Festivals | News Music & Opera

The George Enescu International Festival is getting into the Spanish spirit!

admin_mowp — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:31:25 +0000

For its 27ᵉ edition, the George Enescu International Festival pays tribute to the Romanian composer’s deep attachment to French culture by putting classical music from France at the heart of its programme.

This interest took root in 1895, when, having just won a silver medal at the prestigious Vienna Conservatoire, Enescu chose Paris to pursue his musical training. He entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he rubbed shoulders with the future greats of French classical music: Maurice Ravel, Alfred Cortot, Paul Dukas, all classmates…

In the midst of this artistic effervescence, Enescu made his mark, particularly with his opera Œdipe (1936). This monumental score took him almost twenty years to complete. He died in Paris, his adopted home, and is buried today in the Père-Lachaise cemetery.

The Festival 2025 is a celebration of the French-language masterpieces that have marked the history of classical music. From 27 August to 21 September, lucky festival-goers will plunge into the world of Ravel, Poulenc, Bizet, Rameau and many others. True to its reputation for excellence, the George Enescu International Festival has invited the crème de la crème of international orchestras, with such great voices as Gaëlle Arquez, Benjamin Bernheim and Asmik Grigorian to perform the French repertoire (and others). Finally, two great operas will be performed: Ravel’s L’Heure Espagnole andEnescu ‘s famous Oedipus .

The 27th George Enescu International Festival is sure to cause a sensation, with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by the fiery Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the unmissable Martha Argerich with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. French artists take the lion’s share, with Renaud Capuçon, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Alexandre Kantorow, not forgetting ‘almost’ French conductors such as Cristian Măcelaru and Klaus Mäkelä, who conducts not the Orchestre de Paris but his other orchestra, the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

The dates run until 21 September 2025. The ticket office is still open!

To get your tickets for the Bucharest festival, click here!

The post The George Enescu International Festival is getting into the Spanish spirit! appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Baroque ‘n Beaune Festival

admin_mowp — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:43:38 +0000

Baroque music lovers make a pilgrimage to Beaune to indulge in the rich offerings of the International Baroque Opera Festival.

Staying true to the vision of Anne Blanchard and the late Kader Hassissi, the festival’s new artistic director, Maximilien Hondemarck, has unveiled a program where regular attendees will once again find the great names of Baroque music among the prestigious guests.

Operas, oratorios, recitals, and sacred music follow one another over four festival weekends, set as always in the enchanting Hospices but also in Beaune’s most beautiful venues, which open their doors to music especially for the occasion.

Each weekend is centered around a period, a composer, or a theme—such as Music in the Time of Louis XIV. Three great composers are particularly celebrated: Alessandro Scarlatti, in honor of the 300th anniversary of his death, as well as Jean-Philippe Rameau and the ever-iconic Georg Friedrich Handel. With Bach also in the spotlight, leading artists have answered the call of Burgundy and its music, including conductors Christophe Rousset, Vincent Dumestre, and Thibault Noally, alongside singers Véronique Gens, Ambroisine Bré, Victoire Bunel, Camille Chopin, Marie Perbost, Marie Lys, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Laurence Kilsby, and many, many more!

In order to attend the event, go to our website by clicking here!

c – Affiche Festival Opera baroque Beaune 2025

The post Baroque ‘n Beaune Festival appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Everyone to the Dresden Musikfestspiele because the world needs love!

admin_mowp — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:53:27 +0000

The magnificent city of Dresden will host the 48th edition of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele from May 17 to June 14, 2025, with love as the central theme of the season!

As always, Jan Vogler, the renowned cellist and artistic director of the festival, has invited leading orchestras and top-tier artists to celebrate their love for music in a program that blends classical music with world music, jazz, and even pop!

Classical music lovers can look forward to many highlights, including Siegfried, the next installment of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, performed by the Dresdner Festspielorchester and Concerto Köln, under the baton of Kent Nagano, in a historically informed version.

Another landmark event is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, making a stop in Dresden during its European tour to perform Mahler’s Seventh Symphony.

Other prestigious ensembles include the London Symphony Orchestra, featuring the exquisite violinist Lisa Batiashvili under Antonio Pappano’s direction. Lahav Shani will lead the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Münchner Philharmoniker will present a program featuring Mahler’s tragic Sixth Symphony and Prayer by Tzvi Avni.

The NHK Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Fabio Luisi, will welcome the renowned Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanai, while the Camerata Salzburg will perform alongside the stunning Janine Jansen, and the Wiener Symphoniker will take the stage with French violinist Renaud Capuçon.

With Jan Vogler himself performing as a soloist, the 2025 edition of the festival will feature exceptional artists such as Sol Gabetta (with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden under Tugan Sokhiev), pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Mao Fujita in recital, and the brilliant Seong-Jin Cho alongside the Göteborgs Symfoniker under the inspired baton of Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

With a performance of Siegfried and an outstanding cast—including Derek Welton as the new Wotan/Wanderer—vocal artistry will also shine. Fatma Said, Lea Desandre, and Benjamin Appl will each offer a recital, which will surely be among the festival’s highlights.

