Russian baritone Mikhail Timoshenko began his musical and theatrical training in Mednogorsk, then at the Franz Liszt University in Weimar and the Hans Eisler in Berlin. From 2015 to 2017, he was a member of the Académie de l’Opéra national de Paris.
He sang in the world premiere of Joanna Lee’s “Vol Retour” and performed the role of Pluton (Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo”). He has sung Spencer Coyle (“Owen Wingrave”), Hymas and Tirtée (“Les Fêtes d’Hébé”) in Paris and in London, Erster Handwerksbursch (“Wozzeck”), Silvano (“Un Ballo in Maschera”), Mitioukha (“Boris Godunov”) on the main stage of Bastille Opera.

His 2024-25 roles will include Papageno at Paris-Bastille Bastille, Marcello (“La Bohème”) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, “Kindertotenlieder” by Mahler in Toulon, Belcore (“L’elisir d’amore”) at the Opéra national de Lorraine, Taddeo (“L’Italienne à Alger”) at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées-Paris, and the title role of Don Giovanni and Tadeush (“La Passagère”) in Toulouse.

Philanthropy is a topic close to Mikhail’s heart. Since 2009, he gives charity concerts for children with mental disorders in Russia and takes part in several fundraising events organized by the “Yehudi Menuhin Live Musik” in Germany. In a cooperation with the autonomous non-profit organization ”Touch” in Orenburg he supports several boarding-schools for mentally handicapped children.

OperaWire visits with Mikhail Timoshenko to learn more.

OperaWire: Hello, Mikhail and thank you for speaking to OperaWire. You recently performed in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in Paris. How did the production go, and what do you make of Papageno?

Mikhail Timoshenko: Hello! It is my pleasure to speak to you.
Absolutely marvelous! It was my first time performing Papageno with the German text (previously, I performed this role in Montpellier but without the dialogues), and everyone around could feel my excitement. Surrounded by colleagues of the highest quality, I was able to create an interesting and entertaining character who brought a lot of light, laughter, and compassion to the grand stage of the Opéra Bastille.

OW: You are about to perform at the Royal Opera House as Marcello in “La Bohème.” The last time you performed this role there, you received critical acclaim. What is it like to be back in London, and how are rehearsals going?

MT:
I’m filled with pure and simple happiness. It might sound a bit exaggerated, but these are the words that best describe my return to the Royal Opera House. Being part of this big family, seeing friendly faces in the rehearsal rooms and offices, sharing ideas at the magnificent terrace where you can see the “thousand chimneys of London,” and creating together with the best of the best—it’s a life-changing experience every time.

OW:
You have sung this role several times now. Are you fully comfortable with your characterization of Marcello, or is it still a work in progress? Who did you take inspiration from in the role?

MT:
There is a saying: it’s not possible to step into the same river twice. Opera is a dynamic art form where everything and every moment is unique. Marcello began, for me, as an exploration, and now, together with the stage team and my colleagues, I draw inspiration from the persona of Modigliani. The beauty of opera is that everything remains flexible, and even between performances, there can be significant differences. All I can say with certainty is that I’m finally comfortable enough to feel free.

OW:
Tell me about growing up in Russia, and who your musical influences were. Do you come from a musical family?

MT:
I was born in a tiny village called Kameikino in an ordinary household. During my childhood, our family moved a lot, but my mother took great care of me and my younger brother, so I made a lot of friends who still remember me from those times.
Everything changed when my brother was diagnosed with a severe form of autism. At the time, it seemed like a curse or a burden, but now I understand it was, and always will be, our blessing—my blessing.
Perhaps because of this, my mother was so preoccupied with finding a “magic cure” for him that she didn’t encourage me to pursue music initially. Later, however, she supported me in attending the conservatory in Germany. I must also mention the heroism of my family: without knowing anything about classical music, they decided to believe in my dream.
There’s a funny story about how I started singing, but that’s for another time.

OW:
You established yourself as a singer of Mozart earlier in your career. How do you approach Mozart roles compared to, say, those by Puccini or Verdi?

MT:
My goal is to grow alongside my vocal, physical, and emotional development. How do you decide if you’re ready for a certain role? Only through careful observation and constant work can you be granted what I might call a revelation.
I’m not someone who holds rigid opinions about styles. While I possess knowledge about the differences in vocal and musical languages of each epoch, I don’t prioritize theory over reality. Mozart, Puccini, Donizetti, Bach, or Schönberg—there is only one way to approach every piece of music: careful observation and constant work. Observation helps you understand the composer’s ideas and emotions, while work brings them to life. For example, only after years of mastering the art song did I realize that I was ready to perform Schubert’s “Winterreise.” I am now preparing to present it at Wigmore Hall this summer.

OW: You have upcoming roles in Wagner’s “Les Grandes Pages: L’opéra Allemand,” Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore,” and Rossini’s “L’italiana in Algeri,” all, I believe, are role debuts. Is this a deliberate intention to explore and establish yourself in new roles?

MT:
All of this. Agreeing to a role is the result of a complex mechanism inherent in being an opera singer today, especially in the freelance world. I can assure you that every role was chosen carefully, with the goal of delivering the highest level of performance for the audience. Behind each decision is an entire team, including my agent, my singing teacher, and my duo partner and wife, Elitsa Desseva. These choices come after many discussions, considering all aspects of selecting one path over another.

OW: You are clearly a committed philanthropist. I understand you have been giving charity concerts and campaigning for children with mental health issues. Can you tell me more about this and the charities and organizations you are involved with?

MT:
I owe much of this to my little brother. He has given me the chance to be a better person. And I’m not just talking about helping him directly. This issue goes much deeper and touches on the very core of human existence.
Until 2021, I held annual charity concerts in Russia, though it has become more complicated since then. My mother is the true hero in this story: for the past three years, she has run the first dom soprovozhdayushchego prozhivaniya (assisted living home) in the Orenburg region. She helps young people with mental disorders learn to live independently.
I’m also part of a French organization called CALMS. Together with my colleagues in France, we raise awareness of social issues through charity concerts. Finding time for philanthropy in my schedule is challenging, but I give it my best and will never stop.

