Gregory Kunde | 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.

Starry Nights at the Verona Arena Festival 2025

admin_mowp — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:00:48 +0000

“Habemus distributionem!”

For once, unusually so early in the season, the Verona Arena Festival has unveiled the casts of the five operas scheduled this summer (Aida, Carmen, Nabucco, Rigoletto, and La Traviata). From June 13 to September 6, 2025, on one of the world’s largest opera stages, a parade of superstars is expected.

In addition to Jonas Kaufmann, announced for a recital, Anna Netrebko returns in Aida and also in Nabucco, where Anna Pirozzi, another great Abigaille, will also perform. Marina Rebeka, a star soprano, will make her Verona debut in Aida, alongside Angel Blue (Traviata) and Pene Pati (Rigoletto).

Familiar faces are returning, including Nadine Sierra, Piotr Beczała, Gregory Kunde, Amartuvshin Enkhbat (in Rigoletto, Nabucco, Aida, and Traviata), Ludovic Tézier (as Giorgio Germont and Amonasro), Luca Salsi, Erwin Schrott, as well as Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna. The renowned couple will feature in Aida and Carmen, where audiences will also delight in seeing Anita Rachvelishvili and rising star Aigul Akhmetshina. Bookings are already open, and with such treasures on display, some performances will undoubtedly be more sought-after than others…

To book your tickets for the Verona Arena Festival

Verona Arena (c) Gianfranco Fainello

The post Starry Nights at the Verona Arena Festival 2025 appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Ludovic Tézier double strikes in Verona

admin_mowp — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:29 +0000

The Verona Arena Festival events have been announced with some exceptional Toscas, including the one on 30 August 2024 featuring Elena Stikhina, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier in the role of the horrible Barone Scarpia. The superstar baritone has a surprise in store for lucky festival-goers where he performs as Amonasro in a deluxe Aida the day before. Anna Pirozzi, Gregory Kunde and Ekaterina Semenchuk all feature in the revival of the original 1913 production. The Verona story doesn’t end there, however, as Tézier will also be taking to the arena stage at the beginning of August to perform as Escamillo, the most French of bullfighters, in a Carmen extravaganza.

Discover Ludovic Tézier in Tosca

The post Ludovic Tézier double strikes in Verona appeared first on News Music & Opera.

A great French voice at Strauss’

admin_mowp — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:00:03 +0000

The Semperoper continues the great tradition by regularly programming Richard Strauss‘s operas, many of which were first performed here in Dresden. For the revival of Ariadne auf Naxos directed by David Hermann (from 23 February 2023), the great French voice Catherine Hunold, Sarah Aristidou and Angela Brower will make their debut in loco, while Gregory Kunde will take on the role of Bacchus for the first time.

Your tickets here

(c) David Ruano

The post A great French voice at Strauss’ appeared first on News Music & Opera.