Salazar's Opera Family Circle

Jonas Kaufmann's New CD!

2014-07-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

Sony has announced the third CD by Jonas Kaufmann. Here is the cover artwork!

Kickstarter Campaign

2014-07-14T20:01:00.001-07:00

Hello Fellow Followers

I am coming out of retirement after I finish my movie. However the only way I can do that is if I am able to raise the money for my film. My brother and i launched a kickstarter campaign for the film entitled "The Next Page." I need your help with a small donation to get closer to my 60,000 goal. It is extremely important that I make teh goal or else Ii won't be able to make it and in turn will not be able to continue this great blog.

Thank you and here is the link to the campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/31412723/the-next-page-feature-film

Farewell Letter

2014-04-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon to all My Followers:

I have had to make a huge decision today. Due to professional reasons I have made the decision to stop blogging for Salazar family Circle. I have enjoyed my time here and enjoyed the conversations we've had here. It has been fun to post great reviews and interesting articles. Thank You so Much for Having followed me and I hope you will Keep in Contact with Me. Feel Free to email me at my Gmail account or Facebook me.

Thank You So much for these past three Years!
Francisco Salazar

Vittorio Grigolo Announces New CD

2014-04-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Twitter has just announced The Romantic Hero by Vittorio Grigolo. The CD includes a number of his favorite French arias. No release date has been given but expect it soon And Hopefully with this announcement Sony Will Also announce a DVD.

Letter to Sony For a DVD Release of La Boheme!

2014-04-10T10:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Sony Classical

This past weekend Vittorio Grigolo and Kristine Opolais performed a glorious "La Boheme" at the Metropolitan Opera. The performance was record on HD through the Live in HD series that the Met presents in cinemas. I ask you to please release this performance on DVD. First because Girgolo is one of your exclusive artist. While he has recorded three albums for the company, he has yet to get a DVD release of any of his performances from the Royal Opera House or any of his earlier Orange TV recordings. Secondly Grigolo is one of the biggest tenors in the industry and is likely to have a huge career in the coming years.

The final reason for this release is because it brings together two of the most exciting artists who are up and coming and this is truly one of the most historic and spontaneous Live in HD performances that has ever been recorded.

I know the Met has three DVDs of "Boheme" but this is truly a special performance that is different from the last three and one that should be documented for people to own.

Lastly I ask that you sign Opolais to a CD contract because the company does not have a spinto soprano on their roster and this woman has a promising career that is about to bloom and will be in demand for a number of years.

Kristine Opolais To in La Boheme HD

2014-04-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

Kristine Opolais will sing Mimi in today’s matinee performance of Puccini’s La Bohème, replacing Anita Hartig, who is ill.

Angela Gheorghiu Cancels Faust At Baden Baden

2014-04-03T15:40:00.002-07:00

Earlir Today Angela Gheorghiu Put Up These Comments in reference to Her Cancellation of Faust
"I am very sorry to have to turn down the offer from the Baden-Baden-Festspielhaus to perform in Faust in June this year. It has always been one of my principles not to sing in a new production that has not been conceived from the very beginning for me. It is also rather unusual for me to have to replace another singer. Nevertheless, I have tried to make it possible and to be available for the whole period but unfortunately I have not been successful in doing this."

However she has since taken down the comments after numerous Social Media blogs criticized her intolerant and arrogant response.

What Do You Think of this Statement?

Juan Diego Florez Cancels!

2014-04-03T15:34:00.002-07:00

“Javier Camarena will sing the role of Prince Ramiro in the season’s three initial performances of Rossini’s La Cenerentola on April 21, 25, and 28, replacing Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill. Flórez is scheduled to return for the three final performances of the opera, on May 2, May 6, and the May 10 matinee, which will be transmitted worldwide as part of the Met’s Live in HD series.”

La Boheme Review

2014-04-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Puccini's "La Boheme" is arguably the most popular opera in the world. The Metropolitan Opera usually showcases the work every season (expect for last season) and despite its enduring appeal, the work has lost some of its allure due to its constant repetition. However, the company assembled a terrific group of singers for the iconic work this season; the performance on Saturday, March 29 was easily one of the finest "Boheme's" in the Met's recent history.

Critics have gone on about how overindulgent Franco Zeffirelli's epic production is ever since its inception. On one level, one might understand the notion that the production is so large that it could be at odds with arguably the most intimate of all operas. Some might argue that the constant buzz throughout the stage, particularly in Act 2, could be distracting. But there can be no denying the vibrancy and life that the production brings to the work, even after decades of dominating the Met stage. Continue Reading

Royal Opera House 2014-15 season

2014-03-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Royal Opera House has announced its 2014-15 season with many of the great stars attached to sing at the theater. Jonas Kaufmann, Annetrebko, Placido Domingo, Nina Stemme, Vittorio Girgolo, Bryn Terfel, Anne Sophe Von Otter, Kristine Opolais, Mariusz Kwiecien. Dimitri Hvorostovsky, and Rolando Villazon.

