‘Don Giovanni’ Is One of the Greatest Works Ever Written. Why Is It So Hard for Directors to Get Right?

(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}

Jun 21, 2025

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Samantha Hankey on Her Vocal Technique in the Role of Donna Elvira & Her Own Evolution as an Opera Singer

(Photo credit: Faymous) From the title role in “Carmen,” one of the most coveted mezzo roles, to Dorabella in “Cosi fan tutte,” a traditional soprano role, mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey sings it all. In her interview with OperaWire, Hankey discussed her nonconformist approach to repertoire and the technique behind her success. Hankey will be singing the role of Donna Elvira in {…}

Apr 24, 2024

Saioa Hernández, Levy Sekgapane, Piotr Beczała & Ariel Hernández Lead Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España’s 2024-25 Season

The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Ciclo Sinfónico David Afkham conducts Beethoven’s “Fidelio” with soloists Eleanor Lyons, Maximilian Schmitt, Peter Rose, Werner Van Mechelen, Elena Sancho, Roger Padullés, Matthias Winckhler, and Joaquín Notario. Performance Dates: Sept. 20 & 22, 2024 Pablo González conducts a program of music by Prokofiev, {…}

Sep 15, 2023

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Cast Change for ‘Daphne’

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its Sept. 15 performance of Strauss’ “Daphne.” The company said that Vera-Lotte Boecker will sing the title role instead of Hanna-Elisabeth Müller. Boecker is a member of the ensemble of the Wiener Staatsoper who has performed at the Komische Oper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Munich Opera Festival, and Royal Danish Opera, among others. {…}

Mar 27, 2023

Diana Damrau, Andrè Schuen, Camilla Nylund & Philippe Jordan Lead Musikverein Wien’s 2023-24 Season

The Musikverein Wien has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances of the season. Günther Groissböck and Malcolm Martineau perform a recital of music by Bruckner, Schumann and Wolf. Performance Date: Sept. 16, 2023 Marie Jacquot will conduct the Wiener Symphoniker in a program that includes Olivier Messiaen’s Un sourire, Lili Boulanger’s D’un soir triste, {…}

Apr 5, 2022

Rolando Villazón, René Pape, Sonya Yoncheva & Michael Volle Lead Berlin State Opera’s 2022-23 Season

The Berlin State Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a new Ring Cycle. The Ring Cycle Daniel Barenboim conducts a new production of Wagner’s epic The Ring Cycle by Dmitri Tcherniakov. Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” is set to star Michael Volle, Lauri Vasar, Siyabonga Maqungo, Rolando Villazón, Claudia Mahnke, Anett Fritsch, Anna Kissjudit, Johannes Martin Kränzle, Stephan Rügamer, Mika Kares, {…}

Dec 29, 2021

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Cast Changes For ‘Die Fledermaus’

(Credit: Wiener Staatsoper official website) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that tenor Hiroshi Amako and soprano Johanna Wallroth will take over the roles of Alfred and Ida in Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus,” respectively, for all performances in the run. The operetta opens on Dec. 31, 2021, and will last until Jan. 5, 2022 for a total of four performances. Amako {…}

Nov 18, 2021

Wiener Staatsoper Announces Conductor Change For ‘Carmen’

(Credit: Marco Borggreve) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that Omer Meir Wellber will not conduct the final autumn performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” on Nov. 19, 2021. As a result, Bertrand de Billy will take over in a pit. De Billy will lead a cast that includes Freddie De Tommaso in the role of Don José, Erwin Schrott as Escamillo, Vera-Lotte {…}

May 25, 2021

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Juan Diego Flórez, Marina Rebeka, Anita Rachvelishvili Lead Wiener Konzerthaus 2021-22 Season

(Credits: © Dario Acosta / © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical / © Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment / © Tatiana Vlasova / © Dario Acosta) The Wiener Konzerthaus has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a variety of concerts from some of the world’s greatest performers. For the purpose of this article, we will only focus on the vocal {…}

May 12, 2021

Juan Diego Flórez, Nicole Car & Andrè Schuen Highlight Wiener Staatsoper’s Streaming Week

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a week of streaming featuring performances from the 2020-21 season. Here is a look at what the week will offer. Andrè Schuen, Federica Lombardi, Louise Alder, Philippe Sly, and Virginie Verrez star in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro“ from a performance from earlier in 2021. Philippe Jordan conducts. Streaming Date: May 12, 2021 Georg Nigl, {…}

Feb 22, 2021

Anita Rachvelishvili, Piotr Beczała, Federica Lombardi & Chen Reiss Headline Wiener Staatsoper Streaming Slate

(Photo Credits: © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn / Bayerische Staatsoper official website / Chen Reiss official website) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced the next slate of operas that will be presented on its streaming platform over the next week. The week opens with three operas by Leoš Janáček. First up is Leoš Janáček’s operatic masterwork “Káťa Kabanová” with Angela {…}