Festival d’Aix-En-Provence 2021 Review: Combattimento, La Théorie du Cygne Noir

(Photo: Monika Ritterhaus) “Combattimento, La Théorie du Cygne Noir” is a staged work for eight singers, consisting of madrigals, arias, lamentations, and instrumental pieces from the baroque period taken from the years 1630 to 1650. Put together by musical director Sébastien Daucé and stage director Silvia Costa for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, it includes works by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Messaino, Carissimi, Merula, {…}

Jun 24, 2021

Christina Gansch, Adriana Gonzalez, Rame Lahaj & Irene Roberts Headline Opéra National de Lorraine’s 2021-22 Season

(Credit: Opéra National de Lorraine) Opéra National de Lorraine in Nancy, France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Opera Rossi’s “Le Palais Enchanté” opens the season. The opera spotlights Victor Sicard as Orlando, Arianna Vendittelli as Angelica/Alceste, Fabio Trümpy as Ruggiero, and Mark Milhofer as Atlante. The {…}

Jun 20, 2021

Adriana Gonzalez, Irene Roberts & Anna Devin Headline Opéra de Dijon’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © Marine Cessat-Begler / OnP / Deutsche Oper Berlin official website / IMG Artists official website) Opéra de Dijon in France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera Verdi‘s “Macbeth” stars Dario Russo, Carlo Allemano, Yoann Le Lan, Alexandra Zabala as Lady Macbeth, and Stephen Gaertner in the title role. {…}

Jun 17, 2021

Valentina Nafornița, Gaëlle Arquez & Franco Fagioli Headline Opéra Royal de Versailles’ 2021-22 Season

(Credit: EPV / Christian Millet) Opéra Royal de Versailles has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring number of rarely performed operas and vocal works. Here is the full slate. Opera André Grétry’s opera “Richard Cœur de Lion” features Rémy Mathieu as Blondel and Pierre Derhet in the title role. The cast will be rounded out by Melody Louledjian, Marie Perbost Antonio, {…}

Jun 8, 2021

Marina Rebeka, Ermonela Jaho, Golda Schultz, Rachel Willis-Sørensen & Ludovic Tézier Headline Radio France’s 2021-22 Season

Radio France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is a look. Operas Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” spotlights Jodie Devos, Clara Guillon, Adèle Charvet, Marie Lenormand, Élodie Méchain, Antoine Normand, Régis Mengus, and Paul Gay. Mikko Franck conducts. Performance date: Oct. 1, 2021, Philharmonie de Paris {…}

Jun 6, 2021

Roberto Alagna, Catherine Hunold, Véronique Gens & Valerio Contaldo Headline Opéra de Massy’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony Music / Brennecke Art official website / Franck Juery / Alpha Classics / Operabase official website) Opéra de Massy in France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Bizet‘s “Carmen” opens the season. Thomas Bettinger performs Don José, Christian Helmer portrays Escamillo, and Ahlima Mhamdi takes on the title role. The cast also {…}

May 19, 2021

Joyce DiDonato, Jonathan Tetelman, Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Jakub Józef Orliński Headline Opéra National du Rhin’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © McQueen / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot / Jiyang Chen) Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Hans Abrahamsen’s “The Snow Queen” will spotlight Lauren Snouffer, Rachael Wilson, Helena Rasker, David Leigh, Michael Smallwood, Owen Willetts, Floriane Derthe, and Moritz Kallenberg. Robert {…}

Apr 26, 2021

Franco Fagioli, Chiara Skerath, Lawrence Zazzo & Delphine Galou Highlight Festival de Beaune 2021

(Credits: © Julian Laidig / © Capucine de Chocqueuse / Justin Hyer / Giulia Papetti) The Festival international d’Opéra Baroque & Romantique Beaune has announced its 2021 program, consisting of seven operas and oratorios, and four recitals. The festival will take place from July 9 until July 31, 2021. Operas & Oratorios Mozart‘s rarely performed operatic masterwork “Lucio Silla” will {…}

Dec 2, 2020

Nina Stemme, Carmen Giannattasio & Magdalena Kožená Lead Festival Aix-en-Provence’s 2021 Season

The Festival Aix-En-Provence has announced its 2021 season. The French festival will showcase Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and directed by Simon Stone. The production will star Stuart Skelton, Nina Stemme, Jamie Barton, Franz-Josef Selig, and Josef Wagner. Premiere Date: July 2, 2021 Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” will be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock and directed by {…}

Sep 4, 2020

Innsbruck Early Music Festival 2020 Review: La Pellegrina

(Photo: Birgit Gufler) In 1589, the Medici, Grand Duke Ferdinando married Christine of Lorraine in Florence in a lavish celebration, which was described as the most magnificent entertainment ever seen in the city. It was an event of rich splendor, aimed at projecting the power of the Medici and of Florence itself. At its center was the comedy, “La Pellegrina,” {…}

Feb 26, 2020

Teresa Iervolino, Jakub Józef Orlinski & Delphine Galou Highlight Festival de Beaune 2020

(Image Source: Festival international d’opéra baroque & romantique Beaune Facebook page) The Festival international d’Opéra Baroque & Romantique Beaune has announced its 2020 program, consisting of seven operas and oratorios, and three vocal works. Operas and Oratorios Mozart and Schikaneder opera “Die Zauberflöte” will showcase Julian Prégardien, Mari Eriksmoen, Sarah Traubel, Andreas Wolf, Elena Galitskaya, Jan Martinik, Maxime Melnik, Norma {…}