By Francisco Salazar
The Royal Swedish Opera hs announced that Music Director Alan Gilbert has also been named Royal Court Kapellmeister.
The company said that “Alan Gilbert is a Swedish and American citizen and has been living with his family in Stockholm for many years. Court Kapellmeister is, like court singer and court dancer, an honorary title that H.M. The king distributes on proposals from the Royal Opera.”
In response to the title, Gilbert said, “I am deeply honored and grateful for the appointment as Court Kapellmeister from His Majesty the King. My musical work in Sweden is close to my heart, and I am so happy to receive such recognition for the close musical and personal connection I have to Sweden’s wonderful musicians.”
Gilbert was appointed Music Director of the Swedish Opera in 2021. Before that he served as chief conductor at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and music director at the New York Philharmonic.
By Francisco Salazar
Germany’s Staatstheater Mainz has announced the extension of Intendant Markus Müller’s contract.
The company said that Müller will continue leading the organization through 2031.
The decision was made with the supervisory council during a meeting in which the representatives of the country of Rhineland-Palatinate and the city of Mainz opted to extend the contract for another five years.
Regarding his extension, Müller said, “It’s nice that we can continue together with this clear perspective for the future! The fact that our theater work is so trusted is mainly due to my great colleagues at home. The incredible performance and willingness and great expertise in all departments of this house impress me every day. We still have a long way to tell many more stories, ideas, and projects for the theater. How good that we now get all the time we need for it.”
Müller was named intendant during the 2014-15 season and has since created the U17 studio, which is the artistic home to the young Staatstheater singers; he has also worked with experimental projects from all genres.
By Francisco Salazar
Countertenor Jochen Kowalski has announced his retirement at the age of 68.
In a statement Staatsoper Unter den Linden said, “the career of Berlin Kammersänger Jochen Kowalski began at the Komische Oper Berlin. His roles, many in productions by Harry Kupfer, made him popular worldwide and guest appearances have taken him to all the leading opera houses in Germany as well as to the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper, the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.”
The company added, “he is considered a pioneer of countertenor singing in Germany and his artistic work has been honored with many national and international awards.”
The tenor will give his final performance on Dec. 5 in a production of Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea” at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
The Classicalia competition has opened a call for applications for the 2023 event. Applications which are open to all ages are now open until Dec. 21.
There will be three rounds of online auditions as well as various age and style categories. Finalists will be selected in April 2023 and scheduled to perform at the Viennese Gala Concert on June 28.
Prizes for all categories of competitors include concert engagements in prestigious venues, worldwide television coverage, professional feedback from the jury panel, and online masterclasses.
The jury is comprised of prominent musicians and teachers, and chaired by Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas. Vargas is currently performing in major opera houses from the Metropolitan Opera to Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro
Colon in Buenos Aires, to the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan.
Classicalia is the only global classical music competition that is broadcast to 4 continents and over 30 countries.
By David Salazar
Opera Philadelphia will present a double bill featuring “Carmina Burana” and Margaret Bonds’ “Credo” on Feb. 3 and 5, 2023.
The showcase will star soprano Brandie Sutton, tenor Alasdair Kent, and baritone Ethan Vincent. Conductor Lina González-Granados conducts.
The performance of “Credo” is part of a multi-year celebration of Margaret Bonds and Florence Price. “Credo” is based on a poem by W.E.B. Du Bois and premiered in 1967. It remained unpublished until 2022.
The performances will last approximately 90 minutes.
Opera Philadelphia’s 2022-23 season will be followed up by performances of “La Bohème,” which will run in a production by Yuval Sharon, will run from late April through May 2023.
By David Salazar
Boston Lyric Opera has announced two upcoming showcases for the 2023 season.
The company announced that Ryan McKinny will star in “Bluebeard’s Castle” in a production directed by Anne Bogart. He will be joined by Naomi Louisa O’Connell in the role of Judith; she is also set to perform “Four Songs” by Alma Mahler in the second half of the program. BLO Music Director David Angus will conduct the performance.