Compete List of Operas

Autumn Season

Anna Nicole
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Dir: Richard Jones
Cond: Antonio Pappano

A tale of sex, celebrity and scandal: Mark-Anthony Turnage’s opera explores the dramatic life and death of Anna Nicole Smith.

Cast:

Anna Nicole – Eva-Maria Westbroek
Virgie – Susan Bickley
The Lawyer Stern – Rodney Gilfry
Old Man Marshall – Alan Oke
Blossom – Allison Cook
Doctor – Andrew Rees
Larry King – Peter Hoare
Aunt Kay – Rebecca de Pont Davies
Billy – Grant Doyle
Mayor – Wynne Evans
Donald – Jeremy White
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

11 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 24 September at 7.30pm; 13 September at 7pm

Rigoletto
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: Maurizio Benini (except 6 Oct) / Paul Griffiths (6 Oct)

Corruption and innocence collide in Verdi’s remarkable opera. David McVicar’s staging emphasizes the depravity at the heart of the court of Mantua.

Cast:

Duke of Mantua – Saimir Pirgu (12, 15, 20 mat, 23, 27, 30 Sept; 3, 6 Oct) / Piero Pretti (17, 21 mat Sept)
Rigoletto – Simon Keenlyside (12, 15, 20 mat, 23, 27, 30 Sept; 3, 6 Oct) / Dimitri Platanias (17, 21 mat Sept)
Gilda – Aleksandra Kurzak (12, 15, 20 mat, 23, 27, 30 Sept; 3, 6 Oct) / Eri Nakamura (17, 21 mat Sept)
Sparafucile – Brindley Sherratt (12, 15, 20 mat, 23, 27, 30 Sept; 3, 6 Oct) / Alexander Tsymbalyuk (17, 21 mat Sept)
Maddalena – Justina Gringyte (12, 15, 20 mat, 23, 27, 30 Sept; 3, 6 Oct) / Nadezhda Karyazina §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

12 | 15 | 17† | 23 | 30 September at 7.30pm; 20 September at 12.30pm; 21 September at 2pm; 27 September at 7pm
3** | 6 October at 7.30pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist
† BP Big Screen Live Relay
**Sign-language interpreted

Il barbiere di Siviglia
Gioachino Rossini
Dir: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Cond: Mark Elder

Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s production of Rossini’s sparkling comedy is full of wit and energy.

Cast:

Rosina – Serena Malfi
Count Almaviva – Michele Angelini
Figaro – Lucas Meachem
Doctor Bartolo – Alessandro Corbelli
Don Basilio – Maurizio Muraro
Berta – Janis Kelly
Fiorello – Wyn Pencarreg
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

19 | 22 | 25 | 29 September at 7pm
2 October at 7pm; 5 October at 6.30pm

The Trial NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Philip Glass
Lib: Christopher Hampton
Dir: Michael McCarthy
Cond: Michael Rafferty

Philip Glass, one of the world’s most popular contemporary composers, creates a new work for Music Theatre Wales based on Kafka’s nightmarish novel.

Cast:

Soprano – Amanda Forbes
Mezzo-soprano – Rowan Hellier
Tenors – Paul Curievici, Michael Bennett
Baritones – Gwion Thomas, Johnny Herford
Bass-baritones – Nicholas Folwell, Michael Druiett
Music Theatre Wales Ensemble

10 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 17 October at 7.45pm; 18 October at 6pm

La scala di seta (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Gioachino Rossini
Dir: Greg Eldridge §
Cond: Jonathan Santagada §

The Jette Parker Young Artists present a fully staged performance in the Linbury Studio Theatre, in one of the most popular highlights of Meet the Young Artists Week.

Cast:

Guilia – Lauren Fagan §
Lucilla – Anush Hovhannisyan §
Dorvil – Luis Gomes §
Dormont – Samuel Johnson §
Germano – Yuriy Yurchuk §
Blansac – James Platt §
Southbank Sinfonia

23 October at 7pm; 24 October at 1pm and 7pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

I due Foscari NEW

Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Thaddeus Strassberger
Cond: Antonio Pappano (14, 17, 20, 23, 27 Oct) / Renato Balsadonna (30 Oct, 2 Nov)

A despairing father is torn between love for his family and duty to a corrupt city in Verdi’s searing early tragedy.

