Sept/Oct 2011
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen returns to the Semperoper Dresden as Violetta on September 21 and 24 in the A. Homoki production cond. by Alexander Joel, and makes a role and house debut at the Aalto Theater Essen on October 22nd as Olympia in Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann.
Mezzo-soprano Lysianne Tremblay returns to the Vienna Volksoper as Mercedes in Carmen on October 30, Nov 2, 12 and as Page in Salome on October4, 13, 16, 27.
Countertenor Matthew Shaw appears in the revival of Monteverdi's Incoronazione di Poppea at the Semperoper Dresden on 15, 22, 26 and 30 October.
Bass-Baritone Igor Bakan begins his second season in the young ensemble with the Vlaamse Opera and makes his debut as Ivan Sjoeran in Tchaikovsky's Tsjarodejka on October 30th in Gent. Further performances: November 2, 4, 6, 8 in Gent, November 16, 18, 20, 23 and 26 in Antwerp.
Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer has begun her 2nd season as part of the ensemble of Nationaltheater Weimar. The young Austrian soprano makes her debut Spinto Tenor Roy Cornelius Smith returns to New Orleans Opera for performances of Puccini's Turandot on October 15.
Israeli soprano Elinor Sohn begins the season as a member of the Opera Studio of Staatsoper Stuttgart. Ms. Sohn will be heard this season as Fekluscha (Katja Kabanova) and Euridice II (Orphée et Euridice), and will also be covering Alcina, Contessa, and Agathe in the mainstage productions.
Romanian mezzo Ileana Mateescu begins her contract as part of the ensemble at Theater Dortmund, and will be heard in the role of Giuliano in Cavalli's Eliogabalo premiering on October 9th. Additional performances: 15, 21 October, November 4, 16 and December 9, 15. As the 1st Prize winner of the Hilde Zadek Singing Competition in April 2011, Ms. Mateescu will give a recital at the Austrian Consulate in Istanbul on October 27.
Soprano Iulia Maria Dan and tenor Andrew Owens begin their first season as members of the Opera Studio of the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich.
Croatian bass Marko Mimica begins his first season as the recipient of the at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He makes his debut as Angelotti on September 30.
Soprano Chiara Skerath makes her debut with the Opera Royale de Wallonie Lieges as Barbarina on October 21. Additional performances: Oct 23, 25, 27, 29.
Bass Sung-Heon Ha joins the ensemble of Nationaltheater Mannheim.
Mezzo Chrysanthi Spitadi joins the ensemble of the Theater Thüringen and will make her debut with Marcellina in Rossini's Barbiere di Siviglia on October 2. She will also be heard as Carmen on the 25th and 27th November.
Soprano Julia von Landsberg goes on tour with Nico and the Navigators in a staged production of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle to the Kunstfestival Weimar at Theater Erfurt (2. and 3 September) and at the Radialsystem in Berlin (16., 18. and 20. November)for further information: www.navigators.de/index.php?id=234
June 2011
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen makes her Garsington Opera debut as Fiorilla in Rossini's Il turco in Italia. Premiere: June 3, further performances: June 6, 13, 18, 24, 28 and July 3.
Mezzo-soprano Anna Peshes sings a last additional performance of the role of Marfa in Mussorgski's Chowantschtschina on June 19 with the Anhaltischen Theater Dessau.
Countertenor Matthew Shaw makes his role debut as Tolomeo in Händel's Giulio Cesare with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein on June 25 and 30. Additional performances take place on July 9 and 15 in Duisburg.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan appears as Il Tempo/Antinoo in Monteverdi's Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria with the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp on June 3 and 5.
Tenor Roy Cornelius Smith returns to the Deutsche Oper Berlin as Calaf in Puccini's Turandot with performances on June 1, 4, 11, 18.
May 2011
Greek countertenor Nicholas Spanos appears as the guest-soloist at the opening of the international charity event Life Ball 2011 and is heard in an arrangement of the Händel aria Or la Tromba in suon Festante.
