Last September I was most excited by Handel oratorios being performed during the 2025-26 season. This time I’m really looking forward to three of the composer’s operas arriving within a few weeks of each other in Spring 2027.

Isn’t it fun to see the Virgin Queen spew out some coloratura?

Eichenholz is much too rare on stage these days.

The mezzo international anthem is so oversung that we forget how hard it is to sing.

Finally, finally, a change to see Massenet‘s Hérodiade, albeit in concert from, though I long for a day when the Met or the Lyric Opera of Chicago would give us a staged performance.

I guess it’s no secret here that I LOVE contemporary operas.

Berlin’s 26-27 season opens with a bang.

I am very much interested in La Scala’s upcoming opening night with Verdi’s Otello.

I’m overdue for some bel canto and WCO has historically done it well.

George Saunders’s unforgettable novel about the greatest sorrow known to humankind—surviving the loss of a child and letting go—work as sung theater by Missy Mazzoli.

Evgeny Titov, locally infamous for his production of Salome where the titular heroine wears a paper mask for the entire performance, returns with Szymanowski’s shimmering King Roger.

There are several HDs that look interesting, but what I most looking forward to is the Manon with Nadine Sierra.

I’m looking forward to the Met’s new production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West.

We will have two Bellinis in new productions, with the best possible casts that can be assembled.

Messiah remains ubiquitous, but several of Handel’s other superb English oratorios will be given enticing performances during the 2025-26 season.

Next season I am looking forward to performances of Andrea Chénier at the Met.

Atlanta Opera’s Götterdämmerung (Stage Direction Tomer Zvulun with set design Erhard Rom).

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino presents John Adams’s The Death of Klinghoffer next May.

Palm Beach Opera has listed its 3 operas for next year — La bohème, The Pearl Fishers, and Rigoletto — but has not listed any casting yet!

Corinne Winters will take on a trio of roles in Puccini’s Trittico in Houston.

I am looking forward to seeing The Greatest Thing Ever as Gounod‘s Juliette, a role I have never seen her in, at the Berlin Staatsoper on 6 November.

I am pretty excited to add coverage of nearby performances while I am getting settled here in Southern California.

Thank you, Leon Botstein, for giving us a chance to hear the Berlioz adaptation of Der Freischütz (or Freyschütz).