Cast:

Francesco Foscari – Plácido Domingo
Jacopo Foscari – Francesco Meli
Lucrezia Contarini – Maria Agresta
Jacopo Loredano – Maurizio Muraro
Barbarigo – Samuel Sakker §
Pisana – Rachel Kelly §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 27† | 30 October at 7.30pm
2 November at 3pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist
† Live cinema relay

Idomeneo NEW
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: Martin Kušej
Cond: Marc Minkowski

Love and sacrifice vie in Mozart’s sublime early masterpiece, directed by Martin Kušej in his UK debut.

Cast:

Idomeneo – Matthew Polenzani
Idamente – Franco Fagioli
Ilia – Sophie Bevan
Elettra – Malin Byström
Arbace – Stanislas de Barbeyrac
High Priest of Neptune – Krystian Adam
Voice of Neptune – Graeme Broadbent
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 24 November at 6.30pm

Glare NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)

Sørens Nils Eichberg
Lib: Hannah Dübgen
Dir: Thaddeus Strassberger
Cond: Geoffrey Paterson

Danish-German composer Søren Nils Eichberg presents his much-anticipated operatic debut, a taut thriller about trust and reality.

Cast: TBC

TBC November

L’elisir d’amore
Gaetano Donizetti
Dir: Laurent Pelly
Cond: Daniele Rustioni

Laurent Pelly’s acclaimed production of Donizetti’s opera radiates tenderness, humour and southern sunshine.

Cast:

Adina – Lucy Crowe
Nemorino – Vittorio Grigolo
Dulcamara – Bryn Terfel
Belcore – Levente Molnár
Giannetta – Kiandra Howarth §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

18 | 26† November at 7.30pm; 22 November at 3pm; 29 November at 7pm
4 | 9 December at 7.30pm; 13 December at 7pm

† Live cinema relay
§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Orfeo NEW (Roundhouse, Camden)
Claudio Monteverdi
Dir: Michael Boyd / Trans: Don Paterson
Cond: Christian Curnyn

Cast:

Orfeo – Gyula Orendt
Euridice / Echo – Susanna Hurrell
Music / Nymph – Mary Bevan
Persephone – Rachel Kelly §
Pluto – Callum Thorpe
Charon – James Platt
Messenger – Susan Bickley
Shepherd 1 – Anthony Gregory
Shepherd 2 / Apollo – Amar Muchhala
Shepherd 3 / Hope – Christopher Lowrey
Orchestra of the Early Opera Company

13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 January

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Winter Season

Tristan und Isolde
Richard Wagner
Dir: Christof Loy
Cond: Antonio Pappano

Christof Loy brings intense insight to Wagner’s story of illicit love, told through music of thrilling power.

Cast:

Tristan – Stephen Gould
King Marke – John Tomlinson
Isolde – Nina Stemme
Kurwenal – Iain Paterson
Brangäne – Sarah Connolly
Melot – Neal Cooper
Sailor – Ed Lyon
Shepherd – Luis Gomes §
Steersman – Yuriy Yurchuk §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

5 | 8 | 11 | 17 December at 5pm; 14 | 21 December at 3pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Un ballo in maschera NEW
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Katharina Thoma
Cond: Daniel Oren

Katharina Thoma directs a new production of Verdi’s tragedy of illicit love, loyalty and betrayal.

Cast:

Riccardo – Joseph Calleja
Amelia – Liudmyla Monastyrska
Renato – Dimitri Hvorostovsky
Ulrica – Marianne Cornetti
Oscar – Rosemary Joshua
Sam – Anatoli Sivko
Tom – James Platt § (18, 22, 30 Dec; 2, 6 Jan) / Jihoon Kim (13, 17 Jan)
Silvano – Samuel Johnson §
Minister of Justice – Samuel Sakker §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

18 | 22 | 30 December at 7.30pm
2 | 6 | 13 January at 7.30pm; 17 January at 7pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Listen to the Silence – A Journey with John Cage NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
John Cage
Dir: Wouter Van Looy / Letizia Renzini

Explore the mind-bending world of philosopher composer John Cage in Zonzo Compagnie’s award-winning interactive family show.

Cast:

Actor – Tjyying Liu
Piano – Jeroen Malaise
Technicians – Pat Caers, Peter Quasters

30 January at 7pm; 31 January at 2pm and 4pm
1 February at 2pm and 4pm

Andrea Chénier NEW

Umberto Giordano
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: Antonio Pappano

David McVicar directs a new production of Umberto Giordano’s passionate drama of liberty and love in the French Revolution.

Cast:

Andrea Chénier – Jonas Kaufmann
Carlo Gérard – Željko Lučić
Maddalena de Coigny – Eva-Maria Westbroek
Bersi – Denyce Graves
Madelon – Elena Zilio
Countessa de Coigny – Rosalind Plowright
Roucher – Roland Wood
Pietro Fléville – Peter Coleman-Wright
Mathieu – Adrian Clarke
L’Incredibile – Carlo Bosi
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

20 | 23 | 26 | 29† | 31 January at 7.30pm
3 | 6 February at 7.30pm

† Live cinema relay

Der fliegende Holländer
Richard Wagner
Dir: Tim Albery
Cond: Andris Nelsons

Tim Albery’s acclaimed production is a darkly insightful account of Wagner’s early masterpiece, The Flying Dutchman.