Mezzo-soprano Anna Peshes debuts on May 7 (Premiere) at the Anhaltischen Theater Dessau as Marfa in the Weimar co-production of Schostakowitsch's version of Mussorgski's Khowanschtschina; additional performances: May 21 and June 2 and 19. Rehearsal excerpts are available for viewing: http://chowa.de/
Tenor Xavier Cortés performs the role of Gennaro in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia on May 7 with Oper Halle.
Bassbariton Igor Bakan debuts as Il Tempo/Antinoo in Monteverdi's Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria. Premiere at the Vlaamse Opera in Gent: May 13. Additional performances: May 15, 17, 19 and 21 and at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp: Premiere May 26 with further performances on May 27, 29, 31 and June 5.
On May 8 tenor Saimir Pirgu appears as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata at Opernhaus Zürich under the direction of Carlo Rizzi.
Croatian bass Marko Mimica won 3rd Prize at the FerrucioTagliavini Competition in Deutschlandsberg, Austria.
On May 5 and 26 tenor David Ho-Chul Lee sings Tamino in a children's version of the Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Nationaltheater Mannheim, as well as Isépo in Gioconda on May 8, 11, and 21. He will also appear as Gastone in LaTraviata on May 13, Edlen in Wagner's Lohengrin on May 14 and 22, and as the Judge in Verdi's Ballo in Maschera on June 23.
Austrian soprano Elisabeth Wimmer will be heard on May 1 and 22 as Valencienne in Lehár's Die lustige Witwe with the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, and on May 14 also in Weimar as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. On May 8, Ms. Wimmer appears as the soprano soloist at the Augustiner Church in Vienna with Haydn's Theresienmesse.
Soprano Brigitta Simon and mezzo-soprano Hagar Sharvit have been accepted to the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo at the prestigious Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia for the 2011. season.
On May 6, 9, and 26 tenor Timothy Oliver appears as Valetto and the Second Soldier in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Semperoper Dresden. The tenor will also be heard on May 7, 8, 11, and 14 as Monostatos in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. On May 21 the artist also appears as Fritz in Die Großherzogin aus Gérolstein and May 25 as Graf Panatellas in La Perichole, both shows taking place at the Staatsoperette Dresden.
Mezzo-soprano Lysianne Tremblay debuts as Eponine in Les Miserables at the Landestheater InnsbruckPremiere: May 14 with additional performances: May 22, 26, 28, 30
Swiss soprano Chiara Skerath makes 2 role debuts with Oper Klosterneuberg in Vienna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro as Susanna (13, 22, 30 July) and Barbarina (July 10, 12 (Benefit concert), 15, 20, 23, 27, 29 and August 2.
April 2011
Countertenor Matthew Shaw makes his debut at the Semperoper Dresden as Ottone in a new production of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea on Saturday April 2nd. Additional performances: April 5, 9, 12, 15 and May 6, 9, 26. Shaw will also be heard in the same role at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden on April 6 and 20.
Tenor Xavier Cortes makes his debut as Gennaro in Oper Halle's new production of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia on April 2. Additional performances: April 8, 13, 17, 22.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan debuts as the Einaügige in R. Strauss' Die Frau Ohne Schatten under the direction of Alexander Joel with the Vlaamse Opera in Gent on April 7. Additional performances: April 9, 13, 17, 27, 30, and May 3, 6, 8 and 11.
Mezzo Chrysanthi Spitadi returns to the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden as Federica in Verdi's Luisa Miller on April 8 and 21.
On April 14, Soprano Rebecca Nelsen stars as the soprano solo in a staged production of Leonard Bernstein's Mass with the Neue Oper Wien - Theater an der Wien co-production at the Semperdepot as part of the Osterklang Festival in Vienna.
Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer sings the soprano solo of J.S. Bach's Johannespassion at the Minoritenkirche in Linz on Sunday April 10 and the Piccolomini Messe of W.A.Mozart at the Augustiner Kirche in Vienna on 17 April.
Bass Sung Heon-Ha will join the ensemble of Nationaltheater Mannheim for the 2011/12 season.
March 2011
Sono Artists has added American baritone Jonathan Beyer to the roster for European management. Mr. Beyer is a winner of the 2011 George London Foundation Award: New York Times Article
Bass Marko Mimica and tenor Andrew Owens have been invited to participate in the 2011 Young Singers Project at the Salzburg Festival. Mr Mimica will participate in the Scholarship Program of the Deutsche Oper Berlin for the 2011/12 season, and Mr. Owens will join the Opera Studio of the Bavarian State Opera for the 2011/12 season.
