Puccini | News Music & Opera

Asmik Grigorian’s Three-in-One in Paris

admin_mowp — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:38:55 +0000

In just a few concerts, the dazzling soprano Asmik Grigorian has conquered the Parisian audience, just as she has already won over music lovers worldwide. Whether in recital or concert, she has been an unforgettable Salome and Tatiana, a moving Madama Butterfly, and a breathtaking Turandot. She leaves a lasting impression in every role she takes on, including her recent Norma in Vienna. All the great opera capitals have already acclaimed her in staged productions—all but Paris!

She was supposed to make her stage debut at the Paris Opera in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, but the production was unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic. Now, at last, audiences at the Opéra Bastille will have the chance to fully discover Asmik Grigorian’s talents—not just once, but three times over!

Indeed, the magnificent soprano will finally take the stage in an opera from April 29 to May 28, 2025, and not just any opera. Puccini’s Il Trittico is a cycle of three operas (Gianni Schicchi, Il Tabarro, and Suor Angelica), in which Asmik Grigorian will perform the three leading female roles (Lauretta, Giorgetta, and Suor Angelica)—a true vocal and theatrical marathon.

Even more so since the production has been entrusted to Christof Loy, who is making his debut at the Paris Opera after the great success of his Werther at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. The stage director has chosen to present the works in an unusual order: first Gianni Schicchi, a burlesque farce set in medieval Florence, then Il Tabarro, a passionate drama unfolding on a barge along the banks of the Seine, and finally Suor Angelica, a heartrending tragedy and certainly one of the most moving soprano roles in all of opera—a universe already rich with emotion—composed by the genius Puccini.

To admire Asmik Grigorian in Il Trittico, click here!

And tout know more about the news of the Opéra national de Paris, it’s here!

Asmik Grigorian & Affiche d’Il Trittico – c – Algirdas Bakas & OnP Website

The post Asmik Grigorian’s Three-in-One in Paris 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.

Jonas Kaufmann Mysteriously Disappears in Naples

admin_mowp — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:30:19 +0000

You have to browse the Teatro San Carlo’s website in Naples to find the information. Although he was scheduled to perform in a series of Puccini’s Tosca performances in September 2025, alongside Sondra Radvanovsky and Anna Pirozzi in alternating casts, Jonas Kaufmann has mysteriously disappeared from the lineup.

However, on January 31, in the “News” section of the renowned Italian opera house’s website, the following message can be found: “Si avvisa il gentile pubblico che Jonas Kaufmann è costretto ad annullare la sua partecipazione nel ruolo di Cavaradossi nell’opera Tosca per sopravvenuto cambio di date, risultando un’incompatibilità irrisolvibile di calendario.” In short, this means that Jonas Kaufmann will not be able to sing the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca due to a scheduling conflict.

But what happened for Jonas Kaufmann, the superstar tenor, to cancel in January a performance that had been announced since June 2024 and scheduled for September 2025? A more lucrative offer? The desire to lighten his schedule with fewer stage appearances? No one knows—not even the opera enthusiasts who already have their tickets, many of whom have not been informed of the change.

The tenor announced to replace Jonas Kaufmann is Francesco Meli. At the Teatro San Carlo, the other series of performances will feature Vittorio Grigolo and Yusif Eyvazov, alongside a third Tosca, Carmen Giannattasio. Jonas Kaufmann’s next stage appearances are scheduled at the Nationaltheater in Munich in May, June, and July 2025, where he will perform the role of Canio in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci.

Kaufmann is also expected to embark on a European recital tour with soprano Diana Damrau and accompanist Helmut Deutsch. The program, featuring Lieder by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, will likely remain the same in Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence, Paris, and Berlin—unless he cancels!

To see Tosca at the Teatro San Carlo, click here!

Jonas Kaufmann – c – Gregor Hohenberg

The post Jonas Kaufmann Mysteriously Disappears in Naples appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Anna Pirozzi, the Ethiopian Girl of the Golden West in London

admin_mowp — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:44 +0000

The celebrated Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi continues her streak of triumphs.

Following a fiery performance as Maddalena di Coigny in Andrea Chénier by Giordano in Paris and Lyon, she will take on the role of Aida, Verdi’s famed Ethiopian slave, in London in a production directed by Robert Carsen (from January 28 to February 12, 2025).

She will then return to Puccini in Hamburg and Naples. From March 21 to April 4, 2025, at the Staatsoper, and from April 16 to 29, 2025, at the Teatro di San Carlo, she will perform as Minnie in La Fanciulla del West, a rarely staged opera composed by the Italian master.