Cast:

The Dutchman – Bryn Terfel
Senta – Adrianne Pieczonka
Daland – Peter Rose
Steersman – Ed Lyon
Mary – Catherine Wyn-Rogers
Erik – Michael König
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

5 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 24† February at 7.30pm

† Live cinema relay

Die Zauberflöte
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: Cornelius Meister

Comedy and philosophy unite in Mozart’s glorious The Magic Flute, brought enchantingly to life by David McVicar.

Cast:

Tamino – Toby Spence (23, 26 Feb; 2, 6, 9, 11 Mar) / Pavol Breslik (28 Feb; 4, 7 March)
Pamina – Janai Brugger (23, 26 Feb; 2, 6, 9, 11 Mar) / Christiane Karg (28 Feb; 4, 7 March)
Queen of the Night – Anna Siminska
Papageno – Markus Werba
Sarastro – Georg Zeppenfeld
Monostatos – Colin Judson
Papagena – Rhian Lois (23, 26, 28 Feb; 2, 4, 6 Mar) / Lauren Fagan § (7, 9, 11 Mar)
The Speaker – Benjamin Bevan (23, 26 Feb; 2, 6, 9, 11 Mar) / Robert Lloyd (28 Feb; 4, 7 March)
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

23 | 26 | 28 February at 7pm
2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 March at 7pm

Spring Season

Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny NEW
Kurt Weill
Dir: John Fulljames
Cond: Mark Wigglesworth

John Fulljames presents a new production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s furiously impassioned satire on consumerism.

Cast:

Leocadia Begbick – Anne Sofie von Otter
Fatty – Peter Hoare
Trinity Moses – Willard W White
Jenny Smith – Christine Rice
Jimmy McIntyre – Kurt Streit
Jack O’Brien – Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts
Bank Account Billy – Darren Jeffrey
Alaska Wolf Joe – Neal Davies
Toby Higgins – Hubert Francis
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

10 | 12 | 14 | 24 March at 7.30pm; 28 March at 12.30pm
1† | 4 April at 7.30pm

† Live cinema relay

Madama Butterfly

Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Cond: Nicola Luisotti

East meets West with devastating effect in Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s production of Puccini’s poignant opera.

Cast:

Cio-Cio-San – Kristine Opolais (20, 23, 28, 31 Mar; 4 mat, 9 April) / Alexia Voulgaridou (6 April)
BF Pinkerton – Brian Jagde (20, 23, 28, 31 Mar; 4 mat, 9 April) / Noah Stewart (6 April)
Sharpless – Gabriele Viviani
Goro – Carlo Bosi
Suzuki – Enkelejda Shkosa
The Bonze – Jeremy White
Prince Yamadori – Yuriy Yurchuk §
Imperial Commissione – Samuel Johnson §
Kate Pinkerton – Anush Hovhannisyan §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

20 | 23 | 28 | 31 March at 7.30pm
4 April at 2.30pm; 6 April at 7.30pm; 9 April at 12.30pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Swanhunter (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Jonathan Dove
Alasdair Middleton
Dir: Hannah Mulder / Rachael Canning

In a new co-production, Opera North and The Wrong Crowd present Jonathan Dove’s family opera, with a beguiling blend of evocative music, stunning puppetry and visual storytelling.

4–11 April

Il turco in Italia
Gioachino Rossini
Dir: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Cond: Evelino Pidò

Rossini’s irresistible comedy glows with Fellini-esque glamour in Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s sun-drenched production.

Cast:

Selim – Ildebrando D’Arcangelo
Fiorilla – Aleksandra Kurzak
Don Geronio – Alessandro Corbelli
Don Narciso – Barry Banks
Prosdocimo – Thomas Allen
Zaida – Rachel Kelly §
Albazar – Luis Gomes §
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

11 | 15 | 20 | 27 April at 7.30pm; 18 | 25 April at 7pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Król Roger NEW
Karol Szymanowski
Dir: Kasper Holten
Cond: Antonio Pappano

Kasper Holten presents a new production of Szymanowski’s sumptuously scored meditation on identity and desire.

Cast:

Król Roger II: Mariusz Kwiecień
Shepherd – Saimir Pirgu
Roxana – Georgia Jarman
Edrisi – Kim Begley
Archbishop – Alan Ewing
Deaconess – Agnes Zwierko
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

1 | 6 | 12 | 19 May at 7.30pm; 9 | 16 May at 7pm

Antonio Pappano Orchestral Concert
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Soprano: Anna Caterina Antonacci
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Antonio Pappano conducts a captivating programme that celebrates the award-winning Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

4 May at 7.30pm

The Virtues of Things NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Matt Rogers
Lib: Sally O’Reilly

Rising stars Matt Rogers and Sally O’Reilly present a new opera as part of the annual collaboration between The Royal Opera, Opera North and Aldeburgh Music.

