nov. 4, {…}
The Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera The season opens with Bellini’s “Norma” with Leonardo Sini conducting a production by Hugo De Ana. The cast will include Jessica Pratt and Irina Lungu in the title role alongside Antonio Poli, Elisa Balbo, Aya Wakizono, Carlo Lepore, and Alessio Cacciamani. Performance Dates: Jan. 18-26, 2025 Mozart’s “Don {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced a cast change for its production of “Adriana Lecourevur.” The company said, “We regret to announce that soprano Sonya Yoncheva has to cancel her participation in Adriana Lecouvreur because her dense schedule wouldn’t allow her to rehearse sufficiently for this role debut.” As a result, Aleksandra Kurzak will sing the title role on {…}
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 dell’Opera di Roma is set to celebrate Franco Zeffirelli’s centenary with Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” The work, which is set to be presented between March 12 and 19, was created in 1992 for the Opera di Roma. Daniel Oren conducts the production with Nino Machaidze and Valeria Sepe singing the role of Nedda, Brian Jagde and Luciano Ganci as Canio, {…}
The Teatro Regio di Parma has announced its 2022-23 season featuring five operas. Operas Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” is set to be presented in Mario Martone’s production as directed by Raffele Di Florio. Corrado Ravaris conducts a cast that includes Vito Priante (Don Giovanni), Mariangela Sicilia (Donna Anna), Marco Ciaponi (Don Ottavio), Giacomo Prestia (Il Commendatore), Carmela Remigio (Donna Elvira), Riccardo {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer/ Paul Schirnhofer/DG/ Shervin Lainez) The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli has announced its 2020-21 season which will be the first under superintendent Stéphane Lissner. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “La Bohème” in a new production by Emma Dante. Selene Zanetti stars as Mimì with Damiana Mizzi as Musetta, Stephen Costello in his house debut as Rodolfo, {…}
The Festival Puccini has organized a concert in three parts entitled “Puccini in Lockdown.” The concert, which is set to be showcased on May 1, 4, & 8, will be streamed on the Festival Puccini’s social media platforms. The first part on May 1 will showcase two orchestras, the musicians of the Orchestra del Festival Puccini and the Orchestra della {…}
The Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Italy has organized a second gala entitled “Gli Artisti Uniti.” The gala, which is set to premiere on April 18 on the theater’s website, will feature a number of stars from the Teatro Massimo including Vittorio Prato, Marco Filippo Romano, Matteo Mezzaro, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Roberto De Candia, Alessandro Luongo, Desirée Rancatore, and Celso {…}
While the holiday season might mean a slow-down of productions in some countries, there are still a plethora of opera productions for those so included. This weekend is dedicated to classic pieces in productions or featuring star casts. There is also one rarely performed work, that is intriguing as it is directed by one of the most acclaimed theaters in {…}