By Francisco Salazar
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced several cast changes for upcoming productions.
The company said that for its production of “Elektra,” Catherine Foster will be singing the part of Elektra in place of Nina Stemme on March 15 and 19, 2023.
Meanwhile, for “La Forza del Destino,” Hulkar Sabirova will be singing the part of Donna Leonora in place of Liudmyla Monastyrska on March 25, April 2, 7, and 9, 2023.
For the production of “Das Wunder der Heliane,” Maiju Vaahtoluoto will be singing the part of The messenger replacing Ronnita Miller for performances on March 2, 5, 8, and 11, 2023.
Finally, for the June 9, 16, and 21, 2023 performances of “Il Teorema di Pasolini,” Nikolay Borchev will be singing the part of Ospite in place of Samuel Dale Johnson.
By Francisco Salazar
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” performance on Jan. 3.
The company said that Stefan Astakhov will sing the role of Figaro replacing Boris Pinkhasovich.
Astakhov has performed at the Wroclaw Opera, the Prague National Theatre, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and at the Lucerne Festival. He is also an ensemble member of the Wiener Staatsoper.
He is set to join a cast that includes Alasdair Kent, Paolo Bordogna, Patricia Nolz, Peter Kellner, Ruth Brauer, Aurora Marthens, and Nikita Ivasechko. Michele Mariotti conducts a production by Herbert Fritsch.
Pinkhasovich returns to the production on Jan. 7. “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” is set to run through Jan. 15, 2022.
By Francisco Salazar
The Teatro La Fenice has announced the soloists for its 2023 New Year’s Eve concert.
Following the success of the 2022 concert, the company announced that Fabio Luisi will lead the concert with soloists Eleonora Buratto and Fabio Sartori. Tickets for the concert will be on sale on Feb. 15, 2023.
The news comes as the 2022 televised concert saw 3,283,000 spectators confirming the event’s popularity. The concert starred Federica Lombardi and Freddie De Tommaso led by Daniel Harding.
Buratto is currently performing the role of Elisabetta in “Don Carlo” at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino” while Sartori is set to perform “Aida” at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. More details for the New Year’s Eve concert will be announced later this year.
By Francisco Salazar
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Michael Reichman as the CSO’s Vice President of Artistic Operations and General Manager.
Reichman will take over the position beginning Jan. 9, 2023 and will work closely with the President and CEO and Artistic Leadership to design and implement the CSO’s artistic vision and to cultivate and deepen the Symphony’s relationships with performing arts venue partners, local arts and culture organizations, and key community partners.
President and CEO David Fisk said, “I could not be more thrilled to welcome Michael Reichman to the Charlotte Symphony. Michael brings just the right set of skills, energy, and vision to this pivotal leadership position. I’m extremely happy with the innovative and high-performing management team we now have in place as we work together to lay the groundwork for the future of this Orchestra.”
Meanwhile, CSO Board Chair Linda McFarland Farthing said, “Michael is a wonderful addition to the Charlotte Symphony’s Leadership Team. As a conservatory-trained musician, Michael has an extensive knowledge of orchestral music combined with years of demonstrated success as an arts executive. His passion for sharing music with his community fits beautifully with the Charlotte Symphony’s mission and core values.”
Reichman served as Executive Director of the York Symphony Orchestra (YSO) in York, PA, and helped transform the institution and enhanced its relationship with the community by increasing symphony concerts. He also served as General Manager & second flutist for the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra’s transatlantic partnership with the Bayerische Philharmonie in Munich, Germany.
By David Salazar
ABAO Txiki, the Bilbao Opera’s division dedicated to performances for families and children, will present “Cuento de Navidad” on Jan. 3-5 as part of its holiday celebration.
The children’s opera by composer Iñigo Casalí and librettist Pablo Valdés is an adaptation of Charles Dicken’s famed “A Christmas Carol.” It will be directed by José P. Katxua and stars Alfonso García as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Joining him are Itxaso Moriones, Noemí Irisarri, and Idoia Martínez.
Jesús María Echeverría conducts the Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra and the Chorus of the Ópera Cámara de Navarra.
There will be four shows on Jan 3 and 4 (one at 12 p.m. and another at 6 p.m.). The final performance on Jan. 5 will be at 12 p.m.
Following “Cuento de Navidad,” ABAO Txiki is set to produce the Bilbao premiere of the children’s opera “Itsasaotik.”
By Francisco Salazar
Mezzo-soprano Christine Rice has received the MBE in the New Year Honours.
The honour was received by his Majesty The King who is recognizing a host of leading and influential figures in music.
Rice is receiving the honour for her services to opera. She is among others who include musical director Dr. Mike Thomas, who receives an MBE for services to the Welsh Male Voice Choirs of the Pelenna Valley and the Cynon Valley and Michael Lloyd, chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent Classics, who was also awarded an OBE for services to classical music.