To book your tickets, click there !

Anna Pirozzi (c) Julian Hargreaves

The post Anna Pirozzi, the Ethiopian Girl of the Golden West in London appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Sondra Radvanovsky and Piotr Beczała perfect couple

admin_mowp — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:00:36 +0000

Two of the greatest voices of the moment join forces to offer themselves mainly to Puccini.

Begun last week in Barcelona, a tour brings together soprano Sondra Radvanovsky and tenor Piotr Beczała that takes them to Seville, Madrid and Valencia before Germany as in Baden Baden where they are expected on 29 November 2024.

With arias and duets, the great belcantist and the sublime tenor have chosen to pay tribute to Puccini on the occasion of this anniversary season, but also to Giordano with extracts from Andrea Chénier.

Pour assister à ces concerts, cliquez ici !

Sondra Radvanovsky and Piotr Beczała at Theatre Liceu © Antoni Bofil

The post Sondra Radvanovsky and Piotr Beczała perfect couple appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Another Butterfly in Ghent and Antwerp

admin_mowp — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:47:37 +0000

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen has just announced a cast change with Irish soprano Celine Byrne replacing Elena Guseva in the role of Cio-Cio-San. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will be on the bill at the Antwerp Opera from 8 September and then at the Ghent Opera from 4 October 2024, in a production by Mariano Pensotti conducted by Daniela Candillari. Belgian-Albanian Ana Naqe completes the cast, alternating in the role of Cio-Cio-San, with Ovidiu Purcel and Łukasz Załęski as Pinkerton, young Belgian mezzo-soprano Lotte Verstaen as Suzuki and Vincenzo Neri as Sharpless.

Discover Madama Butterfly at the Antwerp Opera

Celine Byrne © Kip Carroll

The post Another Butterfly in Ghent and Antwerp appeared first on News Music & Opera.

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

The post The Arena of today and tomorrow appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Jonas Kaufmann in the Arena after Anna Netrebko

admin_mowp — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:36:20 +0000

The great Verona Arena Festival is gradually announcing its cast. After the announcement of superstar Anna Netrebko (on August 2, 9 and 16 2024) in Puccini‘s Tosca, it will be Jonas Kaufmann‘s turn to come to the legendary Verona stage to sing in the composer’s masterpiece on the occasion of his anniversary year. The superstar tenor will not be the only one to shine on 30 August 2024, as he will be accompanied by Ludovic Tézier, the implacable Scarpia opposite the superb Elena Stikhina, who performs as Tosca in Hugo De Ana‘s production.

Discover Tosca by director Hugo De Ana

The post Jonas Kaufmann in the Arena after Anna Netrebko appeared first on News Music & Opera.

Double celebration in Toulouse

admin_mowp — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:00:39 +0000

2024 is a year rich in celebrations, with a number of important anniversaries. Puccini, who died 100 years ago, cannot overshadow another major figure in classical music, Gabriel Fauré. He died the same year as the Italian opera composer, and was born in Pamiers in the Ariège region, 70km from Toulouse. Of course, the pink city should pay tribute to him with a concert event. On 28 March 2024, at the Halle aux Grains, the prestigious Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Ariane Matiakh will perform the suite from Pelléas et Mélisande and five orchestrated melodies, performed by Florie Valiquette and Julien Behr. The celebrations don’t stop there, however, as another composer is being honoured. César Franck, whose 200th birthday is being celebrated in 2022, will also be on the programme, with a work that was rediscovered some fifty years ago. Thanks to the work of the Palazzetto Bru Zane, the concert’s partner, the orchestra and the Orfeón Donostiarra choir will perform The Seven Words of Christ on the Cross, a work fitting for the Easter celebrations.

Check out Ariane Matiakh’s upcoming performances

The post Double celebration in Toulouse appeared first on News Music & Opera.

The new Puccinian in Vienna is Russian

admin_mowp — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:00:59 +0000

Elena Stikhina (one of the 2016 winners of the Operalia Competition) continues her faultless career, notably as a special guest of the Wiener Staatsoper, a major international stage. The Russian soprano will be performing as Tosca on 2, 5 and 10 February 2024 before taking on the two heroines of Il Trittico, another superb masterpiece by Puccini. Under the musical direction of Philippe Jordan, she will perform as Giorgetta in Il Tabarro and then the deeply moving Suor Angelica in the opera of the same name, from 14 to 24 February 2024. The great Puccini year in Vienna seems to have found its major perfomer!

Discover all upcoming performances with Elena Stikhina

The post The new Puccinian in Vienna is Russian appeared first on News Music & Opera.