The post Q & A: Mikhail Timoshenko On His Opera Career & Philanthropic Path appeared first on OperaWire.

OperaWire was invited to experience the 5th annual Waiblingen International Opera Workshop led by baritone Thomas Hampson and Wailblingen-native and soprano Melanie Diener.

The workshop, which took place Sept. 15-21, included daily breathing workshops led by Claudia Stefke-Leuser and individual coaching with Hampson and Diener, two masterclasses, two performances, and an educational outreach program. The participants Valentina Bättig, Victoria Grilz, Maryam Jalalikandy, Anna Maternina, Antonia Schuchardt, Mihail Timoschenko, Viktor Jimenez Moral, Livia Luis-Joseph-Dogué, Juliusz Loranzi, Olivia Peschke, Clemens Seewald, and Giulio Putrino worked with pianists Eberhard Leuser, Prof. Cornelis Witthoefft, and Ayala Rosenbaum. At the final concert, the participants were accompanied by the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Salvatore Percacciolo.

Singers Supporting Singers

In an interview, Hampson and Diener explained their thorough approach to working with this generation of singers. Hampson started off by stating, “We believe very strongly that these singers are our colleagues.” This principle was evident throughout the remainder of our conversation, and in the way the participants performed and expressed gratitude for the program.

Hampson best described the program by saying, “We give them an island for a week to build their own index of their voices and bodies. So, when they are working and auditioning, they know how to translate the information coming at them. You must not be pulled off your center, you must know your body, you must know your instrument, and know how to, in any particular instance, be there, in that moment.” In closing, he reiterated that these foundational skills “mean more coming from a singer to another singer, than just learning it as a discipline.”

Several singers offered up praise for the intense training and experience. Schuchardt told OperaWire, “Everyday we learned a different process. On Monday, we jumped right into the breathing sessions, masterclasses, and then switched off working with Hampson and Diener from there.

It Takes a Village

Diener beautifully encapsulated her intentions for the singers when talking about the community concert. On Thursday evening, at a weekly community cultural event, the singers performed songs from their home countries, instead of opera. They even sang with a microphone. Diener’s impetus for this concert is to “connect with the people and to give something back,” and to offer the participants an educational experience of singing in their mother tongue. She elaborated on this by saying, “If you speak or sing in your mother tongue, it’s a different story, because it’s a direct connection to your emotion and to your vocal cords. This creates a different sound. We use this in training, I may ask them to sing their aria like this to help evoke that deep emotional connection. Then they can take this sensation and apply it to the other language.”

Later in the conversation, she expressed her gratitude for the community’s showering support of the program. She said, “In developing the program I wanted them (the singers) to be able to have fun and take something with them, and we are able to do this because the city said, ‘yes.’ All week, we have this entire building to rehearse and have meals provided. That’s the whole idea, they can come and focus on work and don’t have to worry about outside things, plus they get experience with an orchestra, and build connections with their host families and the next generation of musicians.”

It truly felt like the city was beaming with pride for this program. Locals showed their support for the program by hosting the singers in their homes, displaying concert posters throughout the town, and the town’s bookstore featured the singer’s book recommendations in its front window. And last but certainly not least, the community made a remarkable turnout at both concerts.

The post A Community for Exceptional Learning – Experiencing the Waiblingen International Opera Workshop appeared first on OperaWire.

Opera

The season opens with “Heroine” featuring three major works. The evening begins with Hindemith’s “Sancta Susanna” followed by Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” and will conclude with Honegger’s “Danse des morts.”

Anthony Almeida directs the three works. Hindemith’s opera will star Anaïk Morel, Rosie Aldridge, Apolline Rai-Westphal, Yannis François, and Soloist of the Opera Chorus while Bartók’s will star Joshua Bloom and Aldridge. The final work will star Morel, Rai-Westphal, François, and Marief Guittier.

Performance Dates: Oct. 6-12, 2024

The company will present Nomadic Workshop, which is open to four stage directors and eight professional singers, as part of “La Fabrique d’un opéra” program.

Performance Dates: Oct. 21-24, 2024

The company will present a gala evening with Sophie Bricaire directing and Bertrand Bossard. The evening will also include selections  from Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmann,” Bizet’s “Carmen,” Verdi’s “La Traviata,” and Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”

Performance Date: Nov. 16, 2024

Hans Krása’s “Brundibár” will conducted by William Le Sage.

Performance Dates: Dec. 6 & 7, 2024

Beth Taylor leads Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” with Dave Monaco, Gyula Nagy, and Alessio Arduini. Giulio Cilona conducts the production by Fabrice Murgia.

Performance Dates: Dec. 13-27, 2024

“Amour à mort” featuring music by Monteverdi, Dufay, d’India, Merenzio, Massaino, il Verso, Boschetti, Bach, Neri, and Cifra will be presented with Leonardo García Alarcón conducting. The production will star Mariana Flores, Sofie Garcia, Logan Lopez Gonzalez, Valerio Contaldo, Andreas Wolf, Isabel Aimé Gonzalez-Sola, Thierry Gibault, Margaux Le Mignan, and Hugues Duchêne and will be directed by Jean-Yves Ruf.

Performance Dates: Jan. 10-12, 2025

Jule Styne’s “Gypsy” will star Natalie Dessay, Neïma Naouri, Medya Zana, and Daniel N’Jo Lobé. Laurent Pelly directs and Gareth Valentine conducts.

Performance Dates: Feb. 1 & 2, 2025

Jacques Imbrailo and Enkeleda Kamani lead Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” with Robert Lewis, Héloïse Mas, and Adrien Mathonat. Marta Gardolińska conducts the production by Julien Chavaz.

Performance Dates: Feb. 28-March 6, 2025

The company will present “The Spring of Creation” concert.