Soprano Csilla Boross makes her debut at the Teatro Comunale Modena as Lady Macbeth on March 4, 2011. Further performances: March 11 at the Teatro Comunale Bolzano and March 20 at the Fondazione Toscanini in Piacenza.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen will perform the role of Blondchen in Mozart's Entführung aus dem Serail at the Arts Center of Sulaimania in IRAK with Oper Koeln on March 5 and 7.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan sings the role of Vittelius with the Vlaamse Opera on March 2, 5 and 8.
Young mezzo-soprano Hagar Sharvit has been invited to participate in the prestigious Lied Akademie of Thomas Hampson as part of the Heidelberger Frühling from March 16 - 27 2011.
Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer appears as the Fünfte Magd in Strauss' Elektra at the Deutschen Nationaltheater Weimar (9.3.), Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni (17.3.) and Gretchen in Lortzing's Wildschütz (19.3.). The soprano will also be heard on March 6 in a concert for organ and soprano in the Radiokulturhaus in Vienna.
Countertenor Matthew Shaw appears on the 11, 24, and 28 of March his last performances of Ottone in in Stattstheater Wiesbaden's production of Monteverdi's L'incoroanzione di Poppea.
Young bass Sung-Heon Ha appears as Basilio in Rossini's Barber of Seville on the 2nd, 4th and 24 March with Theater Regensburg.
January 2011
For the 3rd consecutive year, Sono Artists spent 4 incredible days with the IMZ (International Music and Media Center: www.imz.at) at the MIDEM in Cannes. The IMZ is the platform for music and dance in the audiovisual media. Its members include international broadcasters, film producers, distributers, labels, publishers, presenters, artist managers, educational institutions, and more. For a clearer picture of their activities, check them out on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IMZMedia?ref=ts
Sono wishes all a healthy, prosperous and peaceful 2011!
Tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz sings the title role of Massenet's Werther at the Opera de Lyon in a production directed by Rolando Villazon. Premiere: Jan 24. Additional performances: 26, 28, 30 January. Mr. Chacón-Cruz is the featured artist ''portrait'' in the Jan 2011 edition of Germany's Opernglas magazine.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen appears at Gretel at the Vienna Volksoper on Jan 3 and makes her role debut as Marzellina in Beethoven's Fidelio at the Teatro Communale Bolzano on Jan 11 and 13. Ms. Nelsen also made her Oper Köln debut as Blondchen in December 2010 jumping in with 24 hours notice.
Soprano Csilla Boross appears as Violetta at the Janacek Theater Brno on Jan 12. Further appearances: Elettra in Idomeneo at the National Theater Prague on Jan 23 and 25.
Countertenor Matthew Shaw continues performances of Ottone in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea with the Hessisches Staattheater Wiesbaden on Jan 4 and 29.
On January 22 and 24 young tenor Jorge Garza appears at the Vienna Burgtheater in the revival of Ready Made Opera Mea Culpa of late director Christoph Schlingensief.
Tenor David Lee is heard as Gastone in La Traviata on January 8 in Fuerth (Gastspiel of the Nationaltheater Mannheim) at the Nationaltheater Mannheim on Jan 9 and 19 in Spalanzani in Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, and on the 13, 30 January as Pang in Turandot.
Mezzo-soprano Chrysanthi Spitadi appears as Federica in Luisa Miller at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden,
Chrysanthi Spitadi and bass Marko Mimica were 2 of 6 contestants chosen for the Emmerich Smola Competition 2011 which will take place on Saturday Jan 22 at the Jugendstil-Festhalle in Landau, Germany.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan appears as Oroe in Rossini's Semiramide with the Vlaamse Oper: Jan 8,11,14,16,19
Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer makes her role debut as Gretchen in Lortzing's Der Wildschütz on Sunday, January 9
Csilla Boross as Violetta at the Teatro Verdi Trieste in November 2010:
December 2010
Concert Agency Vita e Voce and sono artists (co-producer) present Verdi's La Traviata concertante at the Philharmonie am Gasteig in Munich on Dec 11 and 18 and at the Vienna Musikverein on December 21, all performances conducted by Marco Armiliato. Cast includes: Edita Gruberova, Pavol Breslik, Paolo Gavanelli, Kurt Rydl, Marie McClaughlin.
