Opera | News Music & Opera

“Comique” Responsible and Inspired with Louis Langrée

admin_mowp — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:51:15 +0000

Things are heating up at the Opéra-Comique — as hot as the coffee Louis Langrée served to the journalists welcomed into his office, a mythical place haunted by the ghosts of all the artistic directors who came before him. Birthplace of Carmen, Pelléas et Mélisande, Lakmé and Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Paris’s other national opera house has not only succeeded in preserving its unique status, but has risen high in the ranks of major French institutions. Since the inauguration, in 1898, of the current auditorium — which has retained the same proportions as the original 1783 hall — numerous renovations have been undertaken. However, the stage tower, damaged in the 2000s, now requires further work, leading to a temporary closure. There will indeed be a 2026–27 season, with concerts and masterclasses held in the foyer, but productions will take place on tour, notably across the regions, within the network of Italian-style theatres. The Maîtrise Populaire and the Opéra-Comique Academy, united under the name “Campus Favart”, will of course continue their activities. Major events will return as of 2027–28, with a Maeterlinck cycle, a Goethe cycle, and the continuation of great French lyric tragedies. After Iphigénie en Tauride, scheduled from 2 to 12 November 2025 — a highly anticipated new production staged by Wajdi Mouawad, with Louis Langrée sharing the podium with Théotime Langlois de Swarte — the maestro announces another Gluck opera with Alceste, as well as Scylla et Glaucus by Leclair. Langrée is expected to conduct Pelléas et Mélisande, while Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust — returning to the hall of its premiere in concert version as in 1846 — should be entrusted to a commanding Berlioz specialist. A production of the rarely heard Ariane et Barbe-Bleue by Dukas is also in the pipeline. Now dividing his time between his duties as director and his acclaimed conducting career, Louis Langrée has had his mandate at the Théâtre national de l’Opéra-Comique extended until 2029.

All performances at Opéra-Comique

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Stanislas de Barbeyrac, a Wagnerian in Paris

admin_mowp — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:16:10 +0000

We won’t stop talking about Wagner in 2026! Indeed, the year will be marked by the 150th anniversary of the premiere of Der Ring des Nibelungen, the famous tetralogy comprising Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods). Berlin, La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, and nearly all the major international stages have scheduled either the complete cycle or at least one of the four masterpieces. The Paris National Opera schedules two Festivals on 6, 7, 10, 13 and 15, 17, 19, 22 November, 2026). From November 11 to 30, 2025, the Opéra Bastille will host the second installment of Calixto Bieito’s production with Die Walküre. The cast features Iain Paterson as Wotan, Ève-Maud Hubeaux as Fricka, and Günther Groissböck as Hunding, but the real surprise comes from the twins Sieglinde and Siegmund, heroes of the first act. Parisian audiences will once again be able to applaud Elza van den Heever, after her astonishing portrayal of Strauss’s Salome, as well as Stanislas de Barbeyrac. The 41-year-old tenor is one of France’s leading voices and has previously been heard in Offenbach’s La Périchole and as Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Following the natural evolution of his voice, he has in recent years explored a heavier repertoire, which now allows him to perform in Wagner operas. After singing Erik in Der fliegende Holländer at the Berlin State Opera, he now has Siegmund in his repertoire and will give his first French stage performance of the role at the Opéra Bastille, starting November 11, 2025…

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More info on his news

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Attila Ravages the Teatro La Fenice in Venice!

admin_mowp — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:18:38 +0000

Is it necessary to introduce Verdi, who is at home in opera houses worldwide, and especially at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice?

Indeed, many masterpieces by the composer from Busseto premiered on this legendary stage. At 30, he achieved his first triumph with Ernani (in 1844), soon followed by the audience’s ovations for Rigoletto in 1851. However, this love affair has not always been smooth sailing, as the bitter failure of La Traviata reminds us.

Music lovers know what followed, with numerous revivals of this absolute masterpiece of opera. Yet, it should not overshadow other great works like Attila, one of the five operas composed for Teatro La Fenice, alongside Simon Boccanegra (1857).

From May 16 to 24, 2025, the famous Venetian theater has had the brilliant idea of staging a new production of Attila. The direction will be entrusted to Leo Muscato, in a production intended to become part of the permanent repertoire of the Venetian institution. Thus, the Teatro La Fenice retraces a significant chapter of its own history, as this opera, named after the fearsome leader of the Huns, premiered precisely at La Fenice on March 17, 1846.

