Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann To Reunite for Manon Lescaut

While the season has yet to be announced, a recent rumor is confirming that Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann are set to sing a new production of Manon Lescaut at the Bayerische Staatsoper. The rumor has been circulating for a number of months.

The rumors also stated that Diana Damrau will return to the Staatsoper for a new production of Lucia Di Lammermoor and will sing alongside Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja.

The Bayerische Staatsoper is scheduled to release their season in March. 

Revival of Macbeth for 2014-15 season

La Cieca is reporting that  the 2014-2015 Met season will include a revival of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Anna Netrebko with Joseph Calleja and René Pape. However there is no baritone announced. From the looks of it, it may Dimitri Hvorostovsky or Zeljko Lucic. Of course it could also be Simon Keenlyside, George Gagnidze, or Thomas Hampson. So these are only a few options. Tell us who you want to see alongside this stellar cast.
Update: It looks like teh eventual Macbeth will Be Lucic reprising the role he sang at the premiere of the production. What do you link of the Met's casting 

Notable CD and DVD Releases for the Month of October

The Month of October sees the releases of classic gems and new CDs from two of the best in tenors of today. 

Kasper Holten's production of Eugene Onegin may have been received with bad criticism, but Opus Arte will release the new production. The Royal Opera House has lined up an incredible cast that includes Simon Keenlyside, Krassimira Stoyanova, and Pavol Breslik.  

A New Simon Boccanegra

Kristine Opolais has recently posted a picture to her new recording of Simon Boccanegra with Thomas Hampson and Joseph Calleja. The recording is slated for a September release on Decca Classics. 

Damrau's Lucia Live Stream

Diana Damrau's famous Lucia di Lamermoor will be live stream on sonostream from Munich. The opera will also star Joseph Calleja and Ludic Tezier and will be conducted by Jose Lopez Cobos.  For more information on the live stream click here.

Anna Netrebko To Record War Requiem

Anna Netrebko confirmed that she is recording Britten's War Requiem with Antonio Pappano. According to the Anna netrebko blog she told a fan while she exited the the Baden Baden performances of Don Giovanni

Thomas Hampson also confirmed that his latest Simon Boccanegra performances with Kristine Opolais and Jpseph Calleja would be recorded for DECCA and released next year.

Faust Met Opera 2014-2015 Performances cancelled

The planned revival of Faust at the Met in the fall of 2014 has been canceled, because  according to La Cieca/Parterre sources, Netrebko did not feel like singing the production currently at the Met. As a result the company has under contract Anna Netrebko, Joseph Calleja, Artur Rucinski and René Pape for eight performances or so during that time.  

Now that the company has these artists what do you think they should perform? 

The 2013-2014 Lyric Opera of Chicago Season Announced

The Chicago Opera has announced their new season with Anna Maria Martinez (Rusalka, Otello), Jonas Kaufmann (Gala Concert), Joyce Didonato (La Clemenza di Tito), Joseph Calleja (La Traviata) and Johan Botha (Otello) leading an all star season. Falk Struckmann (Otello), Brandon Jovanovich (Rusalka), Isabel Leonard, Nathan Gunn (Barber of Seville) and Thomas Hampson (Parsifal) will also take part in the season.