First up is “Vissi d’arte – Gala Maria Callas,” starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Pretty Yende, Kate Lindsey, and Eve-Maud Hubeaux. Eun Sun Kim conducted the gala, which was be directed by Robert Carsen. The event took place in December 2023.

Streaming Date: January 2025

Then comes a live stream of “Castor et Pollux” starring Reinoud Van Mechelen and Marc Mauillon with Teodor Currentizs conducting and Peter Sellars directing.

Streaming Date: Feb. 1, 2025

“The Cunning Little Vixen” will get a transmission in a performance from 2008 starring Elena Tsallagova, Hannah Ether Minutillo, and Jukka Rasilainen. Dennis Russell Davies conducted and André Engel directed.

Streaming Date: February 2025

The post Paris Opera Play Unveils Streaming Slate for January & February 2025 appeared first on OperaWire.

The film was shortlisted alongside “The Apprentice,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “A Different Man,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Nosferatu,” “The Substance,” “Waltzing with Brando,” and “Wicked.”

The 10 films that advanced in the category for the 97th Academy Awards were selected by the members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch. The branch members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration which will be announced on Jan. 17, 2025.

Nominations voting begins on Jan. 8, 2025, and concludes on Jan. 12, 2025. The 97th Oscars will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and airs live in more than 200 territories worldwide.

“Maria” is widely considered a contender for Best Actress, Best Costume Design, and Best Cinematography following the Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations. The film reimagines Maria Callas’ final days in Paris. Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas alongside Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Pablo Larraín directed the film from a screenplay by Steven Knight.

“Maria” is now available on Netflix in the United States.

The post ‘Maria’ Shortlisted for Makeup & Hairstyling at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences appeared first on OperaWire.

Angelina Jolie has landed a nomination for the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture.

The actress scored a nomination for her portrayal of Maria Callas in the film “Maria.” She will compete against Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked,” Karla Sofía Gascón in “Emilia Pérez,” Marianne Jean-Baptiste in “Hard Truths,” Mikey Madison in “Anora” and Demi Moore in “The Substance.”

“Maria” was also nominated for Best Costume Design for Massimo Cantini Parrini. He will compete against Lisy Christl for “Conclave,” Linda Muir for “Nosferatu,” Paul Tazewell for “Wicked,” Jacqueline West for “Dune: Part Two,” and Janty Yates and Dave Crossman for “Gladiator II.”

The nominations come only days after the film was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress.

“Maria” tells the story of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris. Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas alongside Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Pablo Larraín directed the film from a screenplay by Steven Knight.

The Critics Choice Awards will be held on Jan. 12, 2025, on ET.

The post ‘Maria’ Nominated for Two Critics Choice Awards Including Best Actress appeared first on OperaWire.

Anna Netrebko has been named the 56th Premio Puccini recipient.

The Puccini festival announced that on Dec. 20, the soprano will receive the award in Torre del Lago.

In a statement, the organization said, “The most famous soprano in the world Anna Netrebko, “unique voice in the world” will be in Torre del Lago on Friday 20 December to receive the Puccini prize, the highest recognition of the City of Viareggio and Fondazione Festival Pucciniano awarded every year to performers, artists, and personalities of the world of opera, who have distinguished themselves for their interpretation, promotion or contribution to the work of Giacomo Puccini and to opera culture in general.”

Netrebko has performed Puccini around the world as Turandot, Mimì, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, and Musetta and has sung 28 productions in 15 different theatres/festivals in eight countries on four continents.

Of Puccini, Netrebko said, “he wrote extraordinary scores for soprano.”

The ceremony will be held at the Auditorium Enrico Caruso and will showcase Alberto Mattioli as well as Domenico Pierini and Silvia Gasperini.

Netrebko joins past winners Gianadrea Noseda, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Pirozzi, Angela Gheorghiu, Vittorio Grigolo, Barbara Frittoli, Maria Guleghina, José Carreras, Maria Callas and Mirella Freni, among others.

The post Anna Netrebko to Receive Premio Puccini appeared first on OperaWire.

