“Diacono himself does not know what musical talent he possesses” – Mascagni
Category: Commentary
Daniel Kramer to step down as English National Opera’s Artistic Director
Daniel Kramer is to step down as ENO’s Artistic Director at the end of July 2019 in order to focus on directing more opera and theatre full time.
Wexford Festival Opera’s award-winning Il bravo to be streamed on ARTE.tv
From 7 pm (CEST), this Sunday 21 April, ARTE, the European public service broadcaster, will stream one of last year’s Wexford Festival Opera productions, Saverio Mercadante’s Il bravo, which was recently named ‘Best Opera Production’ at The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards. Il bravo will be freely available worldwide on ARTE’s digital on-demand culture channel, Arte Concert, as part of ARTE’s 2019 Opera Season, a special online service for lovers of classical music. The opera will subtitled in English, German and French.
Bampton Classical Opera 2019: Stephen Storace – Bride & Gloom (Gli sposi malcontenti)
Newly-wed Casimiro and Eginia hardly seem to be enjoying a state of marital bliss. Why does Eginia sleep on her own, and why is her ex, Artidoro, still hanging around? He now seems to have an eye for the undoubted charms of Casimiro’s sister, Enrichetta – but she’s also attracted the lustful interest of dull and dusty Dr Valente, a man likely to turn nasty if thwarted …
Transylvanian-born mezzo-soprano Eszter Balogh wins the 2019 Handel Singing Competition
Following the final on Saturday 6 April, the Handel Singing Competition announced mezzo-soprano Eszter Balogh as the 2019 winner. Alongside Eszter, the finalists were Patrick Terry (countertenor), David de Winter (tenor) and William Thomas (bass) and the final took place at St George’s, Hanover Square in London in front of a live audience.
English National Opera announces 2019/20 Season
ENO’s 2019/20 season features seven new productions and three revivals, the greatest number of new productions for five years.
Boston Lyric Opera’s East Coast Premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale
Anne Bogart directs East Coast premiere of Ruders & Bentley’s take on Margaret Atwood’s novel.
Christina Scheppelmann appointed General Director of Seattle Opera
Scheppelmann heads to the Pacific Northwest following leadership roles in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East
Handel Singing Competition semi-finalists announced
The Handel Singing Competition has announced its 13 semi-finalists who will be competing in the 2019 Competition. The semi-final is due to take place on 5 March at Grosvenor Chapel, and the final is on 6 April at St George’s, Hanover Square – both in front of a live audience. The Competition this year received over 170 applications from all around the world, from 25 countries as far afield as Argentina, Australia, Israel, the United States and Canada.
In interview with Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera
What links Wagner’s Das Rheingold, Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Cavalli’s La Calisto? It sounds like the sort of question Paul Gambaccini might pose to contestants on BBC Radio 4’s music quiz, Counterpoint.