News

Douglas Boyd opens the 20/21 season conducting performances of Fidelio for Garsington Opera, where he is Artistic Director: “[Boyd] seemed absolutely in his element, emphatically conveying the heights and depths of the score even in reduced form” (Opera News). The semi-staged production is also recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 26 September. Leading an outstanding cast in the role of Leonore is Katherine Broderick, “by turns deeply affecting and thrilling: Töt’ erst sein Weib is simply electrifying” (The Guardian), who later in the month also broadcasts a recital together with Kathryn Stott (piano) and Guy Johnston (cello) from Hatfield House, who moved online for their 2020 Chamber Music Festival.

Karen Cargill returned to the LSO for Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, opposite Gerald Finley and conducted by Sir Simon Rattle: “Karen Cargill was in stupendous voice as Judith […] chillingly vivid” (The Times, 5*). This concert will be available to watch on YouTube on 25 October 2020.

Kieran Carrel opens the season singing Sohn des Oberbademeisters in Mauricio Kagel Staatstheater for Oper Theater Bonn, where he is a member of the ensemble (in rep until 4 October).

Christian Curnyn makes his debut with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducting a programme of Purcell, Handel and William Boyce.

Sunnyboy Dladla makes his role debut as Tempo in Handel Il trionfo del Tempo, for Staatsoper Hannover, conducted by David Bates.

Robin Johannsen joins the Orchester Camerata Vivaldiana in Arlesheim, Switzerland, for a concert of favourite Handel and Vivaldi choral works and arias.

Barbara Kozelj sings Orphée et Eurydice in concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with the Slowind Music Society conducted by Matej Sarc, before returning to the Residentie Orkest for two performances of Respighi Il Tramonto under Antony Hermus.

Edgaras Montvidas begins the season singing Grigori in Mussorgsky Boris Godunov, in a new Barrie Kosky production conducted by Kirill Karabits for Zurich Opera. In rep until 20 October; also broadcast live on 26 September.

James Newby appeared in concerts marking the opening of the new season at Staatsoper Hannover where he is a member of the ensemble, featuring musical highlights of the coming months from the 20/21 programme.

Mark Padmore gave recitals for the 2020 Mantova Chamber Music Festival “Trame Sonore”, together with pianist with James Baillieu, before travelling later in the month to Norway for a series of concerts and events at Trondheim Chamber Music Festival. He also appears in performance in the new feature film The Man In The Hat, in cinemas from 18 September.

Serena Sáenz returns to Staatsoper Berlin to make her role debut as Zerbinetta Ariadne auf Naxos, in a new production conducted by Thomas Guggeis.

Carolyn Sampson begins the season performing Faure’s Requiem with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, followed by a Wigmore Hall recital of 17^th-century songs together with lutenist Matthew Wadsworth, which will be livestreamed in HD on the Wigmore website, and on BBC Radio 3 (1pm 25 September). She also returns to the recording studio for a new future release on the BIS label.

Jordan de Souza made his house debut for Bayerische Staastoper, Munich, conducting a run of five performances of Die Zauberflöte.

James Way has been filming productions of The Rake’s Progress (Sellem) for Blackheath Concert Halls, and Owen Wingrave (Lechmere) for Grange Park Opera, both for future online release.

Garry Walker,  a concert in Mainz of Schubert and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, where he is Chief Conductor.

Benson Wilson, who begins his first season as an English National Opera Harewood Artist, sings Schaunard La bohème for ENO’s Drive & Live production at Alexandra Palace. The production will be broadcast on Sky Arts later in the autumn.