By Francisco Salazar
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” with two mezzos.
J’Nai Bridges makes her COC debut in the title role and shares it with COC Ensemble Studio alumna Rihab Chaieb.
They are joined by Argentine tenor Marcelo Puente as Don José and Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury as Micaëla. El-Khoury shares the role with Anna-Sophie Neher, an Ensemble Studio alumna. The cast is rounded out by American baritone Lucas Meachem and Canadian baritone Gregory Dahl as Escamillo.
Joel Ivany of Edmonton Opera and Against the Grain Theatre returns to the COC to put his unique directorial stamp on the production. Jacques Lacombe conducts.
“Carmen” runs for eight performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from Oct. 14 through Nov. 4, 2022.
By Francisco Salazar
Opera Atelier is set to open its 2022-23 season with “Dido and Aeneas.”
The production will be held at the Elgin Theatre on Oct 20, 22, and 23.
Marshall Pynkoski, C.M., Founding Co-Artistic Director said,“We are thrilled to be returning to the Elgin Theatre, after a four-year absence, with Purcell’s extraordinary work, Dido and Aeneas. At roughly one-hour in length, the opera also functions wonderfully as an introduction to the artform for audiences who have not yet experienced opera or ballet, including children and young adults.”
“Dido and Aeneas” is set to star Soprano Meghan Lindsay, tenor Colin Ainsworth, soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, soprano Mireille Asselin, soprano Cynthia Akemi Smithers, mezzo soprano Danielle MacMillan, and tenor Spencer Britten.
The 60-minute production will include stage direction by Pynkoski, the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet, with choreography by Founding Co-Artistic Director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg C.M., and also features a select orchestra of superb soloists from Tafelmusik on period instruments.
There will be a pre-performance talk before each performance in the Elgin Theatre Lower Lobby.
By Chris Ruel
Conductor Klaus Weise has died at age 86.
The sought-after maestro from Pomerania began his career in Trier before putting down roots in Kiel, where he served as general music director at Theater Kiel from 1981 to 1985. He would later return to Kiel in 2001 and 2007 as a guest conductor of the Kiel Philharmonic.
From Kiel, Weise joined the Dortmund Philharmonic as its general music director from 1985 to 1990. After his tenure in Dortmund, the maestro assumed the role of chief conductor of Opéra de Nice and the city’s Philharmonic Orchestra until 1997. Prior to becoming a freelance conductor in 2000, Weise served as the general music director of the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville.
Freelance opportunities arose in the early aughts and he became a permanent guest conductor at the Royal Danish Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, Opéra National de Bordeaux, and the New York City Opera. Weise was also a guest conductor with the Chinese Philharmonic in Beijing.
In 2007, while serving as Chief Conductor of the Staatskapelle Halle, he abruptly announced his resignation from his post after a dispute with the orchestra. His last concert in Halle was in May 2007. After leaving Halle, Weise conducted in Turkey and Asia.
By Nicolas Quiroga
(Credit: Rikimaru Hota)
The New National Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, has announced that it will be streaming “Orfeo ed Euridice” via OperaVision and NNTT Stream starting on Oct. 7, 2022.
The opera, which was performed on May 21 of this year, can be seen for six months with subtitles in English, French, Italian, German and Japanese. It will be part of OperaVision’s World Opera Day Celebration on Oct. 25, 2022.
The work was directed by Saburo Teshigawara, a world famous choreographer and dancer and conducted by Masato Suzuki. The cast was comprised of countertenor Lawrence Zazzo as Orfeo, soprano Valda Wilson as Eurydice, and Rie Miyake as Amore. The opera also featured the New National Theatre Chorus and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
It also featured four dancers, including Rihoko Sato, Alexandre Liabko, Joe Takahashi, and Shizuka Sato.
In an original review of the production, Nahoko Gotoh of Bachtrack noted that, “musically, it was a tour-de-force performance by Zazzo, who dominated the stage for most of the opera. He lived through the emotional rollercoaster from mourning to momentary hope, to despair and happiness again, with power and a range of color.”
By Francisco Salazar
The Teatro Cervantes de Malaga has announced its 2022-23 season which will celebrate its 34th anniversary.
The season opens with the double bill of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana.” The cast of “Pagliacci” includes Andeka Gorrotxategi (Canio), Carmen Solís (Nedda), Dalibor Jenis (Tonio), César San Martín (Silvio), and Leonardo Sánchez. Meanwhile Leoncavallo’s opus will star Solís (Santuzza), Andeka Gorrotxategi (Turiddu), and Dalibor Jenis (Alfio). José María Moreno will direct.
Performance Dates: Nov. 25 & 27, 2022
The company will present a production of Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” with Giulio Ciabatti conducting. The cast will include Javier Franco as Fígaro, Clara Mouriz as Rosina, Pablo Martínez as the Count Almaviva, Ricardo Seguel as Doctor Bartolo, Javier Castañeda as Don Basilio, and Mónica Campaña a Berta.
Performance Dates: Feb. 24 & 26, 2023
Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” will close out the season with Joan Anton Rechi directing and Óliver Díaz conducting. Lianna Haroutounian will sing the title role alongside Alejandro Roy, Clémentine Margaine, Luis Cansino, Adriano Gramigni, Luis Pacetti, Alba Chantar, Mar Esteve, and Pau Armengol.
Performance Dates: May 19 & 21, 2023
By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera)
The Metropolitan Opera is set to open its 2022–23 season with the company premiere of Cherubini’s “Medea.”
The opera, which will open on Sept. 27, 2022, was made famous by Maria Callas in the 1950s.