Leading the orchestra, Sebastiano Rolli—one of the most promising and talented Verdi specialists—reunites with a top-tier cast, featuring Michele Pertusi, the magnificent voice of Anastasia Bartoli, and tenor Andeka Gorrotxategi.

These performances at Teatro La Fenice are simply unmissable!

To see Attila ravage the Teatro La Fenice, click here!

Attila at Fenice – Teatro La Fenice Website

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An Opera Seria – Anything but Serious at Teatro alla Scala

admin_mowp — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:52:41 +0000

From March 29 to April 9, 2025, laughter will replace tears at Teatro alla Scala with L’Opera seria, commedia per musica by Florian Leopold Gassmann.

This three-act opera is a hilarious parody of the 18th-century operatic world, gleefully mocking the behavior of all those involved through countless misunderstandings. The greed of producers, the pretentiousness of artists, the whims of divas, and their rivalries form the mechanics of a comedy that greatly entertains audiences. While the composer is not the most well-known of the Baroque era (even though he had a successful career at the Viennese court, where he was Salieri’s teacher), his librettist, on the other hand, enjoys a certain reputation. Ranieri de’ Calzabigi is, in fact, the figure behind the great operatic reform initiated with Orfeo ed Euridice by Christoph Willibald Gluck.

Both men sought to address simpler themes, moving away from the tradition embodied by Metastasio, with his triumphant heroes and moralistic tales. By tackling a contemporary subject, L’Opera seria plays a role in the aesthetic debate of its time, offering a comedic portrayal of the serious melodrama world, balancing between the sublime and the ridiculous.

The plot, despite its misunderstandings, is relatively simple. After an exchange of pleasantries, the poet Delirio and the musician Sospiro fail to agree on the form of the new opera. The impresario Fallito intervenes, displeasing not only the two men but also the singers. After rehearsals, the performance of the pompous opera provokes mockery and comments from the audience. Only the intervention of the choreographer and the ballet corps saves the evening. In the end, the prima donnas argue, and it is revealed that the impresario has fled with the cash!

The task of amusing La Scala’s audience falls to the brilliant director Laurent Pelly, with a first-class cast—La Scala standard, of course! The renowned conductor Christophe Rousset will lead Les Talens Lyriques along with the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, performing on period instruments. Among the singers, Julie Fuchs and Pietro Spagnoli will undoubtedly make full use of their comedic talents. A delightful evening awaits at La Scala in Milan!

To attend performances of this opera, click here!

Christophe Rousset – c – Eric Larrayadieu

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Siegfried from Dresden arrives at the Philharmonie de Paris, albeit with a slight delay

admin_mowp — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:33:41 +0000

For the past two seasons, this Wagnerian event has been taking place in Dresden with an incredible project led in collaboration by Jan Vogler and Kent Nagano. The two artists, supported by the Dresdner Festspielorchester in collaboration with Concerto Köln, have decided to revive the famous cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen in a historically informed interpretation.

The in-depth musicological research, notably conducted by PD Dr. Kai Hinrich Müller, has allowed for the rediscovery of period instruments, such as those specially commissioned by Wagner himself. The result is simply breathtaking! After Das Rheingold in 2022 and Die Walküre in 2023, Siegfried is now scheduled as part of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele this summer (specifically on June 14, 2025).

The fortunate audiences in Prague, Paris, and Cologne, ahead of those in Lucerne, will have the privilege of attending the performances first. Kent Nagano will return to the magnificent Státní opera in Prague for the first performance of Siegfried on April 1, 2025.

Then, it’s Paris’ turn, on April 4, 2025, to host the project for the first time, hoping that Götterdämmerung will be featured in 2026. Wagner’s masterpiece will then be performed on April 10, 2025, at the Köln Philharmonie before Dresden and finally Lucerne, which will host the event on September 12, 2025, as part of its prestigious Festival.

As an interesting note, Parisians will have the chance to see Derek Welton in the role of the Der Wanderer, having discovered him by chance in Das Rheingold when he stepped in at the last minute to replace the artist originally cast as Wotan. This promises to be a remarkable evening, an unprecedented Wagner performance rejuvenated!

To see Siegfried at the Philharmonie of Paris, click there!

