There’s been a lot of opera in 2024. And quite frankly, there’s been a lot of good opera. So as has become our tradition, here is a look at some of OperaWire’s editorial team’s picks for their personal favorite performances of 2024. Matt Costello: Act three of “Götterdämmerung” – Tanglewood It’s always a tricky thing to think about one’s “Performance {…}
(Credit: Grand Théâtre de Genève) This week the Grand Théâtre de Genève is set to open a new production of Giordano’s “Fedora,” a rarely performed work that has become a showcase for a star soprano in recent years. This week Aleksandra Kurzak will sing her first Fedora, adding yet another demanding role to her growing diverse repertoire. Over the past {…}
(Credit: TACT/Askonas Holt/Intermusica/Natalia Jansen) 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 {…}
(Credit: Brescia – Amisano © Teatro alla Scala) The “Prima della Scala” is more than just an opera performance; it’s a quintessential Italian event that intertwines art, history, and tradition, captivating global audiences every December 7th. This year, Teatro alla Scala inaugurates its 2024/2025 season with Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” Here are five essential insights to help you fully {…}
This week La Monnaie/De Mont is set to open the world premiere of Fanny and Alexander. The work is based on Oscar-winning film “Fanny och Alexander” from 1982. The work will include a commanding cast of 16 soloists many of them veterans and some newcomers. Among them are Anne Sofie von Otter. Over the years, Von Otter has evolved her {…}
(Photo Credits: Photofest) It’s no surprise that Richard Wagner’s music is a popular choice for cinematic moments of intense dramaticism, humor, horror, suspense, philosophical gravity, and pleasure. From the many comical moments in the 1957 Warner Bros’ film, “What’s Opera, Doc?,” Werner Herzog’s sobering 1992 documentary experience, “Lessons of Darkness,” the endearing 1930 film, “Fire At The Opera,” or the {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) “After 18 years running the Met, and a lifetime of experience in classical music and opera, it’s clear to me that the solution to sustaining opera is through artistic reinvention, both with new operas by living composers, and reimagined productions of classics that can resonate with audiences of today.” So writes Met Opera General {…}
(Photo Credit: Bielefeld Marketing GmbH) In the northwest of Germany lies one of the most important venues for operatic history past and present. Situated in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region of North Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Bielefeld boasts a funny conspiracy theory that the city, in fact, does not exist at all. However, the city does exist, and its cultural history is {…}
This week, The Dallas Opera is set to open a production of “Pelléas et Mélisande,” a work that is rarely performed. The production will showcase rising stars in the opera world including one unexpected debut. Edward Nelson will make his house debut singing the title role after being announced only a week before performances. Nelson is well-known for his interpretation {…}
