Spain Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Gran Teatro del Liceu Coro, Orquesta Sinfónica / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Teatre Liceu, Barcelona, 4 & 9.10.2026. (JMI)
Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczała excel in an otherwise tedious Aida in Barcelona
José Irurzun
Sondra Radvanovsky’s Manon Lescaut is the main attraction at Teatro Real
Spain Puccini, Manon Lescaut: Soloists, Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Nicola Luisotti (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 6.10.2026. (JMI)
Valencia’s Carmen is musically rewarding but boringly staged
Spain Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Escola Coral Veus Juntes (chorus mistresses – Marta Mármol, Roser Gabaldó), Escolania de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (chorus master – Luis Garrido), Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana (chorus master – Jordi Blanch), Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana / Michele Spotti (conductor). Palau de Les Arts, Valencia, 7.10.2026. (JMI)
Luca Salsi and Ambrogio Maestri are both excellent in Barcelona’s season-ending Falstaff
Spain Verdi, Falstaff: Chorus and Orchestra of Gran Teatro del Liceu / Josep Pons (conductor). Teatre Liceu, Barcelona, 18 & 19.7.2026. (JMI)
Piotr Beczała is a Manrico to remember in Madrid’s Il trovatore
Spain Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / François López Ferrer and Nicola Luisotti (conductors). Teatro Real, Madrid, 15, 16 & 17.7.2026. (JMI)
A great triumph by Nadine Sierra as Juliette at the Teatro Real
Spain Gounod, Roméo et Juliette: Soloists, Dancers, Teatro Real Chorus, Teatro Real Orchestra / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 9 and 10.6.2026. (JMI)
Xabier Anduaga makes a triumphant debut as Werther in Barcelona
Spain Massenet, Werther: Soloists, Cor Vivaldi – Little Singers of Catalonia (conductor: Pilar Paredes), Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra / Henrik Nanasi (conductor). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 10.5.2026. (JMI)
James Gaffigan leads an excellent performance of Richard Strauss’s Salome in Valencia
Spain R. Strauss, Salome: Soloists, Orchestra Comunitat Valenciana / James Gaffigan (conductor). Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, 9.5.2026. (JMI)
