Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva & Plácido Domingo Highlight Arena di Verona’s 2020 Festival

(Credit: Benno Kraehahn) The Arena di Verona has announced the 2020 casting featuring an all-star lineup. The opening of the season will showcase a new production by Gabriele Muccino of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” Mascagni’s work will showcase Ekaterina Semenchuk, Alexia Voulgaridou, Maria José Siri, and Sonia Ganassi alternating as Santuzza and Murat Karahan, Carlo Ventre, Yusif Eyvazov, and Marcelo {…}

Feb 1, 2020

Ekaterina Siurina to Take Over Performances of Opéra de Paris’ ‘La Bohème’

(Credit: David Elofer) The Opéra National de Paris has announced the cast change for the role of Mimì in the Puccini, Giacosa and Illica’s opera “La bohème,” according to the official statement on the company’s website. Per the statement, soprano Marina Costa-Jackson has withdrawn from the production due to maternity leave and Ekaterina Siurina will thus perform in her stead {…}

Jan 24, 2020

Diana Damrau & Carmen Giannattasio Lead Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend Internationally (1/25-27)

This weekend is all about standard repertoire pieces with some of the world’s greatest stars. La Bohème – Opera de Monte Carlo, Monaco Daniele Callegari conducts Jean-Louis Grinda’s production of Puccini, Giacoso, and Illica’s most popular work. The cast stars acclaimed soprano Irina Lungu, Mariam Battistelli, Andeka Gorrotxategi, Davide Luciano, Boris Pinkhasovich, Nicolas Courjal, Fabrice Alibert, and Guy Bonfiglio. Lucia {…}

Oct 28, 2019

Vienna State Opera 2019-20 Live Stream: Vittorio Grigolo Stars in ‘Werther’

The Vienna State Opera will live stream “Werther” on Oct. 31, 2019. Massenet’s masterpiece will feature Vittorio Grigolo in the title role with Elena Maximova as Charlotte and Daniela Fally as Sophie. Adrian Eröd rounds out the cast as Albert. Frédéric Chaslin conducts a production directed by Andrei Serban. The stream kicks off at 7:30 p.m. local time. That’s around {…}

Oct 3, 2019

Vittorio Grigolo Returns To Standing Ovations

Vittorio Grigolo returned to the stage to standing ovations at the Teatro alla Scala. After having been suspended from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Metropolitan Opera for allegedly groping a chorus member during a curtain call in Japan, the tenor returned to the stage with audiences cheering him on. Following the presentation the tenor told the press, “Love {…}

Sep 27, 2019

Vittorio Grigiolo Releases Statement Amidst Groping Scandal

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera) Vittorio Grigolo has put out a statement after being suspended from the Royal Opera and Metropolitan Opera. The tenor posted a statement via social media that noted, “Dear Friends, First off, I want to give thanks to my fans and friends for the numerous messages, acts of affection and support. I remain calm. My {…}

Sep 25, 2019

Metropolitan Opera Suspends Vittorio Grigolo

(Credit: Catherine Ashmore) Vittorio Grigolo has been suspended from the Metropolitan Opera. The company announced in a statement that Grigolo was suspended from all future engagements. The Met Opera stated, “Following the alleged incident reported by the Royal Opera House concerning Vittorio Grigolo, the Met will be suspending him with immediate effect from all future performances, pending the outcome of {…}

Sep 24, 2019

Vittorio Grigolo Suspended At Royal Opera House

(Credit: Alex D. James) Vittorio Grigolo has been suspended by the Royal Opera House. The company suspended the Italian tenor for an alleged groping during the Royal Opera’s Japan tour. The company stated, “following an alleged incident on September 18 involving Vittorio Grigolo, the Royal Opera House opened an immediate investigation and Mr. Grigolo was suspended.” The Royal Opera has also {…}

Jun 27, 2019

Francesco Demuro Replaces Vittorio Grigolo In Paris

The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for the 2019-20 season. The company announced that Francesco Demuro will replace Vittorio Grigolo in performances of Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Opéra de Paris. Demuro will take over performances on June 13 through 28, 2020. Grigolo will sing performances on July 2 through 11, 2020. As a result, he will only {…}

Jun 18, 2019

Royal Opera 2018-19 Review: Tosca

(Credit: Catherine Ashmore / Royal Opera House) At the tender age of 12, Jonathan Kent’s 2004 production of Tosca is among the fledglings of the Royal Opera roster. Visually simplistic and at times homogeneous, it eschews the archetypical velvet red and gleaming gold numerous incarnations of the opera take in favor of a dusky navy that enrobes the Sant’Andrea church, {…}

Jun 7, 2019

Triple Tosca Among Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend International

The weekend is here and it’s an interesting one. Two of the works we recommend feature some of the most acclaimed singers in the world and then there is a “Tosca” marathon with three of the greatest interpreters performing the role in Dresden, London, and Barcelona. Manon – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Juan Diego Flórez and Nino Machaidze continue their first {…}

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