The actress scored the nomination for her portrayal of Maria Callas in the film “Maria.” She will compete against Pamela Anderson for “The Last Showgirl,” Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl,” Tilda Swinton in “The Room Next Door,” Fernanda Torres in “I’m Still Here” and Kate Winslet in “Lee.”

In a statement Jolie said, “Thank you to the Golden Globes for this honor. I am humbled to be nominated alongside so many artists I deeply admire. I share this with my director, Pablo Larraín and all who were a part of making MARIA such a rewarding experience. It’s a privilege to have played Maria Callas and to be able to share her legacy with the world.”

The nomination is the sole recognition that the film received from the organization.

“Maria” tells the story of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris. Angelina Jolie alongside Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Pablo Larraín directed the film from a screenplay by Steven Knight.

The Golden Globes Awards will be on Jan. 5 on CBS.

The film is set to premiere on Netflix on Dec. 11, 2024.

The post Angelina Jolie Scores Golden Globe Nomination for ‘Maria’ appeared first on OperaWire.

It’s that time of the year. The end of the year.

2024 brought many debuts, many new productions, many competitions, many world premieres and many new young artists who are coming up in the world of opera.  And that it is reason alone to celebrate. As the year comes to an end, here’s a look at some of the young singers who saw their careers shine whether through competitions, festivals, or in some major production.

So without further ado, OperaWire presents its 10 rising stars for 2024 (in alphabetical order).

Eliza Boom

It’s been a whirlwind year for the Munich-based lyric soprano. Earlier this year, Eliza Boom won the prestigious Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award and won the first prize at the Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition at Wigmore Hall in London. She also competed at the Operalia competition in Mumbai where she continued to raise her profile as a young singer to watch and won the CulturArte Prize.

A native of New Zealand, she completed her Bachelor of Music at Vision College and later studied at the University of Waikato. She later studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and trained at the National Opera Studio in London. Boom later became a member of the Bayerische Staatsoper Opera Studio where performed in such productions as “Das Rheingold,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” and  Miroslav Srnka’s opera “Singularity.”

Boom has already performed with the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Royal Danish Opera, Staatsoper Hannover, and Royal Theater Carré. In this coming season, she is set to make her Paris Opera debut and will also return to New Zealand to perform with the symphony orchestra. 

Matthew Cairns

This past year Canadian tenor was part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artists where he got to cover the role of Leonard in “The Hours.” He also participated in the Gerda Lissner Foundation’s International Vocal Competition where he took Judge’s Special prizes and the Belvedere Opera Competition where he received third prize and the International Media Jury Award.

But his year also took him back to the Canadian Opera Company where he was a studio member for many years.

Cairns has established himself over the past years as a rising star having been named on CBC’s 2019 “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30” and having won the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. He was also a finalist in the 2022 Neue Stimmen competition and was the First Prize winner of the 2018 Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition.

Upcoming engagements include Cairns’ Paris Opera debut in “Das Rheingold.”

Erika Grimaldi

Italian Soprano Erika Grimaldi has been hailed for her “beautifully floated pianissimos” and her “pellucid tone.” Her interpretations of Verdi and Puccini have brought her to many of the leading theaters in the world including the Teatro alla Scala, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, and Opéra National de Montpellier. Her repertoire is immense including such operas as “Tosca,” “Manon Lescaut,” “La Boheme,” “Ernani,” “Luisa Miller,” and  “Il Trovatore,” to name a few.

In May the soprano had a breakthrough when she stepped in to perform the title role of “Tosca” at the Teatro Regio di Parma on short notice. The soprano received raves with critics noting, “hers is a highly internalized Tosca, strong in a wise expressive research and in an everywhere nuanced phrasing, therefore fully convincing also for that sweet and delicate voice of hers, homogeneous in all registers, well supported in the melodic arc.”

Coming up Grimaldi will make her highly anticipated debut at the Opernhaus Zurich in “Un Ballo in Maschera” and performances at the Welsh National Opera, and Teatro Carlo Felice.