TBC May

La traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Richard Eyre
Cond: Marc Minkowski (18 | 22 | 25 | 28 May; 3 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 30 June; 4 July) / Alexander Joel (6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 June)

Verdi’s tragic tale of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love is vividly told in Richard Eyre’s production.

Cast:

Violetta Valéry – Sonya Yoncheva (18, 22, 25, 28 May; 3, 19, 24, 27, 30 Jun; 4 Jul) / Marina Rebeka (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 Jun)
Alfredo Germont – Ismael Jordi (18, 22, 25, 28 May; 3, 19, 24, 27, 30 Jun; 4 Jul) / Dmytro Popov (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 Jun)
Giorgio Germont – Franco Vassallo (18, 22, 25 May; 19, 24, 27, 30 Jun; 4 July) / Plácido Domingo (28 May, 3 Jun) / George Petean (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 Jun)
Flora Bervoix – Nadezhda Karyazina § (18, 22, 25, 28 May; 3, 19, 24, 27, 30 Jun; 4 Jul) / Rachel Kelly § (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 Jun)
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

18 | 22 | 25 | 28 May at 7pm
3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 30 June at 7pm
4 July at 7pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Summer Season

La bohème
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: John Copley
Cond: Dan Ettinger (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Alexander Joel (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)

A lost key and an accidental touch of cold hands in the dark – so begins one of the greatest romances of all opera.

Cast:

Mimì – Anna Netrebko (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Lianna Haroutounian (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Rodolfo – Joseph Calleja (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Piotr Beczala (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Marcello – Lucas Meachem (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Levente Molnár (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Musetta – Jennifer Rowley (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Ekaterina Bakanova (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Schaunard – Simone Del Savio (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Dionysios Sourbis (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Colline – Marco Vinco (23, 27, 30 May; 2, 5, 8, 10 June) / Nahuel Di Pierro (9 mat, 11, 13, 16 July)
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

23 | 27 | 30 May at 7.30pm
2 | 5 | 8 | 10† June at 7.30pm
9 July at 12.30pm; 11 | 13 | 16 July at 7.30pm

† Live cinema relay

King Size NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Christoph Marthaler

A somnolent couple in a huge hotel bedroom sing songs ranging from Purcell to pop, in Christoph Marthaler’s acclaimed reimagining of the Liederabend (‘evening of song’).

TBC June

The Cure / The Corridor NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Harrison Birtwistle
Lib: David Harsent
Dir: Martin Duncan
Cond: TBC

The Royal Opera celebrates the work of Harrison Birtwistle with a double programme featuring one world premiere and Birtwistle’s acclaimed 2009 chamber opera.

TBC June

Dot, Squiggle and Rest NEW (Clore Studio Upstairs)
Elspeth Brooke and Joy Haynes

The award-winning Polka Theatre presents their first children’s opera, in collaboration with The Royal Opera’s former Composer in Residence, Elspeth Brooke.

TBC June

Don Giovanni
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: Kasper Holten
Cond: Alain Altinoglu

ROH Director of Opera Kasper Holten directs a mesmerizing reading of Mozart’s tragicomedy.

Cast:

Don Giovanni - Christopher Maltman
Leporello – Alex Esposito
Donna Anna – Albina Shagimuratova
Donna Elvira – Dorothea Röschmann
Don Ottavio – Rolando Villazón (12, 16, 18, 25 Jun; 1, 3 Jul) / Michele Angelini (20, 22 June)
Zerlina – Julia Lezhneva
Masetto – Nahuel Di Pierro
Commendatore – Eric Halfvarson
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

12 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 June at 7pm
1 | 3 July at 7pm

Guillaume Tell NEW
Gioachino Rossini
Dir: Damiano Michieletto
Cond: Antonio Pappano

Damiano Michieletto makes his UK debut with a new production of Rossini’s final opera and greatest masterpiece.

Cast:

Guillaume Tell – Gerald Finley
Arnold Melcthal – John Osborn
Mathilde – Malin Byström
Walter Furst – Alexander Vinogradov
Jemmy – Sofia Fomina
Gesler – Nicolas Courjal
Melchtal – Eric Halfvarson
Rodolphe – Michael Colvin
Ruodi – Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Hedwige – Enkelejda Shkosa
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

29 June at 6pm
2 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 17 July at 6pm; 5† July at 3pm

† Live cinema relay

Falstaff
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Robert Carsen
Cond: Michael Schønwandt

Robert Carsen’s production of Verdi’s comic masterpiece is filled with wit, humour and joie de vivre.

