Joyce DiDonato, Cecilia Bartoli, Miah Persson Headline Lucerne Festival 2026

(Photo credits: Singer & Weber) Lucerne Festival announces its 2026 season. This article only features vocal concerts. Soprano Miah Persson solos in the world premiere of composer in residence, Mark Andre’s “Im Entsiegeln 1 for soprano and orchestra.” Baldur Brönnimann conducts the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra. Performance Date: August 22, 2026 Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and soprano Mélissa Petit star in {…}

Jan 29, 2026

Leah Hawkins, Elza van den Heever, J’Nai Bridges, Will Liverman, Soloman Howard Lead Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2026-27 Season

(Photo credits: Acosta, Brown, Simpson, Adjahoe) Philadelphia Orchestra announces its 2026-27 season. This article only features vocal concerts. Opening night features soloists Leah Hawkins, J’Nai Bridges, Issachah Savage, and Ryan Speedo Green in Beethoven “Symphony” No. 9. They are joined by the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir led by Joe Miller. The U.S. premiere of Hisaishi’s “Orbis” is also slated. Yannick Nézet-Séguin {…}

Oct 9, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Review: Don Giovanni

(Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Metropolitan Opera’s season premiere of Ivo van Hove’s production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” took place on September 24, 2025. Van Hove’s production originally debuted at Ópera National de Paris in 2019 at the Palais Garnier and OperaWire reviewed the performance in detail, specifically highlighting the set design and overall aesthetic. It is also important {…}

Jun 18, 2025

Carnegie Hall 2025 Review: The Met Orchestra & Soprano Elza van den Heever

(Photo: ©2025 Chris Lee) Conductor and Lerman-Newbauer Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin led the Met Orchestra at NYC’s Carnegie Hall for a special night featuring Richard Strauss works on Thursday, June 12, 2025, showcasing one of the world’s leading lyric-dramatic sopranos, Elza van den Heever, who just concluded her season of performances as Salome at Met Opera. The night was full of standing {…}

Jun 6, 2025

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to Present Two Concerts at Carnegie Hall Featuring Angel Blue & Elza van den Heever

(© Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is set to present two concerts at Carnegie Hall. The first will be held on June 12 and will feature Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Elza van den Heever in an all-Strauss program. The concert will include “Der Rosenkavalier Suite,” Selected Orchestral Songs, and “Ein Heldenleben.” The second concert will be held on June {…}

Jun 4, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: La Bohème (Spring Cast)

(Photos: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s spring cast for Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” left a lasting impression through this most iconic work. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director of Met Opera, made the night fun and engaging for audience members of all ages and backgrounds, along with a stellar cast of voices including {…}

Apr 30, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: Salome

(Credit: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) On April 28, 2025, the Metropolitan Opera opened a new production of Strauss’ “Salome.” At the center of the highly anticipated performance was the debut of internationally-renowned director Claus Guth, who has built a name of edgy reimaginings of classic works. It was also the first new production of “Salome” at the Met since {…}

Apr 23, 2025

Joyce DiDonato, Julie Boulianne & Frédéric Antoun Lead Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal’s 2025-26 Season

The Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal has announced its 2025-26 season. Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Joyce DiDonato open the season with a Mahler and Sonny-Ray Day Rider. Performance Date: Sept. 23, 2025 Léa Moisan-Perrier conducts the Chœur Métropolitain and pianists Julie Lamontagne and Rousso. Performance Dates: Dec. 13 & 14, 2025 Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Bach’s Oratorio de Noël with soloists Anna-Sophie Neher, Julie Boulianne, Frédéric Antoun, and Geoffroy {…}

Feb 2, 2025

Karen Slack, Marina Viotti, Nicholas Phan & Kaija Saariaho Win Major Classical Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards announced its 2025 winners on Feb. 2, 2025. Here is a look at the classical music winners. The Best Opera Recording went to “Saariaho: Adriana Mater.” The award was shared by Kaija Saariaho, Amin Maalouf, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Fleur Barron, Nicholas Phan, Christopher Purves, Axelle Fanyo, San Francisco Symphony Chorus & Orchestra. Best Classical Vocal Album went to Karen {…}

Jan 31, 2025

Joyce DiDonato, Ying Fang & Yannick Nézet-Séguin Hightlight Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2025-26 Season

The Philadephia Orchestra has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conducts Handel’s Messiah with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir. Performance Dates: Dec. 12-14, 2025 Dalia Stasevska conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Joélle Harvey. The concert also includes violinist Augustin Hadelich and such pieces as Adams’ “Short Ride in a Fast {…}

Jan 2, 2025

Yannick Nézet-Séguin to Conduct 2026 Wiener Philharmoniker New Year’s Concert

(Credit: © Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) Yannick Nézet-Séguin is set to conduct the 2026 Wiener Philharmoniker New Year’s concert. The conductor will lead the orchestra in waltzes and polkas on Jan. 1, 2026, marking the first time Nézet-Séguin leads the legendary concert. The chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, Daniel Froschauer said, “The Vienna Philharmonic has enjoyed a close and fruitful {…}

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