Navasard Hakobyan

The Armenian baritone has been the toast of the competition circuit over the past two years. In 2023 he won the third Prize and Don Plácido Domingo Ferrer Prize of Zarzuela at the Operalia World Opera Competition and in 2024 he won the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition and the Dallas Opera’s National Vocal Competition. He also participated in the Queen Sonja Competition as well as the Academy’s Marilyn Horne Song Competition, and the Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition.

He also participated in the Salzburg Festival’s Young Singers Project and joined as a studio member at the Houston Grand Opera, where he won the 34th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers in 2022. In 2023 he joined Askonas Holt for management and since then has already made debuts at the Houston Grand Opera and Dallas Opera. This season, he will make his house and European debut at the Semperoper Dresden Semperoper as Marcello “La bohème” and will sing Brahm’s Requiem with the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Hakobyan is a former member of the Young Artist Programme of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan, Armenia and was named the winner of the President of the Republic of Armenia Youth Prize in 2019.

Alasdair Kent

It’s been an incredible year for the Australian tenor, who has become an exciting voice around the world. Having graduated from the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and trained at Opera Philadelphia’s Emerging Artist Program, Wolf Trap Opera’s Filene Young Artist Program, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, and the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School, today, Kent is performing at every major opera house in the world.

He has been praised for his “refined technique and intense expressiveness” as well as “great clarity” of tone. He has also become known for his Bel Canto interpretations, especially Rossini as well as Mozart, Donizetti, and Bellini, and has already performed at the Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, the Bayerische Staatsoper, Opernhaus Zürich, the Rossini Opera Festival, and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

This past season saw the tenor at the Opernhaus Zürich, Orchestre National de Lille, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Theater an der Wien, Stavanger Symfoniorkester, Teatro Massimo, and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in important new productions exploring a range of classical, Bel Canto and modern music. Among those works were “Platee,” “Written on Skin,” and “Iphigénie en Aulide.” Coming up for the tenor will be debuts at the Opéra de Lyon and Teatro alla Scala.

Long Long

This past season Long Long made such a splash at the Dallas Opera that he received the 2023-24 Maria Callas Debut Artist Award for his interpretation of Roméo in “Roméo et Juliette.”

A native of China, Long Long has slowly built a prestigious career that has seen him win the Neue Stimmen competition and receive prizes at the Francisco Viñas Singing Contest, the Moniuszko Vocal Competition in Warsaw, and the Verdi Competition. He has also been a member of the Opera Studio of the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Salzburg Festival Young Singers Project, and Georg Solti Academy.

He has already performed at the Royal Opera House, Semperoper Dresden, Atlanta Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Staatsoper Hamburg, Staatsoper Hannover, Dutch National Opera, and the Israeli Opera in numerous roles including works by Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, Gounod, and Donizetti.

Upcoming engagements include his debut at the Staatsoper Berlin as well as returns to the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Canadian Opera Company, Santa Fe Opera, and Bregenzer Festspiele, among others.

Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha

It seems like the South African soprano has become one of the most sought-after young sopranos for her “golden color,” “sumptuous, plush sound, and floated high notes.” And earlier in 2024 she was recognized with the 2024 Herbert von Karajan Prize at the Salzburg Easter Festival as one of the up and coming artists of her generation.

Since winning the Song Prize at the 2021 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and is a current BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist award, Rangwanasha has performed with many of the great opera companies in the world including the Washington National Opera, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Hamburg State Opera, and the Royal Opera House, which she also toured with to Japan.

She has also performed alongside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Her repertoire has been varied showcasing her voice in Verdi, Puccini, Mendelssohn, Vaughn Williams and Mahler, among many others.

And her career is sure to expand in the coming seasons.

Angel Romero

This past fall, Angel Romero announced himself to the world when he took home the Second Prize as well as the Zarzuela Prize in the 2024 Operalia competition. His lyric tenor shone in “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

Originally from Houston, Romero completed his studies at Yale University and Houston Baptist University and later joined the Pittsburgh Opera as a Resident Artist where performed in productions of “Così fan tutte,” “Florencia en el Amazonas” and “Alcina.” He was also part of the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program.