Performance Date: April 1, 2025

Diana Soh’s “Time Will Tell” will be presented featuring direction by Alice Laloy.

Performance Dates: April 4 & 5, 2025

Rocío Pérez, Matteo Desole, Mikhail Timoshenko, and Patrick Bolleire perform in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” with David Lescot directing and Chloé Dufresne conducting.

Performance Dates: April 24-May 3, 2025

The season concludes with “The Incredulous-Nox#3” by Florent Hubert and Antonin-Tri Hoang. The opera will be conducted by Nicolas Chesneau and directed by Samuel Achache. Jeanne Mendoche and Majdouline Zerari star.

Performance Dates: June 18-24, 2025

Concerts

Julie Roset, Camille Allérat, and Ana Vieira Leite perform works by Jean-François Lalouette and Louis-Nicolas Clérembault.

Performance Date: Sept. 26, 2024

Héloïse Poulet conducts soloists Juliette Mey and Rodolphe Lospied in a gala concert.

Performance Date: Jan. 17, 2025

The post Natalie Dessay, Rosie Aldridge, Jacques Imbrailo & Rocío Pérez Lead Opéra National de Lorraine’s 2024-25 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

Valerio Galli conducts the double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” The production by Silvia Paoli will star Anaïk Morel, Tadeusz Szlenkier, Agnes Zwierko, Daniel Miroslaw, Marianne Croux, Daniel Miroslaw, and Csaba Kotlár.

Performance Dates: June 29-July 2, 2024

Victorien Vanoosten conducts Adriana González and Freddie De Tommaso in an Italian and French program. The program includes music by Giacomo Puccini, Francesco Cilea, Amilcare Ponchielli, Giuseppe Verdi, Gustave Charpentier, Jules Massenet, Georges Bizet, and Pietro Mascagni.

Performance Date: Sept. 8, 2024

Victorien Vanoosten conducts Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” with Yánnis Kókkos directing. Yunuet Laguna, Stefano Meo, Konstantine Kipiani, Éléonore Pancrazi, Vazgen Gazaryan, and Leon Kim star.

Performance Dates: Oct. 18 & 20, 2024

Larry Blank conducts “Classical Broadway” with soloists Jasmine Roy, Sinan Bertrand, Margaux Poguet, and Guillaume Andrieux.

Performance Date: Dec. 28, 2024

Victorien Vanoosten conducts a German program with music by Wagner. Mahler, and Strauss. Elisabeth Teige and Mikhail Timoshenko star.

Performance Dates: Jan. 22 & 23, 2025

Joël Soichez conducts “Un Petite Flute” with Julie Depardieu directing. Fabien Hyon, Florent Karrer, Louise Pingeot, Charlie Guillemin, and Anne-Sophie Petit star.

Performance Date: Feb 8, 2025

Nikoloz Lagvilava stars in a concert performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco” with Ewa Vesin, Peter Martinčič, Julien Henric, and Emilia Rukavina. Victorien Vanoosten conducts.

Performance Date: April 1 & 3, 2025

Offenbach’s “La Belle Hélène” will be conducted by Romain Dumas and directed by Alice Masson. the cast includes Anne-Lise Polchlopek, Filipe Manu, Charlie Guillemin, Jean Kristof Bouton, Calchas Joe Bertili, Brenda Poupard, and Mathys Lagier.

Performance Date: May 13-18, 2025

The post Adriana González, Freddie De Tommaso, Ewa Vesin & Stefano Meo Lead Opéra de Toulon’s 2024-25 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” will open the season with a cast that includes Luca Micheletti, Ying Fang, Huw Montague Rendall, Jacquelyn Stucker, and Ginger Costa-Jackson.

Performance Dates: Sept. 2-15, 2024

Verdi’s “La Traviata” will feature two casts. The first cast will be headlined by Aida Garifullina, Francesco Demuro, and George Petean, while the other will star Hrachuhí Bassénz, Ismael Jordi, and Simon Keenlyside. Alexander Joel and Richard Hetherington conduct.

Performance Dates: Sept. 7-21, 2024

Ted Huffman directs a new production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” with Gordon Bintner, Kristina Mkhitaryan, Liparit Avetisyan, Avery Amereau, and Dmitry Belosselskiy. Henrik Nánási conducts.

Alexander Soddy conducts Beethoven’s “Fidelio” with Jennifer Davis, Eric Cutler, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Christina Gansch, and Michael Gibson.

The company will present a double bill “Trouble in Tahiti” and “A Quiet Place.” The productions will be conducted by Nicholas Chalmers and will star Henry Neill, Wallis Giunta, Grant Doyle, Henry Neill, Rowan Pierce, Nick Pritchard, and Sarah Pring. Oliver Mears directs the double bill.

Performance Dates: Oct. 10-24, 2024

The Jette Parker Artists will perform in concert.

Performance Date: Oct. 13, 2024

Juan Diego Flórez headlines a new production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” aalongside Alex Esposito, Olga Pudova, Ermonela Jaho, and Marina Costa-Jackson. Leonardo Caimi also performs the title role and Antonello Manacorda conducts. Damiano Michieletto directs the new production.

Performance Dates: Nov. 7-Dec. 1, 2024

Tanja Bage, Shout at Cancer Choir, Paul Jameson, Roderick Williams, and Lucy Crowe star in “The Sound Voice Project.”

Performance Dates: Nov. 14-20, 2024

Sonya Yoncheva returns to the title role of Puccini’s “Tosca” alongside a cast starring SeokJong Baek and Bryn Terfel. Eun Sun Kim conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 13, 2024

Olga Kulchynska, Pene Pati, Mikhail Timoshenko, Amina Edris, and Jolyon Loy lead the first cast of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Stefan Pop and Simona Mihai also star in the second cast. Speranza Scappucci conducts

Performance Dates: Dec. 13, 2024-Jan. 17, 2025

Performance Dates: Dec. 22, 2024-Jan. 9, 2025

Corinne Winters stars in Janacek’s “Jenůfa” alongside Karita Mattila, Thomas Atkins, Nicky Spence, and Hanna Schwarz. Jakub Hrůša conducts.