Cast:

Sir John Falstaff – Ambrogio Maestri
Alice Ford – Marina Poplavskaya
Nanetta – Anna Devin
Meg Page – Kai Rüütel
Mistress Quickly – Agnes Zwierko
Fenton – Paolo Fanale
Ford – Roland Wood
Dr Caius – Peter Hoare
Bardolfo – Alasdair Elliott
Pistol – Lukas Jakobski
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

6 | 9 | 15 | 18 July at 7.30pm; 12 July at 7pm

Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Performance
Staging: Greg Eldridge §

18 July at 1pm

§ Jette Parker Young Artist

Plácido Domingo’s Operalia
Competition Final

The final of Plácido Domingo’s international singing competition comes to the Royal Opera House for the first time, in an extravaganza of operatic song.

19 July at 6pm

Peter Pan NEW
Richard Ayres
Lib: Lavinia Greenlaw
Dir: Keith Warner
Cond: TBC

Welsh National Opera presents Richard Ayres and Lavinia Greenlaw’s new family opera adapted from J.M. Barrie’s beloved fairytale.

24 | 25 July at 7.30pm

mad boy clever girl (double bill) NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
David Sawer
Dir: Richard Jones
Cond: TBC

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group performs two chamber works by leading British composer David Sawer, brought together as the composer intended for the first time.

TBC July

Royal Opera House Cinema 2014-15 Schedule Leaked

2014-03-27T13:14:00.003-07:00

Yesterday the cinema schedule for the Royal Opera was leaked. The link was immediately taken down but the schedule is as follows:

The official program of the Live Cinema Season 2014/15

Thursday 16 October 2014 [7:15pm]

The Royal Ballet

MacMillan: MANON (live)

Cast tbc

Monday 27 October 2014 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Verdi : I DUE FOSCARI (live)

New Production

Plácido Domingo / Francesco Meli / Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Wednesday 26 November 2014 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Donizetti: L’ELISIR D’AMORE (live)

Vittorio Grigolo / Lucy Crowe / Bryn Terfel / Conductor: Daniele Rustioni

Tuesday 16 December 2014 [7:15pm]

The Royal Ballet

Wheeldon: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (live)

Cast tbc

Thursday 29 January 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Giordano: ANDREA CHÉNIER (live)

New Production

Jonas Kaufmann / Eva-Maria Westbroek / Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Tuesday 24 February 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Wagner: DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER (live)

Bryn Terfel / Conductor: Andris Nelsons

Tuesday 17 March 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Ballet

Petipa: SWAN LAKE (live)

Cast tbc

Wednesday 1 April 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Weill: RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY (live)

Anne Sofie von Otter / Willard White / Christine Rice

Conductor: Mark Wigglesworth

Tuesday 5 May 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Ballet

Ashton: LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE (live)

Cast tbc

Wednesday 10 June 2015 [7:15pm]

The Royal Opera

Puccini: LA BOHÈME (live)

Anna Netrebko / Joseph Calleja / Conductor: Dan Ettinger

Sunday 5 July 2015 [2:45pm]

The Royal Opera

Rossini: GUILLAUME TELL (live)

Gerald Finley / John Osborn / Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Andrea Chenier Review

2014-03-26T15:18:00.002-07:00

Umberto Giordano's "Andrea Chenier" is a major part of the operatic canon, but has rarely been performed regularly at the Metropolitan Opera. The last time Met audiences got a chance to see the verismo masterpiece was in 2007 when American tenor Ben Heppner took on the title role. For the revival on Monday, March 24, Argentinean tenor Marcelo Alvarez took on the work's eponymous character with Patricia Racette and Zeljko Lucic filling out the cast.

The production Nicolas Joel debuted back in 1996 and despite being inherently traditional in its trappings, remains modern in its intelligent use of space. "Chenier" does not really lend itself to a modern update or transposition of the action to a different locale of time period. The French Revolution is not simply mentioned in a few passing statements, but dominates the action of the work from the start to the finish. Continue Reading

Vienna State Opera 2014-15 season Features Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Florez and Angela Gheorghiu

2014-03-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

After a number hours in which the Vienna State Opera's website crashed, I finally have a list of works which will be performed this year. The reason for slow connection was because the company announced the season and puts all tickets on sale immediately.