Since then he has made debuts at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Austin Opera, and Central City Opera. For his performances, critics have raved and said he has “A golden voice.”

As Romero’s career continues to grow, he has already made international debuts at the Wiener Staatsoper and De Nationale Opera, where he will perform again this season.

Mariangela Sicilia

When the Italian soprano Mariangela Sicilia took the stage of the Arena di Verona to open the 2024 season, she stunned with her gorgeous rendition of “O Quante Volte!” and “O Mio Babbino Caro” announcing herself as a major artist in the international world.

But before that performance, the soprano was already rising up having won third prize in Operalia in 2014 and winning the Premio Franco Abbiati on two occasions. She had already performed at major houses including the Teatro Real, the Dutch National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Sydney Opera House, and Opéra de Monte-Carlo, among many others. In April she made her Teatro alla Scala debut in “La Rondine” premiering a new production after a 30-year absence and was among the stars to pay homage to Puccini at the famed Milanese theater.

Up next the soprano sings returns to the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.

Matilda Sterby

Swedish soprano Matilda Sterby has been a regular presence in her native country for a few years and has been praised for her resonant soprano. But in 2024, she had a career-defining moment winning the Birgit Nilsson Stipendium, an award that recognizes aspiring Swedish singers. She also won the Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition further establishing her as a rising force in the opera world.

Sterby’s career has already led her to the Malmö Opera, Volksoper Wien, Hannover Opera, and Gothenburg Opera, where she had a breakthrough as Marenka in Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride.” She has also won the 2022 Hjördis Schymberg Award and recorded her first album for Naxos.

Upcoming performances will see her at the Volskoper Wien, Malmo Opera and Gothenburg Opera.

The post Best of 2024: OperaWire’s Top Ten Rising Stars 2024 appeared first on OperaWire.

Maiolati, a small Italian municipality of just six thousand inhabitants located in the province of Ancona, at the heart of Italy, preserves an important cultural legacy. In this serene village, Gaspare Spontini was born in 1774, a composer who, during his time, achieved extraordinary fame and recognition. However, over the years, his name and works have gradually fallen into oblivion. As a tribute to its illustrious son, the town adopted the name Maiolati Spontini in 1939, thus perpetuating the memory of one of the great masters of composers of his era.

In 2024, as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of his birth—an event aiming to restore the memory of this unjustly forgotten creator—an ambitious co-production was organized between the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation, the Alighieri Theater in Ravenna, the Verdi Theater in Pisa, and the Municipal Theater of Piacenza. The chosen title could be none other than “La Vestale,” Spontini’s most iconic work, whose impact is intended to be vindicated in the face of the parallel celebrations for Puccini’s anniversary.

“La Vestale,” premiered at the Opéra de Paris in 1807, marked a turning point in the evolution of musical drama by blending the grandeur of classicism with the emerging Romantic fervor of the era. Étienne de Jouy’s libretto narrates the tragedy of Julia, a priestess of the Temple of Vesta, condemned to death for breaking her vow of chastity after falling in love with the victorious general Licinius. Just before her execution, the sacred flame of Vesta—extinguished during the lovers’ embrace and the cause of her condemnation—spontaneously reignites. This phenomenon is interpreted by the other priestesses as a sign of divine approval, allowing the couple to live in peace and granting the opera an unexpected happy ending.

This work not only embodies Napoleonic ideals of heroism and sacrifice, but also builds a bridge between opera seria and the spectacularity of grand opéra. For this occasion, the French version was chosen, using a libretto that reflects the modifications implemented during the original season more than two centuries ago. Thanks to the study of the autographed score preserved in Paris, it was possible to identify the variations made by Spontini himself, particularly the ballets, which, following French tradition, were added at the end of the first and third acts.