Love is always in the air in Dresden, and especially during this edition of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele!

To book your tickets for the Dresdner Musikfestspiele’s festival, click here!

Affiche Dresdner Musikfestspiele 2025

The post Everyone to the Dresden Musikfestspiele because the world needs love! appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Alagna Sacrifices Himself for Kurzak at Torre del Lago

admin_mowp — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:30:01 +0000

Since 2024, when the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s passing was celebrated, the Festival of Torre del Lago, dedicated to the renowned Italian opera composer, has been changing its traditions.

Indeed, the cast lists for the 2025 season have already been announced. Featured at the 71st edition of the Puccini Festival 2025, five of the composer’s greatest works will take center stage and create a major event. From July 18 to September 6, 2025, festivalgoers will have the opportunity to attend performances of Tosca (July 18, August 1, 9, and 29), Turandot (July 25, August 2, 14, 22, and September 5), La Bohème (July 19, 26, and August 7), Madama Butterfly (August 8 and 23), and finally Manon Lescaut (August 30 and September 6).

This array of masterpieces is complemented in the middle of the Puccini Festival by a gala recital on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, featuring Anna Netrebko, the greatest star among sopranos, accompanied by tenor Martin Muehle, as she announced on her personal website. Alongside the great diva, there are numerous exceptional performances.

The Gran Teatro all’Aperto, located on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli, where Giacomo Puccini once owned a villa, will welcome Roberto Alagna as Mario Cavaradossi, who will sacrifice himself in vain to save his wife Tosca—played by the stunning Aleksandra Kurzak—from the clutches of the dreadful Baron Scarpia, portrayed by Luca Salsi. Other artists will also take part in Tosca, conducted by Giorgio Croci, including Valentina Boi, Carmen Giannattasio, and Eleonora Buratto, who will share the role of Floria Tosca, while Francesco Meli and Michael Fabiano will alternate as Mario Cavaradossi.

La Bohème, in Ettore Scola’s staging, also boasts an outstanding cast, notably featuring Nino Machaidze, Sara Branch, Vittorio Grigolo, and Vittorio Prato in the leading roles. During the Puccini Festival 2025, Madama Butterfly will stand out for the performance of soprano Maria Agresta, who is highly anticipated in the role.

Another highly acclaimed soprano in Italy, María José Siri, will portray Manon Lescaut, alongside Luciano Ganci as Des Grieux and Claudio Sgura as Lescaut.

The greatest voices of the opera scene will also be featured in Turandot, conducted by Renato Palombo. Indeed, the icy princess will be portrayed by the impressive Anna Pirozzi, opposite the equally grandiose tenor Gregory Kunde. Another well-known tenor, Yusif Eyvazov, will also take on the role of Calaf, while Olga Maslova will perform as Turandot, and Rosa Feola will sing Liù for one performance. Torre del Lago, where Giacomo Puccini was laid to rest in 1926, can take pride in hosting a remarkable edition of its Puccini Festival 2025.

To book your tickets for the Puccini’s Festival click here!

Affiche festival Puccini 2025 & Roberto Alagna avec Aleksandra Kurzak – c – Festival Puccini Website/Gregor Hohenberg

The post Alagna Sacrifices Himself for Kurzak at Torre del Lago appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Verona: A Step Closer to Modernity?

admin_mowp — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:00:32 +0000

Since the renowned soprano Cecilia Gasdia took over as artistic director, the iconic Verona Arena Festival has once again become a must-attend event for all opera stars. Following the grandeur of its 100th anniversary and a 2024 season featuring over eight productions, the Festival dell’Arena di Verona 2025 promises numerous headline-making concerts, including a gala with Jonas Kaufmann, and five opera productions with a touch of modernity. The new production of Verdi’s Nabucco, a staple of the Arena’s repertoire, has been entrusted to Stefano Poda, who previously staged the spectacular Aida for the Festival’s centenary, complete with dazzling special effects. Poda’s production will also return in 2025, alongside three other works firmly rooted in tradition: La Traviata, in Hugo De Ana’s timeless staging, and Rigoletto, presented in a historically inspired production. To mark the 150th anniversary of Carmen and the passing of its illustrious composer, Georges Bizet, Franco Zeffirelli’s monumental production—a true Festival classic—will also make a return. This year will additionally celebrate 30 years of this legendary staging!

