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. 

L'Elisir d"Amore Review Link

For those wondering what happened to the reviews, my continues to write them but now he writes for Latinos Post. As a Result I will start publishing snippets of the review with the link to the full one. I hope this is not a problem as I am trying to give the best Opera coverage possible. Here is a piece from the L'Elisir d'Amore recently presented at the Met

On Feb. 1, the Metropolitan Opera presented Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore" for the final time in the 2013-14 season. The performance was also the last time that soprano Anna Netrebko will play the heroine Adina for an audience; Netrebko herself made the announcement via social media on Sunday.

The revival of the work featured Bartlett Sher's production that opened the 2012-13 season. This writer attended a performance during the 2012-13 season and wrote an extensive analysis of the production (to read it, click HERE). There is really nothing new to add, except for the fact that it still does not work. Most of the new cast members added their own individual touches (more on that later), but the overall concept and idea of the production is still rather bland. The sets are traditional and mostly handsome, but the action is poorly delivered conceptually. A scene change in the middle of act two is not only awkwardly handled (extras walking onstage and pushing scenery on and off) but also excessively distracting to the action taking place between the main characters. In the final analysis, one is left wondering why the Met removed one traditional production (admittedly with little to say) for another that is equally vapid. Continue Reading 

Don Carlo DVD

Just a few days ago I posted that Sony was planning on Releasing Two new Jonas Kaufmann DVDs and that they were getting there act together. Now it seems like they will be releasing Don Carlo as well. It seems like the company has obtained the rights to all the recent Salzburg performances including this extraordinary performance. The company has yet to announce a Fanciulla del West release but perhaps that could be their future plans. For now it is rumored that Sony also has plans on releasing the new Don Giovanni from Baden Baden so stay tuned for upcoming news.   

Met Future season rumors

With the Met announcing the 2014-15 season in the next two weeks, Met Wiki has provided an updated list of what the season is looking like. A couple of changes from the previous list revealed a number of months ago include Jonas Kaufmann singing Don Jose in Carmen instead of Don Carlos, Anna Netrebko singing Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Zeljko Lucic, Rene Pape and Joseph Calleja. Nathan Gunn has also been added to the cast of the Merry Widow while Eva Maria-Westbroek will perfom the role of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Bryan Hymel has been added to the cast of La Boheme and Piotr Beczala will sing Un Ballo in Maschera instea do Yonghoon Lee. Meanwhile Bryn Terfel Emily Magee and Matthew Polenzani will not sing the revival to Die Meisteringer. A Number of Opera are still missing casts including Die Zauberflote, Hansel and Gretel, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

For the Complete List of Rumors Click Here. And Tell Us what Your xcited for and what you think will be the HDs of the year.

Sony To Release two Jonas Kaufmann DVDs

Sony Classical has decided to release three Jonas Kaufmann products this year. The first of year is his latest solo album entitled Wintrreise. It includes Schubert's famous song cycle.   

The second is the biggest surprise yet. The Ariadne auf Naxos which was acclaimed two years ago will finally get a release. The DVD stars Emily Magee who collaborated with Kaufmann on Tosca and Elena Mosuc. Daniel Harding the Vienna Philharmonic from the Salzburg festival.

The last release which I had already announced is The Met incredible Parisfal with Rene Pape, Peter Mattei, Katarina Dalayman and Evgeny Nikitin. 

With so much content on the way it is likely Sony will also release the Don Carlo from Salzburg and even the latest Fanciulla del West. In Any case lets not get a head of ourselves and enjoy the great news. 

Chicago Lyric Opera 2014-15 Season

The Chicago Lyric Opera has Announced the 2014-15 season with many of operas greatest stars singing at for the company. Among the singers include Mariusz Kwieicien, Renee Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Eric Owens, Denyce Graves, Bryan Hymel and Sondra Radvanovsky.


Full Season

Renee Fleming to Perform at the Suprbowl

Renee Fleming will become the first opera singer to perform the national anthem at the Superbowl. The Superbowl will feature the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks and will be held at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb 2.