Performance Dates: Jan. 15-Feb. 1, 2025

Verdi’s “Aida” will star Anna Pirozzi, Riccardo Massi, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, and Alexander Köpeczi. Daniel Oren conducts.

Performance Dates: Jan. 28-Feb. 12, 2025

Mark-Anthony Turnage and Lee Hall’s “Festen” makes its world premiere in a production by Richard Jones. The cast will include Allan Clayton, Stéphane Degout, Gerald Finley, Eva-Maria Westbroek, and Natalya Romaniw.

Performance Dates: Feb. 11-27, 2025

Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” will return with two casts. The first will include Michael Fabiano, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Aleksei Isaev, Agnieszka Rehlis, and Riccardo Fassi, while the other will feature Riccardo Massi, Elena Stikhina, Etienne Dupuis, Clémentine Margaine, and Roberto Tagliavini. Giacomo Sagripanti and Carlo Rizzi conduct.

Performance Dates: Feb. 26-July 19, 2025

Sondra Radvanovsky, SeokJong Baek, Anna Princeva, Adam Palka, and Hansung Yoo lead the first cast of Puccini’s “Turandot.” Rafael Payare conducts. Later performances will see Ewa Płonka, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Gemma Summerfield, and Jerzy Butryn with Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducting.

Performance Dates: March 19-April 19, 2025

Aigul Akhmetshina returns in Bizet’s “Carmen” with Freddie De Tommaso, Yaritza Véliz, and Łukasz Goliński. Mark Elder conducts. Another cast will be led by Anna Goryachova, Charles Castronovo, Mané Galoyan, and Christian Van Horn. Ariane Matiakh conducts.

Performance Dates: April 9-July 3, 2025

Sir Antonio Pappano conducts Wagner’s “Die Walküre” in Barrie Kosky’s new production. Christopher Maltman, Elisabet Strid, Lise Davidsen, Stanislas de Barbeyrac,  and Soloman Howard star.

Performance Dates: May 1-17, 2025

Stefan Pop, Erwin Schrott, Lisette Oropesa, Boris Pinkhasovich, and Hongni Wu lead Gounod’s “Faust” with Maurizio Benini conducting.

Performance Dates: May 23-June 10, 2025

The season concludes with Handel’s “Semele” starring Pretty Yende, Ben Bliss, Brindley Sherratt, Carlo Vistoli, and Alice Coote. Christian Curnyn conducts the new production by Oliver Mears.

Performance Dates: June 30-July 15, 2025

The company will present the Jette Parker Artists in concert.

Performance Date: July 20, 2025

The post Pretty Yende, Sonya Yoncheva, Juan Diego Flórez, Allan Clayton, Lise Davidsen, & Lisette Oropesa Lead Royal Opera House’s 2024-25 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

Opera

Verdi’s “Falstaff” opens the season with a cast that includes Ambrogio Maestri, Olivia Boen, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, Andrei Kymach, Gregory Bonfatti, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Iván Ayón-Rivas, and Federica Guida. Michael Schønwandt conducts the production by Dominique Pitoiset.

Performance Dates: Sept. 10-30, 2024

Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will star Eleonora Buratto, Elena Stikhina, Aude Extrémo, Stefan Pop, and Christopher Maltman. Speranza Scappucci ocnducts.

Performance Dates: Sept. 14-Oct. 25, 2024

Offenbach’s “Les Brigands” will be directed by Barrie Kosky and conducted by Stefano Montanari and Michele Spotti. The cast includes Marcel Beekmann, Marie Perbost, Antoinette Dennefeld, Yann Beuron, Laurent Naouri, Mathias Vidal, Philippe Talbot, Eugénie Joneau, Leonardo Cortellazzi, Éric Huchet, Franck Leguérinel, and Rodolphe Briand.

Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2024-July 12, 2025

Pene Pati takes on the title role of Gounod’s “Faust” with Alex Esposito, John Relyea, Florian Sempey, Amin Ahangaran, Amina Edris, and Marina Viotti. Emmanuel Villaume conducts.

Performance Dates: Sept. 26-Oct. 18, 2024

Julie Fuchs, Lawrence Brownlee, Lionel Lhote, and Susan Graham lead Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment.” Evelino Pidò conducts.

Performance Dates: Oct. 17-Nov 20, 2024

Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” will star Pavol Breslik, Nikola Hillebrand, Aleksandra Olczyk, Jean Teitgen, Mathias Vidal, Mikhail Timoshenko, Ilanah Lobel-Torres, and Nicolas Cavallier. Oksana Lyniv conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 2-23, 2024

Ben Bliss, Iain Paterson, Clive Bayley, Golda Schultz Justina Gringytė, and Jamie Barton lead Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress.” Susanna Mälkki conducts the production by Olivier Py.

Performance Dates: Nov. 30-Dec. 23, 2024

Roman Burdenko and George Gagnidze share the title role of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” They star alongside Rosa Feola, Slávka Zámečníková, Liparit Avetisyan, Dmitry Korchak, Goderdzi Janelidze, Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Aude Extrémo, and Justina Gringytė. Domingo Hindoyan and Andrea Battistoni conduct.

Performance Dates: Dec. 1, 2024-June 12, 2025

Elena Tsallagova, Paula Murrihy, Iain Paterson, Éric Huchet, Frédéric Caton, Milan Siljanov, Maria Warenberg, Se-Jin Hwang, Anne-Sophie Ducret, Rocio Ruiz Cobarro, Irina Kopylova, Marie-Cécile Chevassus, and Slawomir Szychowiak star in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen.” Juraj Valčuha conducts the production by André Engel.

Performance Dates: Jan. 15-Feb. 1, 2025

Rameau’s “Castor et Pollux” will be headlined by Jeanine De Bique, Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Reinoud Van Mechelen, and Marc Mauillon. Teodor Currentzis conducts the production by Peter Sellars. 