Soprano Csilla Boross makes her USA debut as Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco with Palm Beach Opera on December 11 and 13.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu stars as Don Ottavio in the new Martinoti production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Vienna State Opera on December 11. Additional performances: 14, 17, 20, 23, 27 December
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen appears as Gretel in the revival of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel at the Vienna Volksoper on December 23, 25, 29.
Elisabeth Wimmer sings the soprano solo alongside Robert Holl in Saint-Saens' Oratorio de Noel in the Großen Saal of the Vienna Musikverein with the Vienna Jeunesse Orchester under the direction of Alois Glaßner.
Mezzo Lysianne Tremblay is Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola at the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck on December 19.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan makes his debut as Oroe in Rossini's Semiramide under the direction of Alberto Zedda with the Vlaamse Oper on December 12. Further performances: 14, 17, 19, 22, 26 December
Countertenor Matthew Shaw again sings performances of Ottone in Monteverdi's Incoronazione di Poppeawith the Hessischen Staatstheater Wiesbaden and is also heard as the alto soloist in performances of the Händel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall with Musica Sacra and the Oratorio Society of New York on December 20, 21, 22.
Tenor Javier Cortes makes his Germany debut as Rodolfo in La Boheme on December 5 with Oper Halle.
Tenor David Lee sings Conte Almaviva in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Nationaltheater Mannheim on December 3.
On December 14, mezzo Chrysanthi Spitadi appears as Federica again in Verdi's Luisa Miller at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden.
Matthew Shaw as Ottone in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden:
© Martin Kaufhold
November 2010
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen makes her US debut as a guest soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Manfred Honeck on November 26 and 28 and will perform arias by Johann Strauss and Franz Lehar.
Baritone Sinisa Hapac appears at the Croatian National Theater as Michele in Puccini's Il Tabarro
Soprano Csilla Boross makes her Italian debut at the Teatro Verdi Trieste on November 17. Further appearances: November 20 and December 4 in Udine. The artist also appears as Cio-cio-san at the Janacek Theater in Brno on November 1, and on November 24 appears as Fiordiligi at the Estates Theater in Prague.
Countertentor Matthew Shaw debuts as Ottone in Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea with the Hessisches Theater Wiesbaden on November 28 at 6pm. Further performances, Dec 4, 11
Lysianne Tremblay appears in the title role of Rossini's Cenerentola at the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck in a new production premiere on November 7. Additional performances: 21 November. She will also be heard as Bersi in Andrea Chenier at the Tiroler Landestheater on November 26.
Mezzo-soprano Chrysanthi Spitadi appears as Federica in Luisa Miller at the Hessisches Theater Wiesbaden on November 3 and 14.
Viennese Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer will be heard in Linz in the Mozart Requiem on November 4, Mendelssohn's Elias on Nov 7 in Husum, Germany, and on Nov 12 sings the premiere of Lortzing's Wildschütz as Gretchen at the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar. Further performances: Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) Weimar on Nov 27.
Elisabeth Wimmer as Susanna at the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar:
September 2010
Countertenor Matthew Shaw makes his debut in the role of Athamas in Handel's Semele at Vienna's Theater an der Wien alongside Cecilia Bartoli with Les Arts Florissantes, cond. William Christie. Performances: Sept 15, 17, 19, 21.
Mezzo Chrysanthi Spitadi debuts in Germany at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden in a new production of Verdi's Luisa Miller on September 9.
On Sept 25 soprano Csilla Boross appears as the soprano soloist in Janacek's Glagolitic Mass in Olomouc.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen returns to the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro on Sept 11
Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer makes her Nationaltheater Weimar debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro on Sept 25 and begins her ensemble contract for the 2010/11 season.
Sono artists is accepting materials for young dramatic tenors and dramatic sopranos with experience only to be considered for auditions. Please write to: office@sonoartistsconsulting.com. Please do NOT send soundfiles over 3MB!
