The Bayerische Staatsoper is set to present a new production of Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment.” The new production will be directed by Damiano Michieletto, who is returning to the Bayerische Staatsoper after his acclaimed “Aida.” The show centers on the search for one’s own identity and Michieletto explains, “The story moves between two levels – nature and the city. Nature {…}
(Image courtesy of Richard Tucker Foundation) The Richard Tucker Foundation has announced its 2024 gala, scheduled for Oct. 27, 2024. This year’s event will feature the talents of Xabier Anduaga and Michael Spyres, who are presented as a special guest. He is joined by past winners including Jamie Barton (Richard Tucker Award 2015), Stephanie Blythe (1999 Richard Tucker Award), J’Nai {…}
(Courtesy of The International Opera Awards) The Opera Awards have announced the Reader’s Choice Nominees. The category which is decided entirely by public vote, saw Xabier Anduaga, Asmik Grigorian, Ekaterina Bakanova, Sara Blanch, Piotr Beczala, Ermonela Jaho, Ludovic Tezier, and Arturo Chacon-Cruz nominated. This is the first category announced from the annual awards. The full list of nominees will be {…}
The Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has announced its 2025 season. The season opens with a double bill of Puccini’s “Il tabarro” and “Le villi.” The production will star Jonathan Tetelman, Carmen Giannattasio, and Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. Lorenzo Passerini conducts. Performance Dates: Feb. 17-21, 2025 Bizet’s “Carmen“ is set to star Yulia Matochkina, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Miren Urbieta Vega, and Maharram {…}
A truly packed house, a cast of operatic luminaries and a program of works chosen and compiled by Maestro Pappano himself; a Gala, fit for a KING, surely? Which is just as well because His Royal Highness King Charles III was in the audience as a truly surprise guest of honor, courtesy of a massive covert security operation that even {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced a cast change for its 2024-25 production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The company noted that tenor Xabier Anduaga, who was scheduled to make his TDO debut in the role of Alfredo Germont, has withdrawn from these appearances due to family reasons. Replacing Anduaga in the role of Alfredo Germont, in their TDO debuts, are Javier Camarena, {…}
On May 3, 2024, Xabier Anduaga encored the audience of the Wiener Staatsoper. The tenor shared the news via social media noting that after his “Una Futirva Lagrima,” he received an ovation that forced him to encore. In a statement, he said, “I honestly have no words to describe how I felt last night. Probably one of the most special {…}
I have more than once commented that OPERA, no matter the tale, should always be about the music; specifically, the singing, above and beyond anything else. It is, after all, what truly defines the art. And in Katie Mitchell’s and Robin Tebbutt’s revival production of Donizetti’s tragic opera, the singing is inarguably superlative. Alas, this is a truly grim tale. {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera Josep Pons conducts Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” with Alexei Botnarciuc, Daniel Kirch, Sara Jakubiak, Ángeles Blancas, and Pavel Černoch. Àlex Ollé conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 25-Oct. 7, 2024 Maria Agresta and Saioa Hernández star in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” with Artur Ruciński, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Brian {…}
Xabier Anduaga has joined Askonas Holt for worldwide management. Anduaga will be managed by Dominic Domingo and Seb Mallet. The Spanish tenor is a 2019 winner of the First Prize and Zarzuela award at Operalia. He is also the recipient of an International Opera Award, an Ópera Actual Award, and an Ópera XXI Award. This season, the tenor performs at {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Mainstage Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “La Traviata” featuring Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga, and baritone Alfredo Daza. Louisa Muller directs and Iván López Reynoso conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 18-27, 2024 Claude Debussy’s “Pelléas and Mélisande” will be conducted by Ludovic Morlot and will star Benjamin Appl, Lauren {…}