Performance Dates: Jan. 20-Feb. 23, 2025

Ludovic Tézier features in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” alongside Florent Mbia, Matthew Cairns, Simon O’Neill, Kwangchul Youn, Mika Kares, Brian Mulligan, Gerhard Siegel, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Eliza Boom, and Marie-Nicole Lemieux. Pablo Heras-Casado conducts the production by Calixto Bieito.

Performance Dates: Jan. 29-Feb. 19, 2025

Lisette Oropesa headlines Bellini’s “I Puritani” with Lawrence Brownlee, Andrei Kymach, and Roberto Tagliavini. Corrado Rovaris conducts.

Performance Dates: Feb. 6-March 5, 2025

Sabine Devieilhe, Huw Montague Rendall, Gordon Bintner, Jean Teitgen, and Sophie Koch make up the cast of Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande.” Antonello Manacorda conducts the production by Wajdi Mouawad.

Performance Dates: Feb. 28- March 27 2025

François López-Ferrer conducts Haydn’s “L’isola disabitata” with Simon Valastro directing.

Performance Dates: March 11-21, 2025

Pascal Dusapin’ “Il Viaggio, Dante” will be directed by Claus Guth. Kent Nagano will conduct the production and leads a cast featuring Bo Skovhus, David Leigh, Christel Loetzsch, Jennifer France, and Danae Kontora.

Performance Dates: March 21-April 9, 2025

Verdi’s “Don Carlos” will be headlined by Charles Castronovo, Marina Rebeka, Christian Van Horn, Ekaterina Gubanova, Andrzej Filończyk, and Alexander Tsymbalyuk. Simone Young conducts the French version.

Performance Dates: March 29-April 25, 2025

Asmik Grigorian stars in Puccini’s “Il Trittico.” In “Gianni Schicchi”  she stars alongside Misha Kiria, Enkelejda Shkoza, and Alexey Neklyudov while in “Il Tabarro” she is joined by Roman Burdenko, Joshua Guerrero, Andrea Giovannini, and Enkelejda Shkoza. Finally Grigorian headlines “Suor Angelica” with Karita Mattila. Carlo Rizzi conducts a production by Christof Loy.

Performance Dates: April 29-May 28, 2025

Nadine Sierra and Amina Edris share the title role in Massenet’s “Manon” with Benjamin Bernheim and Roberto Alagna alternating as Des Grieux. The cast also includes Andrzej Filończyk and will be conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud.

Performance Dates: May 26-June 20, 2025

Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will feature Isabel Leonard, Aigul Akhmetshina, Mattia Olivieri, Levy Sekgapane, Carlo Lepore, Luca Pisaroni, and Andres Cascante. Diego Matheuz conducts.

Performance Dates: June 10-July 13, 2025

Concerts

Benjamin Bernheim and Carrie-Ann Matheson perform music by Ernest Chausson, Hector Berlioz, and Henri Duparc.

Performance Date: Nov. 24, 2024

Bizet and his contemporaries will be presented by artists from the Academy.

Performance Date: Jan. 17, 2025

Ludovic Tézier and Lisette Oropesa lead a gala performance conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock and directed by Victoria Sitjà.

Performance Date: Jan. 24, 2025

Renée Fleming performs music by Hazel Dickens, Georg Friedrich Haendel, Nico Muhly, Joseph Canteloube, Maria Schneider, Bjork, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Howard Shore, Kevin Puts, and Hal David.

Performance Date: March 9, 2025

Natalie Dessay and Philippe Cassard perform music by Samuel Barber, Ernest Chausson, Louis Beydts, Maurice Ravel, Reynaldo Hahn, Francis Poulenc, Stephen Sondheim, André Previn, and Gian-Carlo Menotti.

Performance Date: March 30, 2025

Elīna Garanča and Malcolm Martineau offer a recital of music by Alfrēds Kalniņš, Jāzeps Mediņš, Jāzeps Vītols, Richard Strauss, Henri Duparc, and Serguei Rachmaninov.

Performance Date: May 19, 2025

The post Benjamin Bernheim, Lisette Oropesa, Ludovic Tézier & Asmik Grigorian Lead Opéra de Paris’ 2024-25 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

Opera in Production 

Bach’s “Passion selon Saint” will be conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and directed by Sasha Waltz. The cast will include Sophie Junker, Georg Nigl, Christian Immler, Benno Schachtner, Valerio Contaldo, and Mark Milhofer.

Performance Dates: Nov. 4 & 5, 2024

Poulenc’s “Dialogues des Carmélites” will be directed by Olvier Py. The cast will include Patricia Petibon, Véronique Gens, Vannina Santoni, Jodie Devos, Sophie Koch, Sahy Ratia, Alexandre Duhamel, Marie Gautrot, Ramya Roy, Loïc Félix, Blaise Rantoanina, Yuri Kissin, and Matthieu Lécroart. Karina Canellakis conducts.

Performance Dates: Dec. 4-12, 2024

Handel’s ” Semele” will conducted by Emmanuelle Haïma and directed by Oliver Mears. The cast will include Pretty Yende, Ben Bliss, Alice Coote, Brindley Sherratt, Niamh O’Sullivan, Carlo Vistoli, and Marianna Hovhannisyan.

Performance Dates: Feb. 6-15, 2025

Benjamin Bernheim, Marina Viotti, Jean-Sébastien Bou, and Sandra Hamaoui star in Massenet’s “Werther“ with François-Xavier Roth conducting and Christof Loy directing.

Performance Dates: March 22-April 6, 2025

Henrik Nánási conducts Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” with Krzysztof Warlikowski directing. Marlis Petersen, Marina Viotti, Regula Mühlemann, Peter Rose, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Eléonore Pancrazi, Krešimir Špicer, Francesco Demuro, Laurène Paternò, Florent Karrer, François Piolino, and Yoann Le Lan star.