Sondra Radvanovsky will sing Medea for the first time alongside Matthew Polenzani as Giasone, Janai Brugger as Glauce, Michele Pertusi as Creonte, the King of Corinth, and Ekaterina Gubanova as Neris, Medea’s servant.
The opera will mark Radvanovsky’s fourth appearance in a new production at the Met by David McVicar following collaborations for “Roberto Devereux,” “Il Trovatore,” and “Norma.”
Carlo Rizzi conducts the production.
Following opening night on Sept. 27, seven additional performances run through Oct. 28. A live simulcast of the opening night performance will be presented free to the public in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park for the second year, in partnership with Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and NYC Parks. The performance also will be seen on multiple screens in Times Square and Oct. 22 the opera will be transmitted live to movie theaters around the globe as part of the Met’s Live in HD series.
Additionally, the Sept. 27 and Oct. 13 performances of “Medea” will be broadcast live on Met Opera Radio on Sirius XM Channel.
By David Salazar
(Copyright www.peterrigaud.com)
Conductor Tarmo Peltokoski has been named the Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
This announcement follows another recent one that named the maestro as the Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian Symphony Orchestra. He was also made the first Guest Conductor of the Deutsche Kammerphilharomonie Bremen at the beginning of 2022. He has also led productions of operas at the Finnish National Opera.
The 22-year-old conductor will return to lead the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a program featuring music by Strauss, Gershwin, and Sibelius.
In 2022-23, Peltokoski is set to lead performances with such ensembles as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, RSB Berlin, the Hallé, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Göteborgs Symfoniker, San Diego Symphony and the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse.
He will also conduct a production of “Tristan und Isolde” at the Eurajoki Bel Canto Festival.
By Francisco Salazar
The Film Center at Lincoln Center is set to present Pasolini’s “Medea” starring Maria Callas.
The screening, which is set to take place on Sept. 20, marked Callas’ only role on the silver screen. Pier Paolo Pasolini’s interpretation of Euripides’s play shifts the tragedy away from Medea’s betrayal by Jason and her bloody revenge to the loss of her mystical homeland of Colchis.
The film will be screened in a 35mm print restored by S.N.C. Presentation. After the screening, there will be a panel moderated by Met Opera dramaturg Paul Cremo, with special guest appearances by NYU’s Ara H. Merjian and author Nick Gage.
The screening comes in anticipation for the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night production of Cherubini’s “Medea,” which will star Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role.
By Afton Wooten
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine has announced its season for 2022-23. This is its 12th season of “Great Music in a Great Space” led by Kent Tritle.
For this article we will focus on vocal performances only. All performances begin at 7:30 pm.
The first choral concert of the season is “Music for a Gothic Space.” The program features music from 14th century England and France and contemporary works by living composers such as Janet Wheeler, Amy Summers, Olivia Sparkhall, and Sarah McDonald. Tritle conducts the Musica Sacra Chorus.
Performance Date: October 25, 2022
Next is “Light of Paradise” performed by the Cathedral Choirs and Ensemble 1047. Soloists include soprano Halley Gilbert, tenor Andrew Fuchs, and artist in residence David Briggs at the organ. Tritle and Bryan Zaros share the baton.
“Light of Paradise” features the world premiere of Briggs’ “Stabat Mater,” and performances of George Walker’s Lyric for Strings, and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna.
Performance Date: March 8, 2023
“The Joy of Christmas!” will feature soprano Halley Gilbert, contralto Kristen Sollek, tenor Austin Cody, bass-baritone Andrew Jurden, and the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra. Tritle and Zaros conduct Vivaldi’s “Magnificat,” RV 610, “Finzi’s “In Terra Pax,” and various Christmas carols.
Performance Date: December 9 & 10, 2022
The “New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace” will ring in 2023 with Holst’s “St. Paul’s Suite”, Op. 29 No 2., David Lang’s “Make Peace,” the world premiere of Joseph Turrin’s “Lullaby for Vaska,” and Philip Herbert’s “Elegy: in memoriam.”
Tritle and Zaros lead soprano Janet Pittman, baritone Gregory Purnhagen, and the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra. Harry Smith hosts.
Performance Date: December 31, 2022
Musica Sacra Chorus returns with “Multitude of Voyces.” This program features works by women composers such as Isabella Leonarda, Sister Sulpitia Cesis, Rani Arbo, and Undine Smith Moore, along with Bach’s “Jesu, meine Freude.”
Performance Date: April 18, 2023
The final choral concert for the season will be “Venice: City of Light.” Tritle and Nina Stern will conduct culturally diverse works from Venice, Armenia, Turkey, and Jewish communities.
Performance Date: May 16, 2023
By David Salazar
(Credit: Jaclyn Simpson)
Art Bath has announced its schedule of immersive salon performances this fall.
The performances, which take place in New York City at The Blue Building on East 46th Street, will feature performances by five to eight artists or groups. Per an official press statement, “Audiences will be guided through a multidisciplinary and multi-sensory experience, exploring the corridors and caverns of the unique venue discovering different pieces in each space.”
The opening salon will be headlined by baritone Will Liverman. Other performers include Lady Jess, Kelsey Strauch, Rob Schwimmer, Tiffany Mangulabnan, Yacouba Sissoko, Junko Ichikawa, Maron Khoury, and Sébastien Grimbaum.
Performance Date: Sept. 24, 2022
Later this fall, bass-baritone Christian Van Horn will headline a slate that also includes performances by Xin Ying, the Metropolitan Opera Chamber Ensemble, Friedrich Heinrich Kern, Justin Robinson, and others.
Performance Date: Dec. 3, 2022
