(Credit: Brescia – Amisano © Teatro alla Scala) The “Prima della Scala” is more than just an opera performance; it’s a quintessential Italian event that intertwines art, history, and tradition, captivating global audiences every December 7th. This year, Teatro alla Scala inaugurates its 2024/2025 season with Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” Here are five essential insights to help you fully {…}
The Teatro alla Scala is set to open its 2024-25 season with Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” a work that has rarely appeared on the Milan stage. The work was last presented in 1999 with Riccardo Muti conducting and in 2001 with Valery Gergiev conducting the Mariinsky Theatre. The only time the opera opened the Teatro alla Scala was in {…}
The Teatro alla Scala is set to broadcast Verdi’s La Forza del Destino” on Dec. 7, 2024, continuing its tradition of showcasing opening night on Rai1 and Radio3. The performance will also broadcast on ARTE in France and the French-speaking countries in Europe and out of Europe; in Germany and German-speaking countries, ČESKÁ TELEVIZE in The Czech Republic, RSI in Switzerland, {…}
(Photo Credit: Lena Fainberg) Born in Russia, mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya is a graduate of the Russian Gnesin Academy of Music in Moscow and a former member of the Youth Opera Program at the Bolshoi Theatre. Her repertoire encompasses roles of the Italian bel canto of Rossini and Bellini, Mozart, Baroque music such as Vivaldi and Purcell, and roles from Russian {…}
(Photo © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn) “La Cenerentola” premiered in 1817, shortly after Rossini’s success with “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” History tells us that it was composed in just three weeks, with only minimal self-plagiarism: the overture was borrowed from “La Gazetta,” and the protagonist’s final rondo from the tenor’s final aria in “Il Barbiere.” The story is a {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Tobias Krazter directs a new production of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” with Nicholas Brownlee, Milan Siljanov, Sean Panikkar, Markus Brück, Matthias Klink, Matthew Rose, Timo Riihonen, Ekaterina Gubanova, Mirjam Mesak, and Wiebke Lehmkuhl. Vladimir Jurowski conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27, 2024-July 31, 2025 Damiano Michieletto directs Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” with {…}
The Royal Opera House is set to perform a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” directed by Damiano Michieletto. The opera will be performed between April 5 and May 31, 2024 and will be broadcast on May 1, 2024 in the cinema theatres of over 50 countries. Micheieletto has directed three other productions at the Royal Opera House including “Guillaume Tell {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences are in for two full recordings of well-known works with some of the world’s greatest singers. There are also choral recoridngs and some less known works to discover. Heaven to Earth Signum Classics releases Heaven to Earth, a collection of singable, {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera) I suppose anything with “Destiny” in the title will always be a bit profound. In fact, “La Forza” is about as profound and gloomy, if not downright dark as it gets, even by Verdi’s standards. At around four and a half hours, it’s also his longest work. It’s a story of love, death, and revenge. Mainly revenge. {…}
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 Arena di Verona has announced several cast changes for productions of “Rigoletto” and “Nabucco.” The company revealed that Giulia Mazzola will replace Nina Minasyan as Gilda. The cancelation marks Minasyan’s fourth canceled performance. She is still scheduled to sing in the August 19 performance of “La Traviata.” Mazzola will join a cast that includes Luca Salsi in the title {…}