(Credit: Jesús Cornejo/Cortesía) The Orquesta Del Teatro De Bellas Artes in Mexico City has announced that conductor and counter-tenor Iván López-Reynoso has been appointed its new Artistic Director. López-Reynoso also holds the position of the Chief Guest Conductor of the Oviedo Filarmonía. “Being the next Artistic Director of Orquesta Del Teatro De Bellas Artes is the greatest honor I have {…}
In the past eight months, many opera houses have used streaming to reach audiences around the world. This is a format that is new to many companies; however, some of the most prominent opera houses, such as the Metropolitan Opera, have been using this format for years. And while the aim with this format is to maintain companies relevant in {…}
Credit: Bayerische Staatsoper official website The Royal Danish Opera has announced that Italian conductor Paolo Carignani has been appointed the new Chief Guest Conductor, starting in the 2021-22 season. The contract will last for three years. Carignani will replace the late conductor Alexander Vedernikov in his new position. “Paolo has gained great recognition as a conductor at the Royal Theater {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website) Famed Russian baritone Boris Statsenko has posted on his Facebook account that he is in the hospital, being treated for a heavy form of COVID-19. “I am positive for COVID-19, and my lungs have suffered 50% damage,” wrote Statsenko on his social media account. Statsenko has appeared on many international operatic stages, including {…}
(Credit: Barcelona Connect website) Gran Teatre De Liceu has announced that it will resume the presentation of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Dec. 14, 2020. According to an official statement, the opera house will reopen with a 50 percent seating capacity limitation. As a result, two new performances will be added to the run, on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 2020. {…}
(Credit: © Barbara Aumüller/Archiv) Oper Frankfurt has announced that it will extend its closure until at least Jan. 31, 2021. The opera house has also announced changes to its repertoire, canceling the revivals of Bizet’s “Carmen” and Janáček’s “From the House of the Dead.” Instead, Oper Frankfurt plans to showcase more performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” and Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” {…}
(Credits: Lauri Eriksson / Victor Santiago) The Savonlinna Opera Festival has announced its 2021 slate, which will include several opera productions and a recital by famed Finnish soprano Karita Mattila. Bizet’s opera “Carmen” will feature Amadi Lagha as Don José, Andrei Kymach and Tapani Plathan alternating in the role of Escamillo, and Tuija Knihtilä in the title role. Performance dates: {…}
I’ll be honest. I frankly turned my back to classical productions being streamed lately, and listened to some exceptional pieces just to keep abreast with what’s happening in the industry. Sometimes, they were beautiful voices. Sometimes it was about an unusual approach. Or maybe another would have a special not-to-miss status. But there were always entire layers of problems — {…}
Sony Classical has launched “Fragments,” a series of iconic opera scenes, recorded in Saint Petersburg, under the direction of Teodor Currentzis. The first in this series features a segment from Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Currentzis recorded the Prelude to Act three and Violetta’s famous Aria “Addio del Passato Bei Sogni Ridenti” alongside Russian soprano Nadezhda Pavlova. The parts of Annina and {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper will begin streaming a production of “Falstaff” starting on Dec. 2, 2020. The production of Verdi’s final masterpiece will be conducted by Michele Mariotti and features Wolfgang Koch in the title role alongside Ailyn Pérez as Alice Ford, Boris Pinkhasovich as Ford, Judit Kutasi as Mrs. Quickly, Elena Tsallagova as Nanetta, Daria Proszek as Meg Page, Galeano {…}
The Opéra Monte Carlo has announced a schedule change for its upcoming performance of Verdi’s “I Due Foscari.” The company has revealed that the production will now commence at 6:30 p.m. local time instead of a later start time. This schedule change was implemented due to new restrictions imposed due to continued concerns over COVID-19. The production stars Plácido Domingo, {…}
