General Opera News

[Wendell_E]

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the composer's death, Met Opera on Demand is offering all of its Puccini titles, video, and audio for free this month.

Free apps available for Amazon Fire TV and Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV.

I've already watched the Richard Eyre production of Manon Lescaut with Opolais and Alagna, and a 2008 Bohème with Gheorghiu and Vargas.

https://ondemand.metopera.org/

[Kalevala]

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the composer's death, Met Opera on Demand is offering all of its Puccini titles, video, and audio for free this month.

Free apps available for Amazon Fire TV and Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV.

I've already watched the Richard Eyre production of Manon Lescaut with Opolais and Alagna, and a 2008 Bohème with Gheorghiu and Vargas.

https://ondemand.metopera.org/

Can you only watch them for free if you download their app?  The only thing that I have on their list is an old iPhone.

K

[Wendell_E]

Can you only watch them for free if you download their app?  The only thing that I have on their list is an old iPhone.

K

You can watch them on your computer.

[brewski]

Another potential "wow" new opera livestream coming up on Dec. 13: Fanny and Alexander by Mikael Karlsson and librettist Royce Vavrek, based on the Ingmar Bergman film, conducted by Ariane Matiakh and directed by Ivo van Hove.

Will be staged at La Monnaie De Munt in Brussels, with an amazing cast: Susan Bullock, Peter Tantsits, Sasha Cooke, Thomas Hampson, and Anne Sofie von Otter. Sarah Dewez and Jay Weiner will sing the title roles.

Streaming available on either medici.tv or Mezzo.tv.

-Bruce

[Wendell_E]

At 80, concert singer [Lucy Shelton] finds herself a hot commodity

Interesting article. She'll make her Met debut next season at age 82 in Saariaho's Innocence. I've got several recordings of her in her more usual, modern concert repertory (Messiaen, del Tredici, Carter).

[brewski]

As a holiday gift, the Greek National Opera is offering free access to its online performances for one week. Too much to list, but operas include:

Andrei: requiem in eight scenes (a tribute to Tarkovsky by Dimitra Trypani)
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Shostakovich)
Falstaff (Verdi)
La Traviata (Verdi)
Kassandra (Pablo Ortiz)

tv.nationalopera.gr/en/opera/

-Bruce

[San Antone]

Edmond Dédé, America's First Black Opera Composer
by Patrick D. McCoy



Dédé's Morgiane, ou Le Sultan d'Ispahan, from 1887, is perhaps the oldest known complete opera by an African-American composer.  Hidden away for 138 years, the world premiere production of 'Morgiane' is a partnership between OperaCreole and Opera Lafayette.

Like many artists of color with the opportunity, Edmond Dédé fled the antebellum United States. After a time in Mexico, he eventually settled in France, where his talents as a composer and conductor were soon recognized, somewhat celebrated, and later forgotten. Among Dédé's surviving works is a four-act opera, Morgiane, ou Le Sultan d'Ispahan, which was never performed or published in his lifetime.

Read more from Early Music America.

[Wendell_E]

New Orleans 2025-6 season

I didn't renew my long-time subscription this year, because there wasn't much of interest: Just two staged productions (Tosca and L'Elisir d'Amore), a concert Samson et Dalila, and a concert featuring local singers. Things are definitely looking up next season:

We heard your voices! You wanted more on your subscription. This year, a season subscription brings you six performances spanning the traditional and avant garde, from September through to April. Join us at the intersection of Piety and Desire!

Verdi's Requiem - 9/26/2025 at 7:30PM, Orpheum Theater
From the thunderous Dies Irae to the haunting Lacrimosa, the mortal and the divine collide in Verdi's choral masterwork.

Handel's Messiah - 12/5/2025 at 7:30PM, Orpheum Theater
A prophecy foretold; a voice that echoes through eternity. This Christmas classic weaves the greatest story ever told into a vivid musical tapestry of triumph, despair, and awe.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones - 2/2026, The Civic Theatre
In the chamber of his soul, Charles confronts the shadows of his past, embarking on a transformative journey of healing, and hope. This suite from Blanchard's critically acclaimed opera features principal artists from the opera and the composer performing his own score.

Dialogues des carmélites - 3/26/2026 at 7:30PM, 3/28/2026 and 4/4/2026 at 2:30PM, Ursuline Convent
Paris, 1789: Fear reigns. Faith is tested. The guillotine looms. In a world turned upside down, the destiny of 16 sisters of the Carmelite Order hangs in the balance. This powerful true story lives on stage in a site-specific production at the oldest building in Louisiana, the Ursuline Convent in the French Quarter.

Der Rosenkavalier - 3/27/2026 at 7:30PM, 3/29/2026 at 2:30PM, Mahalia Jackson Theater
A sophisticated older woman, a romantic chevalier, and a blooming young girl converge in an impossible love triangle around a single silver rose, set to the dreamiest melodies in opera. Will the Marschallin relinquish her lover and sacrifice her heart to the toll of passing time, or protect her own heart and doom a young woman to a dowry marriage?

Pilgrimage - 4/2/2026 at 7:30PM, Venue TBD
A journey through the dark night of the soul. In this immersive pairing, Carlisle Floyd's Pilgrimage [a 20-minute song cycle] and Kaija Saariaho's L'amour de loin intertwine, guiding listeners through an odyssey of longing and spiritual rebirth.

[ritter]

Myung-Whun Chung has been named musical director of La Scala in Milan, replacing Riccardo Chailly. Chung's tenure will start in 2027.

https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/myung-whun-chung-next-music-director-in-2027.html

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Myung-Whun Chung has been named musical director of La Scala in Milan, replacing Riccardo Chailly. Chug 'some tenure will start in 2027.

https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/myung-whun-chung-next-music-director-in-2027.html

An incredibly fine conductor. Of all the recordings I own of Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust, his perofrmance is the one that moved me the most.