July/August 2010
The 3rd Schloss Laudon Festival Vienna featuring the aron quartett and guests opens on August 16, 2010. For more information: www.schlosslaudonfestival.at
Music Curator and producer Michael Haas opens his most recent exhibition at the Jewish Museum Vienna on composer Ernst Toch on June 23. The exhibition runs through October 31, 2010.
sono extends heartfelt congratulations to all singers who won the 29th Hans Gabor Belvedere International Singing Competition in early July!
sono artists who competed in the competition:
- Alon Harari, countertenor (Semi-Finalist)
- Marko Spehar, bass (Semi-Finalist)
- Marko Mimica, bass (Semi-Finalist)
Soprano Csilla Boross will appear in Regensburg as Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco on 16 and 17 July and 24 July in Locket, CZ.
Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz sings Mahler's Das Klagende Lied in Mexico City with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria on July 8,10,11 2010
Countertenor Matthew Shaw sings the Israeli Messenger/Priest in Händel's Judas Maccabaeus at the Berkshire Choral Festival on July 17.
Roy Cornelius Smith makes a role debut as Pollione in Bellini's Norma at the Chatauqua Festival on July 17, and in August is heard as Calaf in Puccini's Turandot in Seoul under the baton of Lorin Maazel.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu appears at the Ravinia Festival as Ferrando in a concert performance of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte under the baton of James Conlon on August 5th with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen will appear in a concert of the Schloss Laudon Festival with songs of Walter Arlen accompanied by the renowed pianist Henri Sigfridsson on August 17, 2010.
sono announces the following contracts for its young singers from the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna:
- Soprano Brigitta Simon appears as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni under the baton of Niels Muus with the Steyr Festival in Austria in July and August
- Soprano Elisabeth Wimmer joins the ensemble at the Nationaltheater Weimar beginning September 2010.
- Mezzo Chrysanthi Spitadi appears as a guest at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden in September 2010 in the role of Federica in a new production of Verdi's Luisa Miller. She also appears this summer in the title role of Carmen with Oper Klosterneuberg in July and August.
June 2010
Countertenor Matthew Shaw performs the title role of Giulio Cesare with Oper Kiel on June 10. Matthew appears on the Journal cover of this month's Orpheus Magazine in Germany, and speaks about his career in an interview: http://www.orpheusoper.de/pdf/Journal.pdf
Roy Cornelius Smith appears as Calaf at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on June 5.
Arturo Chacon-Cruz appears as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata under the baton of Lorin Maazel on June 1, 3, and 6 at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Soprano Csilla Boross appears as Elettra in Idomeneo at the National Theater Prague on June 5, 29. She will also be heard as Tosca at the Festival Litomysl on June 24.
Soprano Justine Viani sings Salome on June 18, 22 at Theater Heidelberg.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu appears at the Farewell Gala of Ioan Holender at the Vienna State Opera on June 26.
May 2010
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan appears at Opernhaus Zurich in Schrecker's Der Ferne Klang on May 13, 20, 22 and June 2, 6, 9.
Csilla Boross makes her debut on May 6 as Elettra in a new production of Mozart's Idomeneo directed by Yoshi Oida at the National Theater of Prague. Further performances: 9, 13, 16 May; 5, 29 June. Boross will also sing Abigail in Verdi's Nabucco in Brno on May 30.
Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz performs the role of Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto with Opera Florentine of Milwaukee on May 21, 22, 23.
Saimir Pirgu returns to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata on May 11. Further performances: May 14, 19, 21, 24.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen returns to the Semperoper Dresden as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata on May 24, 26, 29.
April 2010
Countertenor Matthew Shaw to take over performances of Endimione in La Calisto at the Grand Théâtre de Genève on April 18, 20, 22, 26, 28
Interview with tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz - Associated Content by Smorg
Tenor David Ho-Chul Lee and bass-baritone Igor Bakan are 2 out of 20 candidates selected for the 1st Savonlinna International Singing Competition, to take place from July 20-25, 2010.
Soprano Nadine Koutcher will compete in Placido Domingo's Operalia 2010 in Milan from April 22-May 2.