Performance Dates: May 21-June 5, 2025

Marc Leroy-Calatayud conducts “L’Elisir d’Amore” with direction by Manuel Renga. The cast includes Emma Fakete, Norma Nahoun, Thomas Ricart, Blaise Rantoanina, Sergio Villegas-Galvin, Oleg Volkov, Thibault de Damas, Annouk Jobic, Julien Chaudet, Raffaella Gardon, and Romain Valembois.

Performance Dates: June 12-25, 2025

Mozart Trilogy 

Ana Maria Labin, Angela Brower, James Ley, Leon Košavić, Miriam Albano, and Alexandre Duhamel star in Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte.” Les Musiciens du Louvre is led by Marc Minkowski.

Performance Date: Sept. 24, 2024

Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will star Florian Sempey, Ana Maria Labin, Léo Vermot-Desroches, Marion Lebègue, Edwin Fardini, Catherine Trottmann, and Louis Morvan. Les Ambassadeurs~La Grande Ecurie are conducted by Alexis Kossenko.

Performance Date: Jan. 20 2025

Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” will include Florian Boesch, Anett Fritsch, Robert Gleadow, Nikola Hillebrand, Anna Lucia Richter, Anna-Doris Capitelli, and Shinyoung Kim. The Kammerorchester Basel, Basler Madrigalisten is led by Giovanni Antonini.

Performance Date: March 26, 2025

Opera in Concert 

Brahms’ German Requiem will be performed by the Chœur de la Maîtrise with Henri Chalet conducting.

Performance Date: Sept. 24, 2024

Emőke Baráth, Elsa Benoit, Lucile Richardot, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, and Robert Gleadow lead Handel’s “La Résurrection.” Julien Chauvin conducts.

Performance Date: Oct. 4, 2024

Mozart’s Requiem will star Lisette Oropesa, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Cyrille Dubois, and Nahuel Di Pierro. Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Performance Date: Oct. 17, 2024

Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” will star Riccardo Massi, Anna Pirozzi, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, and  Sophie Pondjiclis with Daniele Rustioni conducting the Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon.

Performance Date: Oct. 18, 2024

Cyrille Dubois, Sara Blanch, Ambroisine Bré, Monica Bacelli, Nicola Ulivieri, Sergio Villegas-Galvain, and Marielou Jacquard lead Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory” with the Orchestre de chambre de Paris and Patrick Lange.

Performance Date: Nov. 7, 2024

Guy Cutting, Matthias Winckhler, Tobias Berndt, Miriam Feuersinger, Lucy De Butts, Alex Potter, Tobias Knaus, Christoph Pfaller, and Martin Schicketanz lead Bach’s “Saint Matthew’s Passion.” Hans-Christoph Rademann conducts.

Performance Date: Nov. 16 2024

Handel’s “Alcina” will star Elsa Dreisig, Sandrine Piau, Emily D’Angelo, Jasmin White, Stefan Sbonnik, Bruno de Sá, and Alex Rosen. Francesco Corti conducts il Pomo d’Oro.

Performance Date: Dec. 5, 2024

Händel’s “Messiah” will star Emőke Baráth, Lauranne Oliva, Tim Mead, Robin Tritschler, and Benjamin Appl. Hervé Niquet conducts.

Performance Date: Dec. 11, 2024

Catherine Trottmann, Ray Chenez, Victoire Bunel, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Adrien Mathonat, Paul Figuier, Maïlys de Villoutreys, Camille Poul, Sebastian Monti, Thibault Givaja, and Yannis François star in Monteverdi’s “L’Incoronazione di Poppea.” 

Performance Date: Dec. 16, 2024

 “Glory to God” will showcase Nina Maestracci, Malena Ernman, and Luigi De Donato. Jean-Christophe Spinosi conducts.

Performance Date: Dec. 18, 2024

Lauranne Oliva and Eva Zaïcik star in Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with Le Poème Harmonique and Vincent Dumestre.

Performance Date: Jan. 18, 2025

Lully’s “Persée” will star Mathias Vidal, Déborah Cachet, Hélène Carpentier, Thomas Dolié, Véronique Gens, Matthieu Lécroart, Reinoud Van Mechelen, David Tricou, David Witczak, Alexandre Baldo, Olivia Doray, and Marine Lafdal-Franc. Hervé Niquet conducts.

Performance Date: Feb. 14, 2025

Sara Blanch and Michael Volle lead Brahm’s German Requiem with the Orchestre National de France and Daniele Gatti.

Performance Date: April 5, 2025

Werner Güra, Louis Morvan, Julie Roset, Giuseppina Bridelli, Fabien Hyon, and Thomas Dolié star in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion Enrico Onofri conducting.

Performance Date: April 9, 2025

Handel’s “Jephté” will star Michael Spyres, Joyce DiDonato, Mélissa Petit, and Jasmin White with il Pomo d’Oro and Francesco Corti.

Performance Date: April 29, 2025

Weber’s “Der Freischütz” will star Charles Castronovo, Golda Schultz, Kyle Ketelsen, Nikola Hillebrand, Jongmin Park, Milan Siljanov, and Sebastian Wartig. Antonello Manacorda conducts.

Performance Date: April 30, 2025

Sophie Junker, Jakub Józef Orliński, Sophia Patsi, and Wolf Matthias Friedrich star in Handel’s “Deborah” with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Ton Koopman.

Performance Date: May 23, 2025

Mozart’s “Mitridate” will include Sergeï Romanovski, Jessica Pratt, Olga Bezsmertna, Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Maria Kokareva, Alasdair Kent, and Nina van Essen. Christophe Rousset conducts.

Performance Date: May 25, 2025

Karine Deshayes, Franco Fagioli, Giorgi Manoshvili, Alasdair Kent, Mara Gaudenzi, and Antonio Di Matteo star in Rossini’s “Semiramide” with Valentina Peleggi conducting.

