Upcoming at ROH and Glyndebourne 2019
What with everything, I missed the Gen Sale for the return to Wagner at ROH (oh, no!). The Ring Cycle is back this Autumn, with Pappano at the helm. I may look up returns for Stemme’s sake (aka, best intentions). Otherwise, we have the following:
Solomon in concert with Zazzo in the title role
Verdi’s Requiem with Jamie Barton and Stoyanova; sold out at this point
Simon Boranegra… for those of strong Verdi constitution (but where there is Wagner, there is also Verdi and there will be another production for the hardcore Verdians soon; an opera we know and I love to make fun of, because a recent new production at ENO clearly was not enough)
Carmen and Hansel and Gretel for the mezzo-deprived; Dudnikova might be an interesting Carmen, I liked her Principessa de Bouillon.
Winter:
The Queen of Spades = must not forget
Traviata for the casual goer – it’s still the much loved production
Katya Kabanova – I’ll probably go
Così returns but don’t count me in
Insights Masterclass with soprano Angel Blue who’s doing a stint of Traviata this season
Spring:
La forza del destino 😉 yep, that one, in Loy’s vision; with Trebs and the Alvaro of our times
Faust – hm, I might go, see how Damrau is holding up, PLUS it’s got Abrahamyan in her ROH debut (!) as Siebel (let’s all lament the fate of very good mezzos). On the downside, Ettinger conducts.
Billy Budd conducted by Ivon Bolton – the all male cast opera, let’s check it out…
Andrea Chenier – NOT with the Alvaro of our times but with Alagna and Radvanovsky! How can we resist that offer?!
Tosca with Opolais/Grigolo/Terfel but the last show brings Draculette back to her rightful territory so yay for those who care.
Summer:
Boris Godunov still with Terfel but without Ain Anger; so soon? Maybe because they were short of money for a new production…
Carmen, because we’d already missed her, this time with Margaine, and Pisaroni as Escamillo, ha!
Figaro after a couple of seasons, because there are only 3 operas and 1/2 by Mozart; this is the season with Kimchilia Bartoli as Cherubino but also unusually with Gerhaher as Figaro plus Keenlyside as the Count. You know it might actually be worth revisiting and weirdly enough, for the men.
La fille du regiment returns once more, now with Devieilhe, and Camarena will show us his 3283576 high C in a row. Then again, Pido conducts.
In conclusion, some interesting turns but generally a rather meh year ahead for yours truly’s taste.
La damnation de Faust – a Richard Jones production, so it could be much fun
Rusalka – nah
Il barbiere – see below
Die Zauberflote – I’ll have to see it at some point, don’t know that this is that point; however, Agathe, David Portillo is Tamino 😉
Cendrillon – usually a spectacular mezzo-mezzo borefest, now with DeNiese and the ever trouserable Kate Lindsey; I mean, they had to make up for the music…
Rinaldo with DeShong in the title role. A bit of a strange choice IMO, but to be honest I have not heard her live and in Handel to boot. I was proven wrong before.
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Posted on August 6, 2018, in basses, countertenors, glyndebourne, mezzos & contraltos, royal opera house, sopranos, tenors and tagged andrea chenier, antonín dvořák, benjamin britten, billy budd, boris godunov, carmen, cendrillon, charles gounod, cosi fan tutte, die zauberflote, faust, gaetano donizetti, giacomo puccini, gioachino rossini, giuseppe verdi, glyndebourne 2019, handel, hansel and gretel, il barbiere di siviglia, jules massenet, katya kabanova, la damnation de faust, la fille du regiment, la forza del destino, la traviata, le nozze di figaro, modest musorgsky, mozart, rinaldo, royal opera house 2018/19, rusalka, simon boccanegra, solomon, tchaikovsky, the queen of spades, tosca, umberto giordano, verdi requiem. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
opera, innit? 
“Draculette” lollollollol
and she’s not even from Transylvania…!
Iervolino should be seen prowling about on Glyndebourne stage!
she should!
Outraged and devastated that Cherubino is now being usurped by the CTs.
I would not hesitate for DeShong in Rinaldo. She’s not a good actor, but THE VOICE… And a female body in a primo uomo role is becoming a rarity. Whoever’s programming Glyndebourne (I forget?), they understand mezzosexuals.
Cendrillon is being directed by Fiona Shaw, WHO IS AN OUT SISTER, so I’d def run to that.
Love that glam black sopranos are making inroads into the holiest of the white soprano holies, Violetta. Angel Blue looks amazing.
ok, I’ll give DeShong another listen. That’s all good about Shaw but that music! I can’t take it. Though… who knows, there’s one year to go.
Hihi, “the ever trouserable Kate Lindsey”!
About Rinaldo, I still have to chuckle about the train lady “short and stocky” conversation, no idea if Deshong falls into that category. Also, I guess Kimchilia might be forgiven for the fun of it, but just this one time and never again, please!
Right, Portillo’s Tamino should be a good enough excuse to return to the Glyndebourne grounds, should suit him very well!
Otherwise, yes, a bit underwhelming I guess, especially ROH. But if I was near, I’d go and see Walküre with Pappano.
if I have the time and I find a suitable return I will try the Walküre 🙂
I am actually quite curious if they go back to high mezzos with Cherubino after this stint. It’s almost like countertenors are being thrown at random roles, to see what will stick.
if “short and stocky” is now shorthand for powerful and sexy I’m all for it 🙂
What else should it mean, given the context 🤗
About Cherubino, no, I think (hope) people are used to the
mezzo sound and will hopefully value it in comparison.
The Met just announced la Connolly is out of Gotterdammerung, which I think is just as well. Too small a role, too large a hall, etc.
Yeah I wasn’t too wrecked to see that development either.
Well, I was!
😉