Musical Highlights

Spontini’s ability to weave intense drama through the orchestra and chorus, imbuing the characters with emotional depth, found an ideal interpreter in Alessandro Benigni. The conductor led the Corelli Orchestra with a meticulous and stylistically precise interpretation. The score presents significant technical challenges: classical nuances and ornamentation in the style of Mozart or Haydn blended with harmonies and passages clearly influenced by Beethoven. Benigni’s mastery lay in striking the perfect balance between these styles. From the solemn overture to the lyrical moments of the arias and ensembles, and through the crystalline ballets, the Italian maestro managed to balance ceremonial majesty with the protagonists’ intimate emotions. The orchestra responded with outstanding precision to the conductor’s demands, achieving a full and vibrant sound while carefully managing dynamics to support the singers.

The Municipal Theater of Piacenza Choir, directed by Corrado Casati, gave a powerful performance that captured the ritualistic and tragic atmosphere. The chorus embodied both the vestal priestesses guarding the temple and the Roman populace, contributing significantly in key moments such as the imposing climax “Ô terreur! Ô disgrâce!”, in which they condemn Julia, and in the celebratory “Chants d’allégresse aimable ivresse,” which exalts divine intervention at the couple’s wedding.

In the complex role of Julia, the priestess torn between her vow of chastity and her love for Licinius, Carmela Remigio delivered an outstanding performance. Her portrayal sensitively captured the character’s internal struggle, particularly in the recitative “Sur cet autel sacré” and the aria “Impitoyables dieux,” where she pleaded to the gods with refined phrasing, controlled vibrato, and superb acting. Her middle register was dreamlike, though some slightly pale high notes prevented her upper register from being perfect. Her farewell in the third act “Toi que je laisse sur la terre” in which she accepts her fate with resignation and bravery, was profoundly moving, making her performance one of the evening’s highlights. Remigio shone not only for her vocal quality but also for her impeccable acting.

Bruno Taddia brought an intense stage presence as Licinius, the Roman general who defies sacred laws for his love for Julia. Although he lacks a particularly attractive timbre, the Lombard baritone conveyed his character’s fervor and despair through expressive physicality. Taddia grew in strength and conviction throughout the opera, particularly shining in his duet with Remigio, “Adieu, mes tendres soeurs.” The role of Cinna, Licinius’s loyal friend who seeks to mediate between duty and passion, was performed with elegance and remarkable musicality by Joseph Dahdah, who proved to be a delightful surprise. The Lebanese tenor offered a clear, youthful, and refined vocal line, along with appropriate power.

Daniela Pini, as the Great Vestal, stood out for her severe yet maternal portrayal, charged with maintaining the temple’s purity and judging Julia. Though somewhat restrained vocally and dramatically in the first act, her interpretation grew significantly stronger as the opera progressed. Adriano Gramigni, as the Supreme Pontiff, provided a solemn and convincing presence, representing the divine authority challenged by Julia.

Illuminating Production

Scene director Gianluca Falaschi, also responsible for the set and costume design, incorporated an implicit tribute to Maria Callas, who achieved extraordinary success with “La Vestale” at La Scala in Milan during the 1950s. In the program notes, Falaschi highlighted the parallel between Julia and Callas, asserting that both women faced relentless pressure, crushed by societal expectations and the weight of their personal legends. This visual approach balanced classical austerity with minimalist touches, combining stylized columns and costumes that merged elements of Roman antiquity, such as white togas, with modern details like tuxedos and evening gowns.

Special mention goes to the eight dancers who, under Luca Silvestrini’s choreography, masterfully performed the two extended ballets with contemporary technique, particularly shining in the luminous finale. The audience unanimously applauded this celebration of Spontini’s 250th birthday, which, despite being overshadowed by Puccini’s anniversary, successfully revived this historical gem with excellence.

The post Teatro Municipale di Piacenza 2023-24 Review: La Vestale appeared first on OperaWire.

As the holiday arrives, audiences will be able to experience a Puccini extravaganza as well as world premiere recording and debut albums. There are also two DVDs that should be seen.