Find all the dates for the Verona Arena Festival

(c) Verona Arena Festival

The post Verona: A Step Closer to Modernity? appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Orange and Aix Cursed by Destiny!

admin_mowp — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 11:16:10 +0000

The Chorégies d’Orange have unveiled their 2025 program, packed with prestigious events. Highlights include unmissable concerts (Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique conducted by Michele Spotti, Mozart’s Requiem under the baton of Diego Ceretta featuring Jessica Pratt, a recital by Renaud Capuçon, and Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio), Swan Lake performed by the Ballet Preljocaj, and two operas in concert version. After Tosca with its stellar cast (Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna, and Bryn Terfel), Jean-Louis Grinda, director of the Chorégies, offers a one-night-only performance of Il Trovatore starring Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and rising soprano Claire de Monteil. Another Verdi masterpiece on the program, La Forza del Destino, an opera that Italians traditionally avoid naming out of superstition, also boasts a magnificent cast: Anna Pirozzi, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Brian Jagde, Michele Pertusi, and Ambrogio Maestri, with Daniele Rustioni conducting. For the first time, the Chorégies d’Orange are teaming up with the Aix-en-Provence Festival, which will take advantage of the vast capacity of the ancient theater to welcome an even larger audience. Reservations are already open.

The 2025 program of the Chorégies d’Orange

(c) Chorégies d’Orange

The post Orange and Aix Cursed by Destiny! appeared first on News Music & Opera.

At the Verbier Festival, the Celebration Continues!

admin_mowp — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:53:44 +0000

The 2023 season marked the 30th anniversary of the Verbier Festival, and now the program for 2025 has been revealed. The 32nd edition will take place from July 16 to August 3, 2025, featuring unique encounters and, as always, an impressive lineup of world-renowned artists, including Martha Argerich, Khatia Buniatishvili, Janine Jansen, Lise Davidsen, Bryn Terfel, Ludovic Tézier, Daniil Trifonov, Evgeny Kissin, Renaud Capuçon, Klaus Mäkelä, Paavo Järvi, Lahav Shani, as well as Barbara Hannigan, Sonya Yoncheva, Leonardo García-Alarcón, and Teodor Currentzis making their Verbier debuts. Anniversary celebrations will also play a significant role, with several special concerts planned: the 50th anniversary of the legendary duo Martha Argerich & Mischa Maisky, the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s passing with a special evening curated by Evgeny Kissin featuring Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Antoine Tamestit, and the Ébène Quartet; the centenary of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau’s birth with a concert-lecture envisioned by Benjamin Appl; and finally, the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth, celebrated with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performing the complete solo piano works.

Find all the Verbier Festival program

The post At the Verbier Festival, the Celebration Continues! appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Easter in Aix with Capuçon

admin_mowp — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:00:05 +0000

One of the great must-attend events in the international classical music scene, the Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival has just unveiled its 2025 program, featuring, as we’ve come to expect, a wealth of stars. Renaud Capuçon, the renowned violinist and artistic director, has invited Martha Argerich, Lea Desandre, Christophe Rousset, Gautier Capuçon, Kian Soltani, Bertrand Chamayou, and several major orchestras, including the Orchestre National du Capitole, the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. A new exceptional edition! Ticket booking opens this Friday, October 11th…

Book your tickets for the Easter Festival straight away!

The post Easter in Aix with Capuçon appeared first on News Music & Opera.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival!

admin_mowp — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:24:43 +0000

Every summer from July 10 to August 25, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival attracts art lovers to the sun-soaked and stone-walled city of Dubrovnik, transforming the pearl of the Adriatic into the heart of culture.
The audience has the opportunity to create priceless memories every day and enjoy the diverse program of one of the oldest European festivals – theater performances, ballet and folklore performances and classical music concerts throughout the most beautiful city fortresses, islands, squares, parks and palaces.
In its anniversary 75th season, the Festival brings a particularly rich musical program led by top names on the international scene.
Renowned pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard will give a concert in the enchanting setting of the Rector’s Palace on July 30, while on August 14 virtuoso violinist Renaud Capuçon will be playing at the same venue with Guillaume Bellom on the piano.
The highlight of the festival will be the opera gala on August 25, when one of today’s biggest opera stars, soprano Sonya Yoncheva, tenor Joseph Calleja and bass Ante Jerkunica, will perform with the Croatian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ivan Repušić.

Découvrez le programme du Dubrovnik Summer Festival : https://www.ulaznice.hr/

Advertorial

The post The Dubrovnik Summer Festival! appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Horizons for Dresden 2024

admin_mowp — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:42:26 +0000

From 9 May to 9 June 2024, the 47th edition of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele will be held under the title “Horizons“. As always, the programme, built by Jan Vogler, will feature great artists. In the iconic venues of this superb city on the banks of the Elbe, the famous cellist welcomes Jeanine De Bique, Matthias Goerne, Daniel Lozakovich, Daniel Hope, etc. and conductors such as Klaus Mäkelä, Jakub Hrùša and Kent Nagano. Launched in 2023, Wagner’s Das Ring der Nibelungen project in its original orchestration continues with Die Walküre conducted by Nagano with the Dresden Festival Orchestra and Concerto Köln. There are plenty of highlights to be discovered in the rich programme…

Your tickets for the Dresdner Musikfestpiele

The post Horizons for Dresden 2024 appeared first on News Music & Opera.