(Photo: Agnese Zeltiņa | Files.fm.) I’m not generally given to elaborating on opera plots; preferring for the audience to discover them for themselves, even where the outline of the tale is fairly well known. Alas, I feel somewhat compelled to at least superficially proffer some brief abridgement of “Salome,” if only to illustrate and accentuate the bizarre, outlandish and frequently {…}
Oper Frankfurt has unveiled its 2022-23 season which will include 11 new productions. New Productions The season opens with “Die Zauberflöte” as directed by Ted Huffman. Julia Jones and Simone Di Felice conduct casts starring Kudaibergen Abildin, Michael Porter, Hyoyoung Kim, Karolina Bengtsson, Danylo Matviienko, Domen Krizaj, Andreas Bauer Kanabas, Kihwan Sim, Anna Nekhames, and Aleksandra Olczyk, among others. Performance {…}
Pittsburgh Opera is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production was in the middle of rehearsals for its planned March 2020 performances when the COVID pandemic struck, forcing it to cancel. Now two years later “Carmen” will be making its long-awaited return to the Benedum Center. The opera will star Zanda Švēde in the title role alongside Scott Quinn as Don {…}
(Credit: © Felix Grünschloss) The Oper Frankfurt has announced that tenor Jean-François Borras will not be appearing in the role of Don José in Bizet’s “Carmen” for the performance on Dec. 31, 2021 due to illness. The tenor previously tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the premiere of Charles Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” at the Opéra Comique on Dec. 13, {…}
The Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring two repertory staples and three modern masterpieces. Here is a look. Benedum Center Productions Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” will open the 2021-22 season with David Portillo as Tamino, Kathryn Bowden as Queen of the Night, Adelaide Boedecker as Pamina, Véronique Filloux as Papagena, and Tom McNichols as Sarastro. Antony Walker conducts. {…}
The Latvian National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season. Premiere Liene Kinča, Rodrigo Garulo, and Samsons Izjumovs star in Puccini’s “Tosca” with Mārtiņš Ozoliņš conducting the new production by Dmitry Bertman. Performance Date: Oct. 4-15, 2020 Stephen Lawless directs a new production of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” with Evija Martinsone, Tatiana Trenogina, Raimonds Bramanis, Mihails Čuļpajevs, Krišjānis Norvelis, Romāns Poļisadovs, Jānis Apeinis, and Rinalds {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced its upcoming program for “Opera is ON.” The company will present Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” in a production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. Karine Deshayes stars as Angelina with René Barbera as Ramiro. Christian Van Horn, Zanda Svede, Maria Valdes, and Efraín Solís round out the cast, which is conducted by Jesús López-Cobos. Streaming Date: July 18, 2020 {…}
Oper Frankfurt has announced its 2020-21 season. The German house will present 11 new productions and a number of revivals and recitals. New Productions Monika Buczkowska, Judita Nagyová, Peter Marsh, Simon Neil, and Alfred Reiter star in Ligeti’s “La Grand Macabre.” Sebastian Weigle conducts a production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Sept. 13-Oct. 17, 2020 Katharina Thoma will direct Offenbach’s {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions and stars. Here is a look. Productions The first production of the season will be Beethoven’s “Fidelio” celebrating the composer’s 250th anniversary. The new production will be directed by Matthew Ozawa with Music Director Designate Eun Sun Kim conducting {…}
Oper Frankfurt’s new season is massive. It is loaded up with over a dozen new productions and even more revivals. Premieres Damiano Michieletto directs a new production of Rossini’s “Otello” starring Enea Scala in the title role, Karolina Makuła as Desdemona, Theo Lebow as Iago, and Jack Swanson as Rodrigo. Sesto Quatrini conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 8-Oct. 20, 2019 Asmik Grigorian sings {…}
Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2019-20 season! This will be the company’s 81st season and will encompass four operas produced at the Benedum Center, a Baroque chamber opera at Pittsburgh CAPA School Theater, and a production by the Second Stage Project at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, as well as a multitude of other events. The season opens with a period production {…}