Classic FM presenter John Suchet was awarded an OBE for services to journalism and charity while the CBE was awarded to film composer George Fenton. Royal Northern College of Music principal Professor Linda Merrick also received a CBE for services to music in higher education as well as the chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, Louise Mitchell, for services to the arts in Bristol.
Rice has performed at the Royal Opera House as well as the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, English National Opera, Teatro Real, and teh Oper Frankfurt.
By David Salazar
Sonya Yoncheva is set to appear at the Metropolitan Opera in future performances of “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “Medea,” and “Pique Dame.”
Per an article by The Associated Press entitled “At top of opera, Yoncheva worries about classical music,” the Bulgarian soprano will be involved in a new production of the Verdi classic as well as revivals of the Tchaikovsky and Cherubini works. It also reveals that Yoncheva was originally slated to productions of “The Ghosts of Versailles” and “Madama Butterfly,” but those plans were “dropped.”
Yoncheva is starring in a new production of “Fedora” that will open on Dec. 31, 2022 at the Met Opera. In the article she noted her fears for the future of classical music.
“My son, if I ask him, he always says, ‘I want to be like Ronaldo.’ And later, if I ask my girl, she will say, ‘I want to be Lady Gaga and Beyoncé,’” Yoncheva noted. “They really don’t associate with the classical music artists. Times are changing.”
She also revealed that her first go-round with “Fedora” at the Teatro alla Scala under the direction of Mario Martone was deeply challenging for her.
“The stage director decided to leave the whole stage empty. Me and Roberto Alagna, we were struggling the whole night,” she added. “I finished the production and I said ‘Oh, my God! What am I going to do at the Met?’ because the Met is maybe three times bigger than La Scala… I immediately called David, I said, ‘Please tell me there are some walls.’ And he said yes. He showed me pictures, and I was reassured.”
In a previous article with The New York Times, Yoncheva also admitted that she struggled to understand the Giordano opera.
“It took me the entire production at La Scala and then starting rehearsals on this one before I fully understood the plot,” she said. “It’s a very complicated story, so one should understand what is happening.”
The article also hinted that Sir David McVicar, who is directing “Fedora (his 13th with the company),” will lead a future production of “La Gioconda.”
By David Salazar
Maryland Lyric Opera is set to present Verdi’s “Falstaff” on Jan. 20 and 22, 2023.
The production of Verdi’s final opera will star Mark Delavan as Sir John Falstaff, Brian Major as Ford, Rachel Blaustein as Nannetta, Mary Feminear as Alice Ford, Allegra De Vita as Meg Page, Catherine Martin as Mistress Quickly, Yi Li as Fenton, Mauricio Miranda as Dr. Caius, Joseph Michael Brent as Bardolfo, and Andrea Silvestri as Pistola.
Leading the production is conductor Joseph Colaneri and visual supervisor David Gately. Light design will be by Stuart Duke and Sarah Tundermann will be the Projection Designer.
Both performances are set for The Music Center at Strathmore.
“Falstaff” represents the third Verdi opera that the company has performed this season following “Un Ballo in Maschera” and “Macbeth.”
By David Salazar
Colombian conductor Raúl García, the founder of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and its leader for 23 years, has passed away at age 83.
Born on March 22, 1939, he was also a mathematical physicist and became the first clarinetist in Colombia to perform the instrument in the Orquesta Sinfónica.
He then became the founder of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and led the organization between 1967-1990. The ensemble started off as the Fundación Filarmónica Colombiana with a series of concerts at the Teatro Colombia (now Teatro Jorge Eliécer Gaitán) in 1966. A year later, the ensemble became incorporated and took on the name that it has carried ever since.
As the leader of the Orquesta Filarmónica, García was a champion of bringing music to the people and set up concerts and programs in schools, churches, parks, and other neighborhoods. Furthermore, in order to better connect with the Colombian people, García and the orchestra recorded popular Colombian music by such composers as José Barros and Lucho Bermúdez, among others.
He also led the creation of the public TV program “Música para todos” which was popular throughout the 1970s-90s.
“His legacy and dedication to culture is the great inheritance that he has left this country,” said García’s son David García, the current director of the Orquesta, in a social media post. “In the name of my family, we say goodbye to him with gratitude and love.”
By Francisco Salazar
Chinese soprano Chu Lanlan has died at the age of 39 of COVID-19 complications.
Lanlan was a renowned young performing artist of Beijing Opera and was the founder and leader of I Beijing Opera as well as the teacher at Beijing Opera and Art’s College. She was also the head of Lanxin Troupe, a team committed to I Beijing Opera.
Lanlan began an acting career at the age of eight on TV and later would turn her eyes to the stage. She graduated from the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Opera and make Traditional Chinese Opera and made Peking Opera, aka Beijing Opera, her specialty.
The soprano became famous for creating the song and dance “Farewell My Concubine” for the Peking Opera. She would also sing and perform during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Outside of her theatrical work, she was known for projects on public welfare and in 2020, she became part of a foundation in Beijing that advocates for the physical and mental growth of rural children.
Her final performance was in early November.