Hungarian soprano Csilla Boross receives the prestigious Thalia Award for 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNuru-PCeD0&NR=1 This month she will also be heard as Fiordiligi at the National Theater Prague and as Tatiana in Eugene Onegin in Brno.
On April 10, soprano Justine Viani makes her debut at Theater Heidelberg in the title role of Salome, conducted by Cornelius Meister. Click this link for the sensational reviews (only available in German for the moment)
Justine Viani as Salome
Baritone Peter Mazalan will join the Opera Studio of the Bayerische Staatsoper for the 2010/11 season.
Tenor Brandon McReynolds sings Alfredo in La Traviata at Volktheater Rostock on April 3 and 3 performances of Mozart's Mass in C minor on April 17, 18 and 19.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu sings in a gala concert at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on April 8. Cond. P. Fourniller. Pirgu will also appear on April 15, 16, 17 at Santa Cecilia as Rinuccio in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi cond. by V. Jurowski.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan will sing the role of Totengräber in the IOS Opernhaus Zurich production of Offenbach's Blaubart on April 22, 24, 27, 30 and May 2, 6, 9. He will also make his Figaro debut in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at Staatstheater Darmstadt in September 2010.
Tenor Gustavo Porta sings the role of Faust in Boito's Mefistofele at the Opéra de Montpellier on April 29.
Soprano Alexandra Reinprecht sings Adina in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore at the Wiener Staatsoper on April 14.
March 2010
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan will join the ensemble of the Der Vlaamse Opera for the 2010/11 season and will be heard as Oroe in Rossini's Semiramide, Vittelius in Massenet's Herodiade, Einäugige in Strauss' Frau Ohne Schatten, Monteverdi's Il Ritorno d'Ulysse in Patria, and Il Re (cover) in Aida.
Tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz will appear as the Duke of Mantua in a new production of Verdi's Rigoletto at the Opera Royale de Wallonie in Lièges: Performance dates: March 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and April 3 (Charleroi) and 9 (Heerlen, Netherlands). www.arturochaconcruz.com
Soprano Nadine Koutcher was invited to participate Placido Domingo's Operalia Competition in Milan from April 25 - May 2, 2010
Baritone Peter Mazalan will participate in the prestigious Académie of the Aix-En-Provence Festival in Summer 2010.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen stars as Julia de Weert in Eduard Künneke's Der Vetter aus Dingsda at the Vienna Volksoper. Performance dates: March 19, 22 and April 31.
Saimir Pirgu appears in Ancona as Don Ottavio at the Teatro delle Muse on March 19 and 21, under the baton of Asher Fisch.
Countertenor Matthew Shaw will appear for a guest performance with Oper Kiel in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare on June 10.
The 3rd Kammermusikfestival Schloss Laudon presented by Vienna's aron quartett will take place from 16-22 August, 2010. Rebecca Nelsen is featured as a guest on one of the evenings. Tickets can now be reserved. More information at: www.schlosslaudonfestival.at
February
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan sings the role of Pfleger des Orest and Orest (cover) (Elektra) at the Teatro Comunale di Ferrara conducted by Gustav Kuhn on 13, 14 February.
Soprano Csilla Boross appears as Tatiana (Eugene Onegin) in Brno on Feb 4 and Fiordigli (Cosi Fan Tutte) at the National Theater in Prague on Feb 9. She will also be heard in the title role of Aida in Brno on February 13.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu celebrates great success in his role debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Hamburg State Opera. Last performances: Feb 2& 6. Pirgu will also appear in the title role of Idomeneo at Opernhaus Zurich under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt on Saturday Feb 20, 23, 25, 28 and March 2,4 and 7.
Matthew Shaw makes spectacular debut as Giulio Cesare at Theater Dortmund:
Review - Ruhr Nachrichten (german)
Interview with Matthew Shaw (in german)
January 2010
The Sono Team wishes everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!!
Tenor David Ho-Chul Lee is one of 6 contestants chosen to compete in the Emmerich Smola Competition in Landau, Germany on January 16, 2010. More information: http://www.swr.de/musikdebuet
Countertenor Matthew Shaw makes his premiere in the title role of Giulio Cesare at Theater Dortmund on January 31.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu makes a role debut as Edgardo in Lucia de Lammermoor at Staatsoper Hamburg on January 17. Further appearances: Jan 20, 23, 27, 30 Feb 2, 6
Baritone Davide Damiani appears as Lescaut in Puccini's Manon Lescaut at Teatro La Fenice in Venice on Jan 30 and Feb 3.
