Pretty Yende | News Music & Opera

Semele feels Pretty at the Champs-Elysées

admin_mowp — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:55:01 +0000

A major work by Handel returns to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées for only five performances, from February 6 to 15, 2025. Semele, the oratorio perfectly suited to staging, was last seen in Paris in 2004 under the baton of Marc Minkowski with direction by David McVicar. This time, the highly anticipated production is entrusted to Oliver Mears, the current director of London’s Royal Ballet and Opera, while the renowned baroque conductor Emmanuelle Haïm will lead the orchestra.

However, the main draw for music lovers is undoubtedly the cast: Pretty Yende, the celebrated soprano, will make her role debut as Semele, a part known for its demanding range and intricate vocal lines. She will be joined by tenor Ben Bliss, also making his debut as Jupiter, Alice Coote as Juno, and Carlo Vistoli, a rising countertenor, in the brief role of Athamas.

Tickets for Semele

(c) Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

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Benjamin Bernheim’s Broken Dreams in New York

admin_mowp — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 08:00:28 +0000

After shining in this same role at the Paris Opera, French tenor Benjamin Bernheim is preparing to conquer America as Hoffmann, the hero with broken dreams. Offenbach’s famous and unique opera, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, returns to the Metropolitan Opera starting September 24, 2024, as the season opener (notably with Pretty Yende as Olympia). But Parisian admirers of the tenor can rest assured, he is announced for a recital at the Palais Garnier on November 24, 2024. The announced program is the same as the one recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and which has just been released.

Discover Benjamin Bernheim at the Metropolitan Opera

Benjamin Bernheim © Deutsche Grammophon Universal Music

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Théâtre des Champs-Élysées – 2024-2025

admin_mowp — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:00:26 +0000

The 2024-2025 season at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is special for many reasons. It marks the final season curated by Michel Franck, the vibrant artistic director who has been at the helm since 2010. To celebrate, he has prepared a dazzling lineup that will delight all music lovers. Some events are bound to be highly sought after, so it is particularly important to book tickets in advance this season, especially for the operas.

The 2024-2025 season at the TCE encapsulates Michel Franck’s artistic choices. He has always been adept at presenting a wide range of repertoires, with perhaps a slight preference for baroque music. Opera enthusiasts are especially spoiled this season with offerings like Handel‘s magnificent masterpiece, Semele, featuring the beloved soprano Pretty Yende. This new production by Olivier Mears, directed by Emmanuelle Haïm, promises to be a highlight. France’s premier tenor, the dynamic Benjamin Bernheim, will perform his first Parisian Werther, staged by Christof Loy, alongside the impressive mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. Viotti also stars in another major production, Der Rosenkavalier, an eagerly anticipated event with Marlis Petersen and Regula Mühlemann.

A noteworthy event is the revival of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, directed by Olivier Py. Patricia Petibon, who previously moved audiences as Blanche de la Force, now takes on the role of Mère Marie, symbolizing the continuity and transmission of operatic history. The season also features acclaimed soprano Anna Netrebko, and eagerly anticipated recitals by Philippe Jaroussky, Pretty Yende, and Jakub Józef Orliński.

Concert versions of operatic works will undoubtedly generate the most excitement. Highlights include Julien Chauvin’s presentation of Handel‘s La Resurrezione and Jephtha with an outstanding cast including Michael Spyres, Joyce DiDonato, Mélissa Petit, and Francesco Corti. A rare performance of Handel’s oratorio Deborah will be conducted by Ton Koopman. Mozart’s works are also prominent, with the Da Ponte trilogy entrusted to Alexis Kossenko (Don Giovanni), Giovanni Antonini (Le nozze di Figaro), and Marc Minkowski (Così fan tutte). Another beautiful Mozart opera in concert form, Mitridate, re di Ponto, will be conducted by Christophe Rousset. Notable performances include a Requiem featuring Lisette Oropesa, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Cyrille Dubois, and Nahuel di Pierro.

Among the season’s highlights are Weber‘s romantic opera Freischütz, conducted by Antonello Manacorda with Charles Castronovo and Golda Schultz, and Rossini‘s Le Comte Ory with Cyrille Dubois. Elsa Dreisig will star as a divine Alcina in Handel’s opera, alongside Emily D’Angelo, Sandrine Piau, and Alex Rosen. Andrea Chénier by Giordano will feature the stellar voices of Riccardo Massi, Anna Pirozzi, Enkhbat Amartuvshin, and Sophie Pondjiclis. Audiences can also look forward to Marie-Nicole Lemieux in Rossini‘s L’Italiana in Algeri and Sabine Devieilhe in both Mozart and Boulez, celebrating his centennial.