Performance Dates: March 22-26, 2023
Additionally, the company will present Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels’ “Omar.” The new opera will star Jamez McCorkle in the title role. He will be joined by Cierra Byrd, Neal Ferreira, Daniel Okulitch, Emma Sorenson, Fred C. VanNess Jr., Catherine Daniel, and Nicholas LaGesse.
The opera will be performed at the Emeserson Cutler Majestic Theater. Kaneza Schall directs with Michael Ellis Ingram conducting.
Performance Dates: May 4 – 7, 2023
By Logan Martell
On November 4, 2023, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem will present the premiere performance and recording of the first published scholarly edition of Felix Mendelssohn’s interpretation of Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” as part of its Gala 2023 Concert.
The concert will feature The Bach Choir, Bach Festival Orchestra, Bel Canto Youth Chorus, and guest soloists. The project is the culmination of over five years of research by acclaimed musicologist Malcolm Bruno. In September, the composition will be published by Barenreiter Publishing, with the CD recording available for purchase in 2024.
“The young Mendelssohn was gifted a copy of the passion when he was 15 years old and promptly set about finding a way to bring the piece to life. It is largely due to Mendelssohn that Bach was re-discovered in Germany and returned to occupy his incredible place in history. Now we have the chance to perform and record this brand-new scholarly edition and, in Malcolm’s words, ‘There is no better choir for this project than The Bach Choir of Bethlehem.’”
A reception and dinner for benefactors will follow the concert, to be held at Saucon Valley Country Club. Further information about the event and ticketing will be announced later in their season.
By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: Ken Howard)
Russell Thomas has canceled the final performance of “Don Carlo” at the Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 3.
As the result, the company has announced that Rafael Dávila will sing the title role.
This is the third time that Dávila takes the stage in this production. He also replaced Thomas on Nov. 7, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2022.
He joins a cast that includes Angela Meade as Elisabetta, Peter Mattei as Posa, Günther Groissböck as Philip II, John Relyea as the Grand Inquisitor, and Yulia Matochkina as Eboli. Carlo Rizzi conducts the production by Sir. David McVicar.
Thomas returns to the stage on Dec. 12 for a production of “La Forza del Destino” at the Paris Opera.
By Francisco Salazar
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced cast changes for productions of “Andrea Chenier” and “Die Zauberflöte.”
The company noted that Jonas Kaufmann has canceled a performance on Dec. 3 and will be replaced by Stefano La Colla.
Additionally, Olga Bezsmertna will sing the role of Pamina replacing Erin Morley.
La Colla is set to join a cast that includes George Petean and Maria Agresta. The tenor has performed at La Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Opera di Roma, Arena di Verona, and Oper Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Bezsmertna has performed the Contessa in “Le Nozze di Figaro,” Fiordiligi in “Così fan Tutte,” Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni,” Pamina in “Die Zauberflöte,” Liù in “Turandot,” Mimì in “La bohème,” and Alice Ford in “Falstaff,” among others. She joins a cast that includes Franz-Josef Selig, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Clemens Unterreiner, Brenda Rae, Ileana Tonca, Markus Werba, and Thomas Ebenstein.
By Francisco Salazar
The Donizetti Opera Festival has announced the titles for the 2023 season.
The festival noted that it will present its annual “LUOpeRave” which will use Donizetti’s music in electronic form.
As for the operas, the festival will present “Il diluvio universal” with Music Director Riccardo Frizza conducting the rarely performed work and “Alfredo il Grande,” a title that will be part of the festival’s “Donizetti200” initiative. The work will be conducted by Corrado Rovaris and directed by Stefano Simone Pintor.
The company will also showcase “Lucie de Lammermoor,” the French version of “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Pierre Dumoussaud directing and Jacopo Spirei conducting.
Finally, Francesco Micheli will direct “Il piccolo compositore di musical” by Giovanni Simone Mayr. It will star students of the Bottega Donizetti.