The upcoming season will see 223 staged opera performance and will include six new productions listed below:

The Tempest (Austrian premiere) 14 June 2015 c: Thomas Ades, d: Robert Lepage, with Adrian Eröd, Audrey Luna, Stephanie Houtzeel, David Daniels

Idomeneo 5 October 2014 c: Christoph Eschenbach, d: Kasper Holten, with Michael Schade, Margarita Gritskova, Maria Bengtsson, Chen Reiss
Khovanshchina 15 November 2014 c: Semyon Bychkov, d: Lev Dodin, with Ferruccio Furlanetto, Christopher Ventris, Herbert Lippert, Andrzej Dobber, Ain Anger, Elisabeth Kulman, Norbert Ernst
Rigoletto 20 December 2014 c: Franz Welser-Möst, d: Pierre Audi, with Piotr Beczala, Simon Keenlyside, Valentina Nafornită, Elena Maximova
Elektra 29 March 2015 c: Franz Welser-Möst, d: Uwe Eric Laufenberg, with Anna Larsson, Nina Stemme, Anne Schwanewilms, Falk Struckman
Don Pasquale 26April 2015 c: Jesús López-Cobos, d: Irina Brook,   with Michele Pertusi, Juan Diego Flórez, Alessio Arduini, Valentina Nafornită

The company will see the return of a number of stars including Juan Diego Florez in L'Elisir d'Amore and La Cenerentola, Placido Domingo and Maria Guleghina in Nabucco, Anna Netrebko in Anna Bolena and Angela Gheorghiu in Werther. Kristine Opolais and Piotr Beczala will perform Rusalka while Olga Peretyatko will bring her acclaimed Elvira in I Puritani. Another highlight will be Aleksandrs Antonenko in Tosca and Pique Dame. Elina Garanca will bring her acclaimed Octavian to Der Rosenkavalier while Ramon Vargas will sing Don Carlos, Werther, and Simon Boccanegra. Nina Stemme will also return as Minnie in La Fanciulla del West. For more Click Here

Kaufmann tries out Otello

2014-03-24T15:46:00.001-07:00

As everyone already knows Jonas Kaufmann and Renee Fleming performed a concert together to great success. Here is a clip of the Otello duet which saw Kaufmann perform it for the first time.

Andrea Chenier Opens Tonight

2014-03-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Giordano's masterpiece opens at the Metropolitan Opera with Marcelo Alvarez in the title role, Patricia Racette as Maddalena and Zeljko Lucic as Gerard. The production by Nicolas Joel will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. The opera will be livestreamed on the Met website and on Sirius. Tell us what you think of the performance!

Netrebko To Sing La Boheme At ROH?

2014-03-21T15:44:00.001-07:00

It looks like Anna Netrebko will bring her acclaimed Mimi to the Royal Opera House. Intermezzo reveals that Jennifer Rowley will join the Russian Diva as Musetta. How true this information is yet to be confirmed. The season is supposed to be announced at the end of the month.

Notable DVD and CD Releases for the Month of March and April

2014-03-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

The next two months will see the releases of many great artists including a number of Jonas Kaufmann releases.

The final part of the ring cycle "Gotterdammerung" from La Scala will be released. Lance Ryan, Irene Theorin, Mikail Peterenko and Waltraud Meirer star in this production which was conducted by Daniel Barenboim. The DVD comes out a few months after the release of the first three operas. It is unknown if Arthaus will release a box set.

Edward Garner conducts Deborah Warner's production of Britten's "Death in Venice" from the English National Opera. The production being released by Opus Arte stars John Graham-Hill, Andrew Shore, and Tim Mead.

After a long wait Decca will finally release the Met's "Faust" The illustrious cast includes Jonas Kaufmann, Rene Pape and Marina Poplavskaya. Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducted a musically perfect night in Des McAnuff's horrible production. For all Kaufmann fans this will be a must buy but those who hate Regitheater will dislike this.

After successfully releasing two DVDs, the San Francisco Opera will take out Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." The production stars Eric Owns and is conducted by John DeMain.

This by far the most important release of the month as it is a landmark production with an outstanding cast that includes Jonas Kaufmann Rene Pape, Peter Mattei, Katarina Dalayman and Evgeny Nikitin. The opra is conducted by Danielle Gatti with a production by Francois Girard. It is a must buy and one that will be historical in a few years.

The Met's fabulous cast illuminated this dull production of Maria Stuarda. Starring the incredible Joyce Didonato in a role she is performing this year, this is an incredible interpretation is among the best of the role. Matthew Polenzani and Elza Van den Heever round out the cast with Maurizio Benini conducting.

Juan Diego records his first album in four years. The CD includes French arias from diverse composers. It also previews a number of works Florez plans on singing including Massanet's "Werther" and Donizetti's "La Favorite." Roberto Abbado conducts this fascinating new CD.

Krassimia Stoyanova records one of her first CDs. The great soprano records a number of Verdi arias for which she has been acclaimed. Pavel Baleff conducts this promising new album.