Soprano Csilla Boross makes her debut in the title role of Aida at the National Theater in Brno (new production) on January 22 and as Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte on Jan 25 at the National Theater in Prague.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen appears at the Semperoper Dresden as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) on January 17, 19, 25 and makes a role debut there as Blonde (Entführung aus dem Serail) on January 7. Further performances as Blonde: January 9, 11
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan sings the role of Pfleger des Orest and Orest (cover) (Elektra) at the Teatro Comunale Bolzano conducted by Gustav Kuhn. Premiere: January 15 at 8pm. Additional performances: Jan 16 more information http://www.ntbz.net/13v2295d2324.html
December 2009
Tenor Carlo Ventre appears at the New Theater of Toyko as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca. Performances: 2, 5, 8, 11, 13 December 2009.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen to take over all performances of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Semperoper Dresden in January 2010: 17, 19 and 25 at 7pm.
Soprano Nadine Koutcher jumps in for an indisposed colleague to sing a performance of Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata at the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg.
Josef Fuchs, associate manager at sono, makes his Theater an der Wien debut in the role of Cavaliero in Haydn's Il Mondo della Luna, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt in a new production by Tobias Moretti. The production will be released on DVD.
November 2009
Saimir Pirgu makes his Metropolitan Opera debut on November 20 in the role of Rinuccio in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. Additional performances: November 25, 28 & December 1, 5, 9, 12
Roy Cornelius Smith sings the lead role of Haman in Hugo Weisgall's Esther in New York City Opera's season opening production on November 7. Cond. George Manahan. Additional performances: 13, 15, 17, 19
Countertenor Matthew Shaw will star in the title role of Giulio Caesare in a new production directed by Lukas Hemleb at Theater Dortmund. Premiere: Jan 31, 2010
October 2009
Saimir Pirgu is a sensation in the new film of Puccini's La Boheme produced by Swiss TV in Bern. The commercial release of the DVD is expected in 2010.
Soprano Rebecca Nelsen takes over the premiere of Verdi's La Traviata as Violetta on October 4th in a new production of Andreas Homoki at the Semperoper under the baton of Fabio Luisi.
''At least the audience got lucky with the Violetta of Rebecca Nelsen. ....she quickly overwhelmed with her dreamlike security and captivating piani.'' Roberto Becker - Neues Deutschland 17 October 2009
Ms. Nelsen also makes her Semperoper role debut as Susanna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro on October 26. Additional performances: October 30 & Nov. 7, 12
Tenor David Ho-Chul Lee is one of 6 singers chosen to compete for the next Emmerich Smola Förderpreis. The Musik-Debut competition will take place January 16, 2010. For more information:
Carlo Ventre celebrated success in the role of San-Lui in the premiere of Leoni's L'Oracolo (new production) and Roberto in Puccini's Le Villi at the Frankfurt Opera on October 4. Additional performances: 8, 11, 17, 29, 31 & November 5, 8, 19
September 2009
Tenor Saimir Pirgu will sing his first Rodolfo in a live transmission on Swiss Television on September 29, a production to take place in Bern. The production will also be broadcast on ARTE.
Rebecca Nelsen makes her La Fenice debut on September 11 and appears as Violetta alongside Vittorio Grigolo's Alfredo in the Robert Carsen revival on September 11. Further performances for the soprano are September 15, 17, 19.
Lyric Tenor Ho-Chul Lee begins his two-year ensemble contract at Nationaltheater Mannheim.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan begins his one-year contract at the IOS at Opernhaus Zurich. Bakan will also sing 8 performances of Pfleger des Orest and Orest (cover) in Elektra under the baton of Gustav Kuhn in Bolzano, Modena, Piacenza and Ferrara in January and February 2010.
American tenor Brandon McReynolds makes his European debut as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Volkstheater Rostock Germany. Performance dates: 26 Sept (premiere), 1- 9- 30 Oct, 28 Nov, 3-16 Dec, 10-20 Jan 2010, 6 Mar 2010.
