Rolando Villazón to Celebrate 50th Birthday

Luca Salsi has retired the role of Amonasro in “Aida.”. The baritone took to social media on Jan. 24 and said, “today will be the last performance of ‘Aida’ at Wiener Staatsoper. Today I will play Amonasro for the last time. What a great Theater and what an unsurpassed cast to bid farewell to this role!”

(Credit: Mart Sohl/ Metropolitan Opera ) Fathom Events is set to present encore screenings of Verdi’s “La Traviata” from the Metropolitan Opera on Feb. 15, 2023. The opera stars Nadine Sierra, Stephen Costello, and Luca Salsi with Daniele Callegari conducting Michael Mayer’s production. Renée Fleming hosts the performance.

Houston Grand Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Salome.”. The company said that Laura Wilde will now sing the title role, replacing Amanda Majeski. Wilde is currently in a production of “Tosca” at Arizona Opera and will reprise the role at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer. She recently made her Met debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Ellen Orford in “Peter Grimes.” She has also performed at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Scottish Opera, Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera, Opéra national de Paris, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Spoleto Festival USA has announced its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal and operatic performances. The company will present “Vanessa” at the Charleston Gaillard Center. The Barber opera will star Nicole Heaston, Zoie Reams, Edward Graves, Rosalind Plowright, and Malcolm MacKenzie. The opera is conducted by Timothy Myers and directed by Rodula Gaitanou.

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of one of their one as the star of several British hit movies and groundbreaking films has died at the age of 89, according to her family.

Listeners can refer to her however they wish, but Stephanie Blythe has always resisted categorizing herself as a mezzo-soprano, an alto, a contralto, or any other voice type. In her mind, she is a “vocalist.”. Considering her upcoming appearances at San Diego Opera, her second foray into a role...

Opera San José (OSJ) is set to conclude its 2022-23 season with a production of Puccini’s “Tosca.”. The production will be led by OSJ Music Director Joseph Marcheso and OSJ’s Resident Director Tara Branham will make her California Theatre debut. Maria Natale will sing the title...

The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards has announced its 2023 shortlists. For the purposes of this article, our focus will only be on vocal or opera-related topics and nominations. Among those shortlisted for the Ensemble award, supported by Wise Music Group, are BBC Singers, Ensemble 360, and Manchester Collective. The English...

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra has named Julian Rachlin its new Music Director. The organization said that the orchestra will launch its 85th Anniversary celebrations with the announcement and that Rachlin will begin his tenure in October 2023. Ofer Amsalem, JSO CEO said, “Julian Rachlin is the right man at the...

The TENET Vocal Artists, led by Artistic Director Jolle Greenleaf, is set to present TENEbrae: Lassus’ Lagrime di San Pietro. The sacred motets, which are among Orlando de Lassus’ finest compositions, will be presented on Feb. 25 and held at St. Paul’s Chapel at Trinity Wall Street. TENET’s singers will be joined by brass ensemble Dark Horse Consort in a special performance featuring the Flemish composer’s entire collection of motets from the late Renaissance.

Terrance McKnight, commentator, curator, writer, author, pianist, and the weekday evening host of New York’s classical station WQXR will present a new podcast series, “Every Voice with Terrance McKnight.” The series will feature 16 episodes and debut on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. The series highlights voices, histories,...

Opera Orlando has announced that it received an NEA Grant for an upcoming production of Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s “Frida.”. The company is set to showcase the work during the 2023-24 season. “Opera Orlando has a commitment to presenting works that truly speak to our audience, said Opera Orlando’s...

Glyndebourne has announced that three artists will be part of the organization’s Jerwood Young Artists Programme in 2023. The three singers include mezzo-soprano Annabel Kennedy, bass-baritone Michael Ronan, and bass Jamie Woollard. Ronan performed with Glyndebourne in a production of “Les Mamelles de Tirésias” and covered roles in “La...

The 2023 Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition will take place in London at Wigmore Hall. Established in 2014 through the legacy left by South African Dramatic Soprano Elizabeth Connell, the competition provides financial support for aspiring dramatic female singers under the age of 35. This year’s record-breaking amount of...

The National Children’s Chorus is set to launch an opera division and the new VAIL OPERA CAMP Initiative. The organization announced that it would appoint Jonathan McCullough as its Opera Program Director with Dylan F. Thomas set to take on the role of Opera Program Coordinator. McCullough is a...

Opera Saratoga has announced the lineup for its “America Sings” concert series. “I know our audiences will be delighted to witness the caliber of talent and unique positionality that each of these artists bring by way of their performance careers and lived experiences,” said Katrina Fasulo, Director of Development, in an official press statement.

Music of Remembrance has started streaming Lori Laitman’s “Wertheim Park” as part of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The video showcases the work’s world premiere on Oct. 30, 2022 at Benaroya Hall. It features soprano Alisa Jordheim as the soloist as well as an instrumental ensemble featureing Laura De Luca (clarinet), Mikhail Shmidt (violin), Jonathan Green (double bass), and Mina Miller (piano).

Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his upcoming performance at the Mupa Budapest on Jan. 28. The theater said, “We regret to inform our audience that due to illness Jonas Kaufmann will have to withdraw from his aria evening performance. We are working with the artist’s management to reschedule the concert and the new date is currently under negotiation. Tickets already purchased will remain valid for the new date which will be announced by email, on the mupa.hu website and on the event’s Facebook page.”

Italian conductor Michele Spotti has been nominated as Music Director of Marseille’s Opera House and Philharmonic Orchestra. Marseille’s Mayor Benoît Payan and the General Manager of the Opéra de Marseille Maurice Xiberras announced the news and noted that Spotti will start in his new role during the 2023-24 season, succeeding the current Musical Director, Lawrence Foster.

This week audiences will get a chance to hear a recording of Auber’s neglected opera, Rachmanioff’s music, and Vivaldi’s sacred works. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. All-Night Vigil. The Clarion Choir releases its fourth recording, Rachmaninoff’s the All-Night Vigil on PENTATONE. The...