[Lisztianwagner]

Myung-Whun Chung has been named musical director of La Scala in Milan, replacing Riccardo Chailly. Chug 'some tenure will start in 2027.

https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/myung-whun-chung-next-music-director-in-2027.html

A great choice, I hope he'll include more Wagner in the season programms!

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

A great choice, I hope he'll include more Wagner in the season programms!

If Chung conducts Parsifal, I may just have to fly to Italy.

[Lisztianwagner]

If Chung conducts Parsifal, I may just have to fly to Italy.

I'm counting on it.

Anyway, Parsifal at la Scala would be a dream!!

[Wendell_E]

WFMT's "7 Strange, Silly, and Surreal Opera Plots"

1. Aniara
2. L'enfant et les sortilèges
3. Iolanta
4. The Love for Three Oranges
5. Les mamelles de Tirésias
6. The Nose
7. Platée

https://www.wfmt.com/2024/03/04/7-strange-silly-and-surreal-opera-plots/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK_U2tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETExMFZLMHhvN3FhM3VWUVpyAR7hpaK85dM7iaduAfe27lCi3JCKZbfsCSV8b_kLl6lcVNYBfRJpInJDLdiuEA_aem__9-zyTxZHhkNwsNSJ4s5qw

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

WFMT's "7 Strange, Silly, and Surreal Opera Plots"

1. Aniara
2. L'enfant et les sortilèges
3. Iolanta
4. The Love for Three Oranges
5. Les mamelles de Tirésias
6. The Nose
7. Platée

https://www.wfmt.com/2024/03/04/7-strange-silly-and-surreal-opera-plots/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK_U2tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETExMFZLMHhvN3FhM3VWUVpyAR7hpaK85dM7iaduAfe27lCi3JCKZbfsCSV8b_kLl6lcVNYBfRJpInJDLdiuEA_aem__9-zyTxZHhkNwsNSJ4s5qw

I'm surprised that Martinů's Julietta wasn't mentioned.

Edit: I think Feldman's sole opera Neither qualifies as "strange, silly and surreal" as well.

[brewski]

Tomorrow night (Friday) at 8:30 pm EDT, Lincoln Center wll livestream The Comet/Poppea by composer George Lewis and librettist Douglas Kearney, inspired by the W.E.B. Du Bois short story and Monteverdi's opera.

Produced by American Modern Opera Company, directed by Yuval Sharon, and starring Davóne Tines and Anthony Roth Costanzo

[brewski]

On Friday, OperaVision will present Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov with the Dutch National Opera and Ballet. I don't know this opera well, the production looks fascinating, and I'm eager to hear the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Vasily Petrenko conducting.

[Wendell_E]

Gramophone Awards Shortlist 2025: Opera category

In brief:

Bizet Djamileh (etc.) Bru Zane/François-Xavier Roth
Janáček The Excursions of Mr Brouček Supraphon/Jaroslav Kyzlink
Massenet Werther (baritone version) Bru Zane/György Vashegyi
Tippett New Year NMC/Martyn Brabbins
Verdi Simon Boccanegra (original 1857 version) Opera Rara/Mark Elder
Wagner Der fliegende Holländer Decca/Edward Gardner

I've got the Tippett, and have listened to the Wagner. They're all available on Amazon Music, so I'll be checking the others out.

[pjme]

This recent recording should be available around december 5th 2025. Das Mirakel is not an opera or a cantata but a pantomime for orchestra, chorus, childrens chorus, organ.
19th century religious sentimentality on a massive scale .
No one less than Max Reinhardt staged it for huge forces and made it into a film (all ca 1911-1920).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Reinhardt



From Boosey & Hawkes

"Synopsis: Though still very young, Megildis is made a sacristan because of her goodness and piety. One day, when she opens the church to a group of pilgrims who have come from all corners of the earth because of the miracle power of the image of the Virgin Mary, she is embarrassed by a knight-errant who is looking at her. This does not go unnoticed by the minstrel, who is always present when mischief can be done. He makes Megildis give in to the temptation and roam the world with the knight. As Megildis is leaving the church, the Madonna steps out of the picture and takes her place. The sisters, upset about the loss of the image, want to punish the alleged Megildis because of her carelessness, but a secret power protects her. Wherever the real Megildis appears, the minstrel is present and causes mischief and death. The knight dies while protecting Megildis against a robber baron. The robber baron loses Megildis to the king's son who is stabbed to death by his own father afterwards. When Megildis, accused as a witch, is about to be beheaded, the people liberate her. The minstrel still does not leave her side. At the end of her path of suffering she finds herself, completely exhausted, in front of the convent. There the Madonna takes off her nun's garment and steps back into the picture. The sisters come and thank Megildis for the miraculous return of the patron saint. Was it all just a bad dream?"

I'm reminded of several other miracle plays/legends (similar storylines), such as Beatrijs (set to music as a symphonic legend (for female chorus, large orchestra, speaker and soloists) by Arthur Meulemans in ca 1911-1913 and "Mariken " from Bohuslav Martinus very lovely "Les jeux de Marie", André Messagers opera "Béatrice"....
Messagers Béatrice in a 1957 radio recording: https://youtu.be/_ARYaCe1qqs?si=UVgVtyR3ZZNIu4X_
....there must be more.....
Meulemans "Meinacht" Maynight (symphonic intermezzo from Beatrijs) has been recorded by Frederic Devreese & the Moscow SO (Naxos)

Dimitri Mitropoulos only opera (also ca 1919) is based on Maurice Maeterlincks retelling of the Beatrijs legend - Soeur Béatrice.

To my surprise it got quite recently a concert prrformance in Greece.