Performance Date: June 17, 2025

Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeri” will star Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Levy Sekgapane, Nahuel Di Pierro, Mikhail Timoshenko, Sulkhan Jaiani, Eléonore Pancrazi, and Julie Roset. Le Concert de La Loge is conducted by Julien Chauvin.

Performance Date: June 18, 2025

Vocal Recitals 

Natalie Dessay, Shani Diluka, and Johnny Rasse lead a performance of works by Grieg, Fauré, Ravel, Delibes, Chausson, Debussy, Rimski-Korsakov, Berg, Villa-Lobos, and Arden.

Performance Date: Oct. 6, 2024

Adriana González and Freddie De Tommaso join forces with the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Toulon and Victorien Vanoosten for an evening of Puccini, Cilea, Ponchielli, Verdi, Charpentier, Massenet, Bizet, Puccini, and Mascagni.

Performance Date: Oct. 7 2024

Philippe Jaroussky and Jérôme Ducros perform a recital of music by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Hahn, Fauré, and Debussy.

Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2024

The concert des Diapason d’or will include Julia Lezhneva, Pene Pati, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Performance Date: Nov. 13, 2024

François-Xavier Roth and Sabine Devieilhe perform Debussy and Boulez.

Performance Date: Jan. 7, 2025

Jakub Józef Orliński and Michał Biel perform lieder.

Performance Date: Feb. 10, 2025

Héloïse Poulet, Emy Gazeilles, Livia Louis-Joseph-Dogué, Juliette Mey, Lotte Verstaen, Léo Vermot-Desroches, and Rodolphe Lospied perform arias and ensembles from opera.

Performance Date: Feb. 17, 2025

Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov lead a concert of Italian opera scenes with Michelangelo Mazza.

Performance Date: March 27, 2025

Pretty Yende sings extracts from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,”  “The Way We Are,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Cats.” Giacomo Sagripanti conducts.

Performance Date: June 8, 2025

Philippe Jaroussky and guests celebrate the countertenor’s 25th anniversary on the stage.

Performance Date: June 23, 2025

Patricia Petibon, Olivier Py and Jean-Sébastien Bou perform arias from “La Grande Duchesse de
Gérolstein,” “Ciboulette,” and French songs.

Performance Date: June 28, 2025

Bruckner

Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Angel Blue perform Strauss and Bruckner.

Performance Date: March 23, 2025

Orchestras 

Le Concert de La Loge and Julien Chauvin will present a gala with such artists Sandrine Piau, Florie Valiquette, Jodie Devos, Karina Gauvin, Judith van Wanroij, Marina Viotti, Adèle Charvet, Eva Zaïcik, Philippe Jaroussky, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Jérôme Boutillier, Nahuel Di Pierro, Sulkhan Jaiani, Victor Julien-Laferrière, and Nicolas Baldeyrou.

Performance Date: Jan. 15, 2025

The Orchestre de France is joined by Cristian Măcelaru, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Sarah Nemtanu for Ravel. 

Performance date: March 5, 2025

Maxim Emelyanychev and Sabine Devieilhe with the Orchestre National de France lead a concert of music by Schubert, Haydn, Mozart, and Tchaïkovsky.

Performance Date: June 26, 2025

Orchestre de Chambre de Paris 

Philipp von Steinaecker conducts Andrew Staples in music by Bach and Mahler.

Performance Date: Feb. 20, 2025

Recitals 

Camille Chopin, Pierre-Yves Cras, Ensemble vocal, Bernard Tétu and I Giardini lead a performance of music by Fauré.

Performance Date: Nov. 3, 2024

The post Pretty Yende, Anna Netrebko, Philippe Jaroussky, Natalie Dessay & Benjamin Bernheim Lead Théâtre des Champs-Élysées’ 2024-25 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

The company revealed that Alexander Roslavets will take over the title role of Boris, replacing Matthias Goerne who has bowed out.

Roslavets took on the role in a November production of the work by Opéra du Capitole.

Roslavets joins a cast starring Victoire Bunel, LIla Dufy, Svetlana Lifar, Marius Brenciu, Mikhail Timoshenko, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Ariam Hernández, Yuri Kissin, Fabien Hyon, Sarah Laulan, Kristofer Lundin, Barnaby Rea, and Sulkhan Jaiani.

Andris Poga conducts a production directed by Olivier Py.

The Mussorgsky masterwork runs for a total of five performances from Feb. 28 – March 7, 2024.

The post Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Announces Major Cast Change for ‘Boris Godunov’ appeared first on OperaWire.

Opera

Louis Bertin’s “La Esmeralda” will star Christophe Crapez, Arthur Daniel, Renaud Delaigue, Jeanne Mendoche, and Martial Pauliat. Benjamin d’Anfray conducts the production by Jeanne Desoubeaux.

Performance Dates: Nov. 7 & 8, 2023

Antonio Corianò, Ernesto Petti, Angélique Boudeville, and Kamelia Kader star in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” with Giuseppe Grazioli conducting a production by Louis Désiré.

Performance Dates: Nov. 17-21, 2023

Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles” will star Catherine Trottmann, Kévin Amiel, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, and Frédéric Caton. Guillaume Tourniaire conducts a production by Laurent Fréchuret.

Performane Dates: Feb. 2-6, 2024

Gound’s rarely performed work “Le tribut de Zamora” will be performed with Chloé Jacob, Élodie Hache, Clémence Barrabé, Léo Vermot-Desroches, Jérôme Boutillier, Mikhail Timoshenko, and Kaëlig Boché. Hervé Niquet conducts the production by Gilles Rico.

Performance Dates: March 3-10, 2024

Puccini’s “La Bohème” will close out the season with Giuseppe Grazioli conducting a new production by Éric Ruf. Gabrielle Philiponet, Perrine Madœuf, Matteo Desole, Andrea Vincenzo Bonsignore, Matteo Loi, and Guilhem Worms star.

Performance Dates: June 14-18, 2024

Recital 

Jérôme Boutillier performs Schubert’s “Winterreise.”

