Yet another “Tosca” — this one captured live at the 2024 edition of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. The production garnered widespread acclaim, not least for its stark pseudo-fascist décor, evocative of today’s authoritarianism worldwide. But how do its musical qualities fare, and do they warrant the release of Naxos’s new CD set? The performance is entrusted to the capable {…}
The Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña has announced its 2026 season celebrating 74 years. The season opens with Janacek’s “Jenůfa,” which will star Vanessa Goikoetxea, Eliska Weissová, Alejandro Roy, Joan Lainez, Marianne Cornetti, Gabriel Alonso, Javier Agudo, Andrea Varela, Belén Vaquero, and Ruth González. Alfons Flores and Ana Garay will be responsible for the staging while José Miguel Pérez-Sierra will conduct. Performance {…}
The Ópera de Oviedo has announced its 2026-27 season. The season opens with Mahler’s “Sorrow” and Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” in a double bill.The productions stars Ana Ibarra, Anna Tobella, María Heres, Marina Pardo, Montserrat Serós, Ana Cabrera, and Andrea Jiménez. Diego Martin-Etxebarria conducts the production by Joan Anton Rechi. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-16, 2026 Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” will star Yolanda {…}
Festival de ópera de cámara announces its 2026 lineup. The festival opens with “Svadba“ by Ana Sokolović and “Klara“ by Pedro Halffter. Vanessa Goikoetxea sings the role of Klara with Halffter and Juan Carlos Garvayo at the piano. Performance Date: July 3, 2026 “Pericca e Varrone” by Scarlatti is next. La Madrileña perform under the the baton of José Antonio {…}
The Fundación Baluarte has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances for the concert hall in Pamplona, Spain. Andoni Sierra conducts Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” with Raquel Andueza, Katharine Hawnt, and Jesús García Aréjula. Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2025 Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will be conducted by Christoph Prégardien and will showcase Deborah Cachet, Elvia Bill, David Fisher, and {…}
The Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur has announced its 2025-26 season. Léo Warynski conducts Philip Glass’ “Satyagraha” in a production by Lucinda Childs. The production stars Melody Louledjan, Karen Vourc’h, Julie Robard-Gendre, Sahy Ratya, Jean-Luc Ballestra, Frédéric Diquero, and Angel Odena. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-7, 2025 “Chansons de Paris” will star Laeticia Goepfert, Remi Mathieu, Priscilla Beyrand, Serge Manguette, Isabelle Bourgeais, and Gilles San {…}
La Monnaie de Mont has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Falstaff” starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role, Lionel Lhote, Bogdan Volkov, Sally Matthews, Benedetta Torres, and Daniela Barcellona. Alain Altinoglu and Ouri Bronchti alternate and Laurent Pelly directs the new production. Performance Dates: Sept. 21-Oct. 9, 2025 Ricard Soler Mallol and Grey Filastine showcase {…}
The title role of “Mitridate” is by far the most difficult Mozart role and one of the hardest of the entire tenor repertoire. It requires extreme security in the high register, as it is constantly going up to high Bs and high Cs, and a strong middle and low register, too. Teatro Real‘s production featured tenor Siyabonga Maqungo in the {…}
The Teatro Municipal de Santiago has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the opera and vocal performances. Opera Erika Grimaldi and Oksana Sekerina star in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with José Simerilla, Anthony Ciaramitaro, Kai Rüütel, Evelyn Ramírez, Eleomar Cuello, and Javier Weibel. Paolo Bortolameolli conducts the production by Verónica Villarroel. Performance Dates: July 3-12, 2025 Yaritza Véliz and {…}
The Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the operas and concerts. Opera Verdi’s “Il Corasaro” is set to open the season with Rame Lahaj and Zizhao Guo sharing the lead role. They will be joined by Guanqun Yu, Benedetta Torre, Vladimir Stoyanov, Luca Galli, Vanessa Goikoetxea, and Carmen Lopez. Stefano Montanari conducts the {…}
(Photo credit: Nile Scott Studios) What can one expect from an opera that the one and only Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed when he was a mere fourteen years young? It is impressive considering the age of its composer and disappointing if we bear in mind what came next—like listening to Wagner’s “Die Feen,” Verdi’s “I Due Foscari” or even Puccini’s {…}