Gheorghiu Replaces Netrebko

2014-03-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

Angela Gheorghiu will replace Anna Netrebko in Baden Baden in the new production of Gounod's Faust. The soprano known for cancelling ironically has been on the rescue mission as of later. She recently savid the day when Harteros pulled out of a high profile concert last month. Now Gheorghiu's Marguerite replaces Netrebko's in both Hamburg andBaden Baden.

Netrebko was to have sung the role in four theaters but decided to leave the production because she did not feel her voice suited it anymore.
Netrebko will instead give a concert in Baden-Baden with arias from Macbeth, Trovatore, Manon Lescaut, Adriana Lecouvreur, etc., on Tuesday, 10th (June). Faust-ticketholders wil be allowed to buy discounted tickets for that concert, but the Faust-tickets can't be returned.

The Baden Baden production will be directed by Bartlett Sher and will also star Erwin Schrott and Charles Castronovo.

Diana Damrau Conducts

2014-03-19T13:56:00.001-07:00

After Having Surprised Audiences with Cartwheels at the La Sonnambula, the soprano Diana Damrau continued her antics at a Carnegie Hall Concert. She conducted the Vienna Philharmonic.

Royal Opera House Rumors

2014-03-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Royal Opera House is taking a while to announce their season but there are some things that are rumored for next season.

Mariusz Kwiecien has already announced on his website that he will be joined by Saimir Pirgu in Steffen Aarfing's production of Szymanowski's King Roger in June of 2015.

Meanwhile Dmitri Platanias will sing the title role of Nabucco, which will be revived for the first time since the new production premiered. The Royal Opera will also stage Andrea Chenier with Jonas Kaufmann, Eva-Maria Westbroek and Željko Lucic. The production will most likely be featured in the Live in Cinemas series.

Another big opera will be Verdi's I Due Foscari. The production will star Maria Agresta as Lucrezia and Placido Domingo who will also perform Simon Boccanegra. Once again these are all rumors and things can change by the time the company announces the season.

Werther Final Scene

2014-03-16T19:37:00.002-07:00

The Met has posted the final scene for Massenet's Werther. After a glitch that occurred in movie theaters the company decided to release the material to compensate audiences.

La Sonnambula Review

2014-03-15T10:10:00.001-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Sonnambula at the Met. While I hated the production and was utterly confused throughout the night, Diana Damrau was incredible and Javier Camarena was a break out.

Here is a snippet of my review. For the full review you'll have to click on the link below. Enjoy!

Opera is often considered the ultimate art form in which all other forms come together to create a potent whole. It is often unrealistic to expect the wholes to come together in perfect harmony every single time an opera is staged and often times the transcendence of certain elements is more than enough to make up for other subpar qualities in a performance. This is precisely what happened on Friday March 14 when the Met Opera revived Bellini's "La Sonnambula" for the first time since 2009.

The first major touchstone of Friday's performance was soprano Diana Damrau, who was making her role debut as Amina. Damrau is one the finest artists in the opera world today and always seems to maintain a wondrous balance between her vocal dynamism and her terrific acting ability. Click Here For the full Review

Jonas Kaufmann signing

2014-03-13T15:40:00.003-07:00

Today at the Met Opera shop Jonas Kaufmann signed CDs and DVDs for his fans. The tenor however requested that he did not want pictures taken. The signing was one of the busiest in years with more than 200 people in attendance. The lineup went all the way to the subway but fans waited patiently to meet the tenor. However here are some pictures of the event.

There is more at our facebook page if you click here

No Thomas Hampson Tonight

2014-03-10T09:42:00.001-07:00

“Daniel Sutin will sing the title role in tonight’s performance of Berg’s Wozzeck, replacing Thomas Hampson, who is recovering from bronchitis.” This is the second performance that Hampson cancels as he missed opening where Matthias Goerne filled in.

Deutsche Oper Berlin 2014-15 Season with Rolando Villazon headlining

2014-03-08T10:27:00.001-08:00

The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2014-15 season. The season will feature a number of great stars including Rolando Villazon in Don Carlo, Elina Garanca in Der Rosenkavalier, and Lyudmila Monastyrka takes on Abigaille. There will be a Lohengrin with Klaus Florian Vogt, Anja Harteros, and Waltraud Meier. Harteros will also be in Tosca and a single concert Ariadne auf Naxos.

The premieres are:

Oresteia by Xenakis - in the Deutsche Oper car park
The Rape of Lucretia - c.Nicholas Carter d. Fiona Shaw - the Glyndebourne production will be shown in the Haus der Berliner Festspiele
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk c.Donald Runnicles d.Ole Anders Tandberg, with Evelyn Herlitzius and Sir John Tomlinson
La rondine c. Roberto Rizzi Brignoli d. Rolando Villazon
Roméo et Juliette c. Donald Runnicles d.Sasha Waltz
Faust c. Marco Armiliato d.Philipp Stölzl, with Teodor Ilincai, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and Krassimira Stoyanova