Performance Date: March 20, 2024

Concerts 

Giuseppe Grazioli conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Marion Grange, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, Julien Henric, and Florent Karre.

Performance Date: June 25, 2024

Music 

Bruno Mantovani and soprano Hélène Walter lead a program of music by Da Costa, Jean-Marie Cottet, Luciano Berio, and Bruno Mantovani.

Performance Date: May 30, 2024

The post Jérôme Boutillier, Ernesto Petti & Catherine Trottmann Lead Opéra de Saint-Étienne’s 2023-24 Season appeared first on OperaWire.

Opera

Victorien Vanoosten conducts Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles” with Thomas Lebrun Mise directing. The cast includes Anne-Catherine Gillet, Mathias Vidal, Alexandre Duhamel, and Jean-Fernand Setti.

Performance Dates: Sept. 26-Oct. 8, 2023

Andris Poga conducts Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” in a production by Olivier Py. The cast is led by Matthias Goerne, Victoire Bunel, Lila Dufy, Svetlana Lifar, Marius Brenciu, Mikhail Timoshenko, Roberto Scandiuzzi, and Airam Hernández.

Performance Dates: Nov. 24-Dec.3, 2023

Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten” is set to star Issachah Savage, Elisabeth Teige, Sophie Koch, Brian Mulligan, and Ricarda Merbeth. Frank Beermann conducts Niclas Joel’s production.

Performance Dates: Jan. 25-Feb. 4, 2024

Marie Perbost, Ian Koziara, Cyrille Dubois, Andreea Soare, Petr Nekoranec, and Kresimir Spicer star in Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” Michele Spotti conducts the new production by Satoshi Miyagi.

Performance Dates: Feb. 27-March 3, 2024

Two casts will perform Rossini’s “La Cenerentola.” The first will be led by Adèle Charvet, Levy Sekgapane, Florian Sempey, and Nicola Alaimo. The second will be sung by Floriane Hasler, Michele Angelini, Philippe Estèphe, and Vincenzo Taormina. Michele Spotti conducts Barbe & Doucet’s production.

Performance Dates: March 29-April 7, 2024

Marc Mauillon and Victoire Bunel headline Debussy’s “Pelléas  et Mélisande” alongside Tassis Christoyannis, Janina Baechle, and Franz-Josef Selig. Leo Hussain conducts the production by Éric Ruf.

Performance Dates: May 17-26, 2024

Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” will star Stéphane Degout, Valentina Fedeneva, Eva Zaïcik, Bror Magnus Tødenes, and Andreas Bauer Kanabas. Florent Siaud directs and Gábor Káli conducts.

Performance Dates: June 20-July 2, 2024

Recital 

Michael Fabiano and Martin Katz perform a program of music by Duparc, Gounod, Massenet.

Performance Date: Nov. 19, 2023

Matthias Goerne and Alexander Schmalcz perform Lieder by Wagner, Strauss, and Pfitzner

Performance Date: Jan. 26, 2024

Marcelo Álvarez perform latin American music and zarzuela.

Performance Date: Feb. 1, 2024

Karine Deshayes, Florian Sempey, and Daniela Pellegrino lead a Rossini program.

Performance Date: Feb. 28, 2024

Midis du Capitole

Catherine Hunold and Paul-Emmanuel Thomas perform “Love dream de Carmen à Piaf.” The program features music by Bizet, Puccini, Wagner, Weill, Brel, and Kosma

Performance Date: Oct. 5, 2023

Mikhail Timoshenko and Elitsa Desseva take on the music of Tchaikovsky, Ibert, and Ravel.

Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2023

Aleksei Isaev and Robert Gonnella perform melodies by Verdi, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov.

Performance Date: Feb. 1, 2024

Petr Nekoranec and Vincenzo Scalera take on the music of Rossini, Hahn, Debussy, Dvořák, Rachmaninov, and Strauss

Performance Date: Feb. 29, 2024

Marie-Laure Garnier and Célia Oneto Bensaid perform “Songs of Hope.”

Performance Date: April 4, 2024

Carl Ghazarossian and Emmanuel Olivier lead a program of music by Bizet, Debussy, Poulenc, and Ravel.

Performance Date: June 27, 2024

Concerts 

God the Save the King! concert will include Hervé Niquet conducting the Chœur and Orchestre du Concert Spirituel.

Performance Date: Oct. 4, 2023

Monteverdi’s “Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in patria” will star Fleur Barron, Emőke Barath, David Hansen, Zachary Wilder, and Nicholas Scot.

Performance Dates: Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2023

Elionor Martínez, Anna Piroli, Natasha Schnur, William Shelton, Ferran Mitjans, and Guglielmo Buonsanti perform Marc Antoine Charpentier’s “Louanges a la Vierge Marie.

Performance Date: Nov. 30, 2023

Hervé Niquet perform a christmas concert with the Chœur de l’Opéra national du Capitole.

Performance Dates: Dec. 9 & 10, 2023

Sabrina Romero, Victor Sordo, Daniel Lassalle, Jean-Pierre Canihac, Gregory Daltin, Benoit Albert, and Florent Tisseyre perform Claudio Monteverdi, Santiago de Murcia, Gaspar Sanz, Stefano Landi, Antonio Martin, and Coll.

Performance Date: Feb. 3, 2024

Anne Le Bozec, Apolline Raï-Westphal, and Marion Vergez-Pascal perform Mozart.

Performance Date: March 2, 2024

Philippe Fénelon, Céline Laborie, Emilie Rose Bry, and Svetlana Lifar perform Leçons de ténèbres.

Performance Date: May 18, 2024

Jordi Savall conducts Haydn’s “The Creation” with a cast of Myriam Feuersinger, Tilmann Lichdi, and Matthias Winckhler.

Performance Date: May 28, 2024

The post Matthias Goerne, Levy Sekgapane & Karine Deshayes Lead Opéra national du Capitole’s 2023-24 Season appeared first on OperaWire.