July 2009
Tenor Carlo Ventre returns to the Arena di Verona to sing performances of Radames in Aida on July 12, 16, 22, 26, 28, and 31.
American soprano Rebecca Nelsen makes her La Fenice debut as Violetta in the Robert Carsen revival of La Traviata in Venice on September 15, 2009. Additional performances: Sept. 17 & 19. Ms. Nelsen will also appear in this role at the Semperoper Dresden this year under the baton of Fabio Luisi, and as Blonde and Susanna at the Semperoper in 2009/2010.
American tenor Brandon McReynolds makes his European debut as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Volkstheater Rostock Germany. Performance dates: 26 Sept (premiere), 1- 9- 30 Oct, 28 Nov, 3-16 Dec, 10-20 Jan 2010, 6 Mar 2010.
Tenor Saimir Pirgu made a sensational debut at the Santa Fe Opera as Alfredo in a Laurent Pelly production of Verdi's La Traviata opposite Natalie Dessay on July 3, 2009:
The Hanns Eisler exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Vienna, curated by music producer Michael Haas, is extended through September 2009.
June 2009
Carlo Ventre celebrates great success as Cavaradossi at the San Francisco Opera in Tosca. The June 5th performance was transmitted live into the AT&T Baseball Stadium in San Francisco in front of an audience of 27,000 people.
Ventre as Cavaradossi in the San Francisco Opera production(photo: Terrence McCarthy)
"As Mario Cavaradossi, her artist-rebel of a lover, tenor Carlo Ventre was the cast's most eruptive singer, tender then lusty, with a generic heart-throb edge to the lustiness. His voice is well-oiled and secure, and he let it rip." - San Jose Mercury News
"He [Ventre] caught a few deserved ovations, what with an elegant, burnished tenor which shone in e lucevan le stelle." - SFist
"As her lover, the fiery political activist and painter of religious art Mario Cavaradossi, tenor Carlo Ventri also lent a sturdy and sometimes beautiful sound to his performance. His gorgeous handling of the beloved solo in Act III, "E lucevan le stelle...." - Bay Area Reporter
"Cavaradossi is played by Carlo Ventre, who sings the part with a rugged lyric spinto, and delivers his top notes with a lushly broad, bronze tone. He excelled in his "E lucevan le stelle," but perhaps was even better in the arioso that follow, "O dolci mani."- The Opera Critic
May 2009
Music producer and curator Michael Haas is awarded the Theodor Koerner Prize for his work as curator of the exhibition, "Hanns Eisler: Individualist and collectivist" at the Jewish Museum Vienna, which runs through July 12, 2009. The City of Vienna's Theodor Koerner Prize for advancement of Arts and Sciences is a significant recognition of achievement in the arts and sciences in Austria.
The internationally renowned aron quartett and Frau Mag. Renate Brauner, Vice-Mayor of the City of Vienna, will open the 2nd Schloss Laudon Chamber Music Festival in Vienna, Austria on August 18, 2009. The 4-concert festival includes works by emigre composers from England and the Soviet Union such as Joseph Horowitz, Vilem Tausky, Mieczyslaw Weinberg, and Dmitri Schostakowitsch. Joseph Haydn, Bohuslav Martinu, Kurt Weill, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold are also on the program.
Bass-baritone Igor Bakan joins the IOS at Opernhaus Zurich for the 2009/2010 season. Mr. Bakan was also invited to participate in Placido Domingo's 17th Operalia competition this summer in Budapest.
Tenor Gianluca Terranova makes his debut as Tonio in La Fille du Regiment at the Teatro Verdi Trieste on May 9, 2009.
Tenor Carlo Ventre made his successful return to the San Francisco Opera as Cavaradossi in Tosca at on June 2, 2009. On Remaining performances: June 5, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26
Tenor Roy Cornelius Smith will make his Deutsche Oper Berlin debut as Calaf on June 29, 2009.
Lyric tenor Ho-Chul Lee jumps in as Malcolm in Macbeth at Staatstheater Mannheim in June 2009, and in September will begin a 2-year contract as an ensemble member of the Staatstheater Mannheim.