Kent Nagano – c – Daniel Reinhardt

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In Antwerp and Ghent, the Hunt is On

admin_mowp — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:30:06 +0000

A masterpiece of German Romanticism, Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber returns to European opera stages, notably at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, which is presenting it as part of its groundbreaking season. Indeed, with Iphigénie en Tauride, Salome, and soon Wozzeck on the program, this season focuses on works that have shaken up the operatic world.

In a production that sets the story in the communal room of a shooting club, Christoph Marthaler will make his debut at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. The renowned Swiss director has brought together singer-actors he often works with, such as Rosemary Hardy, who, at 74, will take on the role of Ännchen. Agathe and Max will be performed by soprano Louise Kemény and tenor Ilker Arcayürek, with Stephan Zilias conducting.

To attend one of his performances in Antwerp, click here!

c – Opera Ballet Vlaanderen

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Hervé Niquet Spends Valentine’s Day with Persée

admin_mowp — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:40:05 +0000

Launched in 2022 with Ariane et Bacchus by Marin Marais, the cycle of Baroque operas presented by Hervé Niquet and the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées will come to an end on February 14, 2025.

Following Médée by Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Iphigénie en Tauride by Henri Desmarest and André Campra, a flamboyant Persée by Lully will conclude this Baroque tetralogy in Niquet’s rendition. The joint residency of Le Concert Spirituel and the CMBV at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées also comes to a close on Valentine’s evening, although the love story continues as all the operas have been recorded and released under the Alpha Classics label.

For those eager to discover rare gems or revisit cornerstone works of the repertoire, such as this mature Persée by Lully, the stage will feature Mathias Vidal, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Michèle Losier, Déborah Cachet, as well as the Pages and Chantres of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, always impeccably prepared by Fabien Armengaud.

To attend the opera of Persée at the TCE, click here!

Hervé Niquet – c – Henri Buffetaut

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The Most Famous Viennese Director Passed Away

admin_mowp — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:30:29 +0000

On January 9, 2025, Viennese director Otto Schenk passed away at the age of 94.

He left an indelible mark on the world of opera with his remarkable productions, which have been performed across the global opera stage. The Met Opera in New York fondly remembers his grand Wagner productions, just as the Wiener Staatsoper continues to preserve his legacy.

This season, in addition to the recordings made freely available on the Austrian opera’s website, audiences can experience his stagings of Fidelio by Beethoven in February 2025 (featuring Michael Spyres and Bryn Terfel), L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti in March (with Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga), Andrea Chénier by Giordano in April (starring Michael Fabiano, Sonya Yoncheva, and Luca Salsi), and finally, arguably his greatest masterpiece, Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss in June (with Lise Davidsen, Emily D’Angelo, and Sabine Devieilhe). Another iconic production, J. Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, has returned annually every December since 1979.

To see Otto Schenk’s productions at the Wierner Staatsoper, click here!

Der Rosenkavalier – c – Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Poehn

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The flu epidemic in France even affects the gods!

admin_mowp — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:43:35 +0000

One of the major highlights of the season at the Opéra National de Paris was the debut of Ludovic Tézier as Wotan in Das Rheingold, the first installment of the new Ring cycle directed by Calixto Bieito.

Unfortunately, the greatest baritone of his generation is suffering from the flu, which prevents him from attending all the necessary rehearsals for this role debut. From January 29 to February 19, 2025, Iain Paterson will replace the god Wotan for all performances at the Opéra Bastille.

To see Ludovic Tézier in other roles this year, visit our website

Ludovic Tézier – c – Gregor Hohenberg

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Berlin under the Egyptian Sun of an American

admin_mowp — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 08:30:39 +0000

The Komische Oper Berlin is currently undergoing renovations (scheduled to last six years!), but this hasn’t stopped the company from performing in other venues and presenting new productions.

The Schiller Theater, which is hosting the Komische Oper as it once did for the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, will stage Akhnaten by Philip Glass from March 15 to April 20, 2025.

This minimalist masterpiece, directed by Barrier Kosky the resident director of the Berlin institution), is the final installment of the trilogy dedicated to world-changing figures. After Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha, Akhnaten features the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten as its central figure.

To be part of the audience of this performance, click there !

Barrie Kosky & the Schiller Theater – c – Jan Windszus Photography, Gunnar Geller

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