Paris’ Opéra de la Bastille celebrated the 150th birthday of Claude Debussy with avant-garde director Robert Wilson’s “wondrous” (Le Figaro) production of “Pelléas et Mélisande” featuring a stellar cast headed by Stéphane Degout, Elena Tsallagova and Vincent Le Texier in the lead roles, and supported by high-caliber performers such as Anne-Sofie von Otter and Franz Joseph Selig in smaller roles. “The singers have integrated Wilson’s language of gestures and lighting to a degree never attained by previous casts” (Le Figaro). Philippe Jordan gives a transparent reading of Debussy’ haunting score.
Donizetti, La Favorite
“Each note a masterpiece”, said Arturo Toscanini of Donizetti’s La Favorite. Something of a seldom-performed rarity today, it was rarely out of the Paris opera repertoire in the decades that followed its premiere. It is considered one of the composer’s most cogent works of music drama and shows Donizetti at the height of his powers as an orchestrator. The opera is the first original French opera by the Italian bel canto composer – a happy congruence of the Italian and French operatic traditions.
Carmen
The ancient Roman Théâtre antique d’Orange is offering its breath-taking ambience to George Bizet’s world-renowned love drama, Carmen. The principle roles are portrayed by the spectacular Kate Aldrich in her signature roll as the seductive temptress Carmen, and star tenor Jonas Kaufmann as the troubled and jealous army officer, Don José. “Aldrich makes Carmen a magic presence by sheer vivacity of personality”, writes Opera Today on her exceptional festival debut. The rest of the cast, too, are nothing less than outstanding – most notably Inva Mula as Micaëla and Kyle Ketelsen as Escamillo, whose wit and playfulness delight his audience. In the pit are the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and their new principal conductor, Mikko Franck. The directing of Louis Désiré, who also designed the set and costumes, fits ideally into this picturesque setting and paints a naturalistic image of society in keeping with Bizet’s intentions.
Handel, Theodora
Handel’s own favourite amongst his English oratorios, Theodora proved a surprising failure at its 1750 London premiere, receiving only three performances and being revived just once before its composer’s death. That Theodora is now recognized as one of the most sublime and moving creations of Handel’s final years is largely due to the passionate advocacy of William Christie, who here directs his peerless period-instrument ensemble Les Arts Florissants for this new production at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. The starry cast is led by young British soprano Katherine Watson, instilling the title-role with her “vocal bloom, emotional depth and beguiling phrasing” (New York Times), and leading French counter-tenor Philippe Jaroussky, bringing his “seraphic timbre” (Les Echos) to the role of Didymus. Directed with “luminous simplicity” (Artistik Rezo) by Stephen Langridge this powerful and uplifting production transforms its historical story into a “timeless yet terribly current” (France TV Info.com) plea for freedom of conscience and religious tolerance in contemporary society.
Médée
Luigi Cherubini’s most famous opera Médée is based on the universal and timeless tragedy Medea by the Greek poet Euripides. With a mother who exacts revenge for her husband’s betrayal by killing their own children, it is undoubtedly one of the most violent and frigid myths that Antic Greece has left us. French stage director Jean-Yves Ruf chose the original French version of Médéefrom 1797, instead of the more frequently performed Italian translation, to be presented at Dijon Opera. He highlights the libretto through a dark lightened stage set (created by architect and stage designer Laure Pichat), which perfectly fits the gloomy mood of the play. The Dijon Bourgogne Orchestra, under the baton of Nicolas Krüger, performs brilliantly with lyrical and beautiful playing.
Teseo
From the Schlosstheater Neues Palais Potsdam 2004 Handel’s five act opera Teseo was premièred in 1713 at the Queen’s Theatre in London. After flopping with his previous work Il pastor fido Handel tied up to his big success Rinaldo and again created an opera with a heroic subject, sophisticated stagecraft and a big orchestra. In 1947 the opera was rediscovered and staged for the first time after Handel’s death at the Göttinger Händelfestpiele, followed by a production at the Goethe-Theater Bad Lauchstädt and few others. Finally, in 2004 Handel’s jewel of operatic work was performed at the beautiful setting of the Schlosstheater Potsdam under the direction of Axel Köhler. (Sung in Italian)
Intermezzo: La serva padrona
For the 300th anniversary of the birth of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710–1736), the ‘Italian Mozart’, whose music is practically unknown today, the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, which has been devoting itself to the research and performance of Pergolesi’s music for years now, joined forces with UNITEL CLASSICA to record all eight of the master’s stage works on video in HD and 5.1 Surround Sound. A landmark project that will provide many impulses for the rediscovery of this composer’s epoch-making works.
Tutto Pergolesi – Livietta e Tracollo
For the 300th anniversary of the birth of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710–1736), the ‘Italian Mozart’, whose music is practically unknown today, the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, which has been devoting itself to the research and performance of Pergolesi’s music for years now, joined forces with UNITEL CLASSICA to record all eight of the master’s stage works on video in HD and 5.1 Surround Sound. A landmark project that will provide many impulses for the rediscovery of this composer’s epoch-making works.
Arena di Verona Festival 2025: Nabucco
Anna Netrebko stars as Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco, one of opera’s most demanding roles, in a spectacular new production set in the ancient amphitheatre of Verona. Featuring futuristic scenery and striking special effects, this modern staging transforms Verdi’s beloved choral drama into a powerful, immersive experience. Directed and designed by Stefano Poda, the production reimagines the story beyond history, presenting a timeless vision of conflict, unity and hope. “Netrebko manages to shape every sound with intention. A performance that combines charisma and discipline, pathos and control” (Rivista Musica)
Arena di Verona Festival 2023: Tosca
It is an event that attracts thousands of music lovers to Verona every summer: the opera season in the ancient Roman Arena. Nearly 22,000 spectators regularly fill the mphitheater for the performances. The dream couple of opera, Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigòlo, returns to the breathtaking open-air stage, to perform Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca. Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva is “one of the best Toscas currently singing” and Vittorio Grigòlo “the most Italian Cavaradossi we know. With lots of wonderful melting, elegant and nonchalant full of triumphant greatness a triumph all along the line” (Online Merker). The captivating staging by Argentine director Hugo de Ana, who masterfully exploits the amphitheatre’s vast space by placing huge elements on the stage that are reminiscent of or borrowed from the locations of the action, makes the opera a “spectacle of monumental opulence” (Online Merker). “A Tosca to relish!” Artesnews.it