(Credit: V Isaeva) To close out its summer season, the Greek National Opera revived its historic Nikos S. Petropoulos production of “La Traviata.” The mise-en-scene, which premiered in November of 2001, is a traditionalist’s dream. There are essentially two sets for the production with one utilized three different times (Act one, Act two scene two, and Act three). This main {…}
Decca Classics has announced the release of Lise Davidsen’s new album “Verdi.” The album will be released on Sept. 11 and will feature the soprano alongside Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The album will feature excerpts from “Macbeth,” “Un ballo in maschera,” “La forza del destino,” “Don Carlo” and “Aida.” The album arrives one week before she opens the {…}
On April 17, 2026, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University raised the curtain on their mainstage production of Verdi’s comedic opus, “Falstaff.” Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the school has grown from its inception as Rice’s music department through the support of community partnerships and donors, and has developed into a vibrant and effective center of musical education and {…}
Staatstheater Cottbus will present Verdi’s “Nabucco” starting on April 25, 2026 at the Großes Haus. Andreas Jäpel takes the title role, with Tatiana Trenogina as Abigaille, Yasushi Hirano as Zaccaria, Luzia Tietze as Fenena, and Alexey Sayapin and Jens Klaus Wilde alternating as Ismaele. Conductor GMD Alexander Merzyn leads the Philharmonisches Orchester in the production, directed by Armin Petras, who {…}
The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) will present Verdi’s “Falstaff” in five performances this April and May. The production features two rotating casts drawn from AVA’s Resident Artists. On April 18, 23, and May 5, the title role will be sung by Raúl Morales Velazco, with Veronica Richer as Alice Ford, Maiya Williams as Mistress Quickly, Jasmine Ismail as Nannetta, {…}
The Verdi Chorus will continue its 42nd season with “Verdi in España” The program, which features choral sequences from Verdi’s “Don Carlo,” “Il Trovatore,” “La Traviata,” and “Ernani,” alongside Bizet’s “Carmen” and selections from Spanish composers Catán, Granados, Giménez, Torroba, and De Falla, will be presented on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. {…}
The Oleg Danovski National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Constanța, Romania will present Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The new production opens on Jan. 31, 2026, at 6:30 p.m and features a new staging directed by Anghel I. Arbore, with sets by Cătălin I. Arbore. The cast features soprano Cristina Maria Oltean as Violetta Valéry and baritone Răzvan Săraru as Giorgio Germont. {…}
(Credit: Nile Scott Studios) I get it. Making opera in this day and age, in America, is not for amateurs. It is a tough business, with very little governmental support — unlike most countries in the world. That said, with all the sympathy due the Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) as an institution and the artists of this performance, I cannot, {…}
Casa Duse will mark the 212th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi with a special event on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The event, titled “There’s Something About Verdi,” will feature a screening of the acclaimed “lost” opera documentary film “In the Mouth of the Wolf,” presented by filmmaker and opera historian August Ventura. Guests are invited to arrive at 6 p.m., with {…}
Verdi lovers around New York City will join forces on Friday, Oct. 10, with a public celebration at Verdi Square, located at Broadway and 73rd Street. Admirers of the legendary composer are invited to gather at 10:15 a.m., with the ceremony beginning promptly at 10:30 a.m. The event is free and open to all. The commemoration offers a chance to {…}
LA Monte Productions, Wanbli, and SimonSays Entertainment will present the new documentary, Yvonne Russo’s “Viva Verdi!” The film will open in Los Angeles for a one-week run at the Laemmle Monica Film Center from Oct. 3–9, 2025. The film explores the lives of opera singers and musicians living out their “third act” while mentoring music students at Casa Verdi, built {…}