The dance segment is equally unmissable, with performances by prominent choreographers such as Akram Khan, Carolyn Carlson, Mats Ek, and Sharon Eyal, along with an emotional holiday appearance by the National Opera Ballet of Ukraine. The season will be filled with major concerts and events. Martha Argerich opens the season with Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Renowned pianists like Elisabeth Leonskaja, Evgeny Kissin, Grigory Sokolov, Mikhail Pletnev, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Nikolai Lugansky, Nelson Goerner, David Fray, Adam Laloum, Benjamin Grosvenor, and a new generation of stars including Jonathan Fournel, Bruce Liu, Dmitry Masleev, Jan Lisiecki, and the Jussen brothers will grace the stage. Other notable soloists include Gidon Kremer, Tabea Zimmermann, Thibault Cauvin with the pop artist and guitarist -M-, Sol Gabetta, Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuel Pahud, Nemanja Radulovic with his Ensemble Double Sens, and Edgar Moreau performing Bach. The loyalty of great conductors like Zubin Mehta, Daniele Gatti, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra underscores the exceptional nature of the 2024-2025 season, making it a must-see. Reservations are now open for all the events of this extraordinary season!

Get your tickets now for the new 2024-2025 season at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

© Hartl Meyer

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The Arena of today and tomorrow

admin_mowp — Mon, 06 May 2024 08:00:50 +0000

While Cecilia Gasdia, Sovrintendente of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, is touring the major cities to present the 2024 programme of the famous Verona Arena Festival, the 2025 season has already been announced. 2024, the great Puccini year, will of course include the masterpieces Tosca, Turandot and a new Bohème, as well as the eagerly awaited Carmen, Barbiere di Siviglia and two Aida. The modern staging created for the festival’s 100th anniversary will be revived, as will the historic 1913 production with its monumental set. 2024 also marks the return of the great stars Anna Netrebko, Elena Stikhina, Clémentine Margaine, Jonas Kaufman, Roberto Alagna, Vittorio Grigolo, Ludovic Tézier, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, etc. as well as the debuts of Pretty Yende and mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina. 2025 will be a year dominated by Verdi, who will be back in force with Aida, La Traviata, Rigoletto and a new production of the legendary Nabucco. In the programme, only Carmen was not composed by the great composer!

Discover all upcoming shows at the Verona Arena Festival

© Fondazione Arena di Verona website

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Pretty Yende joins Maria Callas

admin_mowp — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:15 +0000

Although her name does not yet appear officially on the Opéra national de Paris website, Pretty Yende will be on stage at the Palais Garnier for the special gala tribute to Maria Callas on 2 December 2023, the hundredth anniversary of her birth. From a stage to the other, from 30 November to 27 December 2023, the superb soprano will be at the Opéra Bastille as Olympia, the nymphomaniac doll in Robert Carsen‘s legendary production of Offenbach‘s Les Contes d’Hoffmann.

Discover Pretty Yende all around Europe here

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Women’s Voices

admin_mowp — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:00:43 +0000

8 March is indeed Women’s Rights Day, but the ‘Les Grandes Voix’ concert series has not waited to put women in the spotlight! During the month of March 2023, it is offering two unusual and exceptional events. On Monday 6 March 2023, Nadine Sierra and Pretty Yende will share the stage at the Philharmonie de Paris in a programme simply entitled “Best Friends”. On Tuesday 21 March 2023, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées will welcome women of power with Marina Rebeka and Karine Deshayes performing excerpts from Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena, Rossini’s Elisabetta and Semiramide and finally excerpts from Bellini’s Norma.

Your tickets for “Best Friends”

Your tickets for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

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Not Nadine Sierra but Pretty Yende

admin_mowp — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 08:30:53 +0000

Verdi’s La Traviata at the Staatsoper Hamburg was supposed to be performed by the sweet and fragile Nadine Sierra, but as one star can hide another, it will finally be Pretty Yende who, from 2 to 16 December 2021, will be at the wheel of a bumper car in Johannes Erath‘s amazing staging.

Book your tickets for La Traviata here :

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