(Photo: Gianfranco Rota) An early gem by Donizetti is reborn as part of the #donizetti200 project during the Donizetti Opera Festival’s tenth anniversary. This festival reaffirmed its commitment to recovering lesser-known works from the Bergamo composer’s catalogue, presenting this year the second version of “Zoraida di Granata.” Originally premiered in 1822 and revised by Donizetti himself in 1824, this opera {…}
The Donizetti Opera Festival has announced that it will stream all three productions from the 2024 season. The streams will be on the company’s Donizetti OperaTube. The first stream of the season will be “Don Pasquale“ conducted by Iván López-Reynoso and directed by Amélie Niermeyer. The cast includes Roberto de Candia, Giulia Mazzola, Javier Camarena, and Dario Sogos. Streaming Date: Nov. 22, {…}
(Photo credit: Michele Crosera) Having seen more versions of “Don Giovanni” than there are sands on the beach, I can attest that the greatness of the opera is seldom undermined by a less than optimum staging. However, when the staging is good—or even great—, one feels that there is no better opera than “Don Giovanni.” The revival of Damiano Michieletto’s {…}
This week audiences will get a chance to hear a new album by a great tenor and complete operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Moniuszko, and Gluck. Romances Star tenor Piotr Beczala presents a selection of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, together with the acclaimed accompanist Helmut Deutsch. In a statement, Beczala noted, “When I first began to study singing at the Katowice Academy of {…}
The Donizetti Opera has announced its 2024 season marking its 10th edition. The festival, which will be held between Nov. 15 and Dec. 1 will inaugurate with “Roberto Devereux.” The tragic opera will be performed in a critical edition by Julia Lockhart for Casa Ricordi realized as part of the National Edition with the collaboration and contribution of the Municipality {…}
Zuzana Marková is set to replace Angel Blue at the Arena di Verona in a production of “La Traviata.” The Czech soprano took to Instagram to announce her performance on July 22. She said, “Guess where am I? Becoming Violetta tomorrow night!” She posted the photo with the hashtags #latraviata, #violetta, #unexpected, and #vivaverdi. The Arena di Verona did not make {…}
The Oper Köln has announced its 2022-23 season featuring nine new productions and five revivals. Here is a look at the operatic productions of the season. Premieres Enea Scala headlines Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” alongside Mirko Roschkowski in a new production by Johannes Erath. The cast also includes Veronica Simeoni, Isabelle Druet, and Marco Spotti. Francois Xavier-Roth conducts. Premiere Date: Sept. {…}
(Credit: Royal Opera House official website) The Royal Opera House has announced multiple cast changes for its upcoming productions of Puccini’s “Tosca,” Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” Per an official press release, Oksana Lyniv will conduct the full run of Tosca in 2021, replacing Francesco Ivan Ciampa who was due to conduct the performances on Dec. 11, 14 & {…}
The General and Artistic Director of Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège Stefano Pace has announced that tenors Maxime Melnik and Zeno Popescu will no longer be appearing in the Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera and Gianni Santucci’s production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Per the statement, two singers were dropped from the production because it was estimated that they did not satisfy {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2022 season featuring several new productions and star singers. Here is a look at this season’s lineup. Puccini’s “Tosca” inaugurates the season with Hugo De Ana directing. Daniel Oren conducts the production which is set to star María José Siri, Roberto Aronica, Mikheil Sheshaberidze, Svetlana Kasyan, Erwin Schrott, Dalibor Jenis, and Claudio {…}
Suntory Hall in Tokyo is set to present Verdi’s “La Traviata” to celebrate its 35th-anniversary program. The opera will be presented on Oct. 7 and 9, 2021, and will mark the hall’s return to opera in five years. Conductor Nicola Luisotti will lead the opera with Zuzana Marková as Violetta and Francesco Demuro as Alfredo. Artur Ruciński will round the principal {…}