(Credit: Meigui Zhang Facebook) This week the San Francisco Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season with a production of “Un Ballo in Maschera,” an opera that has not been performed at the company in 10 years. For this new production, the San Francisco Opera has assembled an all-star cast that includes Meigui Zhang, a rising star in the {…}
This week the Salzburg Festival opens a new production of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” with an all-star cast that includes some of the best performers of the work. Among them is Kathryn Lewek, who will be taking on the challenge of portraying all four heroines, something that has always been seen as rare and complex. In preparation for the roles, Lewek {…}
This week the Rossini Opera Festival is set to open with a new production of one of the composer’s lesser-known works, “Bianca e Falliero.” The work has been presented at the festival before famously in 1986 and is considered very difficult to sing due to the intensity of its coloratura writing. The new production will include some very important Rossini {…}
After opening at Montclair State University, Teatro Nuovo is set to bring its 2024 festival to New York City where it will showcase two rarities of the Bel Canto repertoire. One of the operas is well-known in Europe while the other “Anna di Resburgo” by Carolina Uccelli, is unknown to the world. Teatro Nuovo will unearth the work this week {…}
This week the Festival Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca is set to open a new production of Bellini’s “Norma” which will be performed in Roger Parker’s Ricordi edition. The version will see two sopranos in the opera, which is close to what Bellini originally intended. Among the artists enlisted for this production is Jacquelyn Wagner. Wagner will make her house {…}
(Credit: Richard Hubert Smith) Last week, the Glyndebourne Festival opened its 2024 production of “Giulio Cesare,” a revival of a production by David McVicar. The production features a cast of rising stars and baroque specialists. Among them are Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen who is returning to the festival after his successful debut in Händel’s “Semele.” For his performances thus far he {…}
This week, the Grange Festival is set to open a new production of “The Rake’s Progress,” the final showcase of the season. Among the cast members is Adam Temple-Smith, a rising star in the opera world. Throughout the past years, Temple-Smith has performed with Opera Holland Park, West Green House Opera, the Southrepps International Festival, Garsington Opera, Internazionale d’Arte Festival {…}
This week the San Francisco Opera will revive its acclaimed production of Händel’s “Partenope.” The production will star some of the most acclaimed singers in the Baroque repertoire and will showcase three debuts. Among the debuts is Italian countertenor Carlo Vistoli who has performed around the world. In anticipation of his debut, Vistoli spoke to OperaWire regarding the production. OperaWire: {…}
When the Bayerische Staatsoper opens Kornél Mundruczó’ s new production of “Tosca” this week, it will feature two role debuts. One of those will belong to tenor Charles Castronovo. Even if this is the U.S. singer’s his first Cavaradossi, he’s no stranger to Puccini’s repertory. Over the years he has performed Rodolfo in “La Bohème” as well as Ruggero in {…}
Soprano Lise Davidsen is no stranger to Strauss as she has performed the Marschallin “Der Rosenkavalier,” Chrysothemis in “Elektra” and and the title role of “Ariadne auf Naxos.” She has also performed the Four Last Songs. For all these roles she had garnered universal acclaim with OperaWire stating, “She can be comic, tragic, and romantic. She can be physical and {…}
This week, Opera Southwest will make history with its production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The opera, which is one of the most popular in the repertoire, will be performed in a Spanish version translated by Eduardo de Bray that premiered in Barcelona in 1890. The new production in New Mexico will mark the U.S. premiere of the version with Eliza Bonet {…}