Giacomo Puccini – The Warner Classics Edition

Celebrated for his masterful compositions and poignant storytelling, Giacomo Puccini remains one of the most beloved opera composers of all time. Warner Classics releases a collection, designed for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike and brings together his most renowned masterpieces alongside lesser-known gems. The operas are presented in performances by world-class orchestras, conductors, and singers, alongside Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and five CDs of recitals, including the iconic 1954 performance by Maria Callas.

The Romance of the Rose

Pulitzer Prize finalist composer, performer, and writer Kate Soper releases the world premiere recording of her critically acclaimed opera “The Romance of the Rose,” featuring the dynamic Wet Ink Ensemble. The new recording is released on New Focus Recordings.

The cast includes Soper alongside Phillip Bullock, Anna Schubert, Devony Smith, Ariadne Greif, Ty Bouque, and Lucas Steele.

Fra l’ombre e gl’orrori

Argentinian opera bass Nahuel Di Pierro joins Ensemble Diderot for its debut orchestral recording, bringing the baroque operatic bass
voice out of the shadows and into the light through 100 years of orchestral opera history. Audax Records releases the album which includes music by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Sartorio, Ziani, Giannettini, Bononcini, Scarlatti, Vivaldi, and Handel.

Credo

Airs sérieux of Joseph Chabanceau de La Barre

Les Épopées presents the two-part Airs by Joseph Chabanceau de La Barre. This new recording sees the renowned Les Épopées, led by Stéphane Fuget, join forces with the acclaimed vocalists Claire Lefilliâtre (soprano) and Luc Bertin-Hugault. Ramée label releases.

Two Orchestras, One Symphony,

The post Nahuel di Pierro, Mikheil Sheshaberidze & Stanislas de Barbeyrac Lead New CD/DVD Releases appeared first on OperaWire.

The film will open in limited theaters to qualify for the Academy Awards.

For audiences in New York, the film is set to play at the Angelika Film Center, Paris Theater, and Jacob Burns Film Center. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, it will open at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood, Landmark Pasadena Playhouse, Bay Theater, and the Art Theatre of Long Beach.

Netflix is set to release the film which tells the story of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris.

Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas alongside Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Pablo Larraín directed the film from a screenplay by Steven Knight.

“Maria” has received a certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 76 percent average of positive scores.

”Maria” has played at the Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival,  the Toronto International Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, and London Film Festival. It hits Netflix on Dec. 11.

The post Where to Watch Maria Callas Biopic ‘Maria’ in New York & Los Angeles appeared first on OperaWire.

Palm Beach Opera has announced its 2025 season.

The season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” under the baton of Palm Beach Opera’s Ari Rifkin Music Director, David Stern. The title roles will be shared across performances. Friday/Sunday Long Long performs Romé alongside Amina Edris as Juliette. Eric Taylor and Lydia Grindatto will each make their role and company debuts as Roméo and Juliette on Saturday night. The cast also features Alfred Walker, Aleksey Bogdanov, Lauren Decker, and an ensemble of Palm Beach Opera Young Artists and Bailey Apprentice Artists. Tara Faircloth directs.

Performance Dates: January 24-26, 2025

Anna Netrebko returns to the U.S. in a gala evening at the Breakers Palm Beach. She will partner with pianist Ángel Rodriguez in an intimate recital program benefiting Palm Beach Opera.

Performance Date: Feb. 3, 2025

Gabriella Reyes gives her role debut as Violetta, in Verdi’s “La traviata” (Friday/Sunday). Amanda Woodbury sings the leading role on Saturday. They are joined by Mario Chang (Friday/Sunday), Yongzhao Yu (Saturday), and Michael Chioldi. Omer Ben Seadia directs and David Stern conducts.

Performance Dates: February 21-23, 2025

Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” closes the company’s season. Adam Plachetka appears in the title role, alongside Hailey Clark as The Countess. John Chest, Inna Demenkova, and Angela Brower round out the cast. The production is directed by Stephen Lawless. Gary Thor Wedow conducts.

Performance Dates: April 4-6, 2025

The post Alfred Walker, Gabriella Reyes, Anna Netrebko & Adam Plachetka Headline Palm Beach Opera’s 2025 Season appeared first on OperaWire.