Opera Now – Autumn 2026

Summary

Hugh Cutting fronts Opera Now Autumn 2026 under the line "Defining a new generation", and the issue pairs his feature at page 18 with Evgeny Titov's Royal Opera Parsifal at 24, Bayreuth at 150 at 28 and Hector Bloggs in Young Artist Spotlight at 6.

Opera Now Autumn 2026 runs its Front of House section from Editorial at 3 through News & Notes at 8-15, where Dame Felicity Lott appears at 12. Features carry Hugh Cutting at 18, Evgeny Titov at 24, Bayreuth at 150 at 28, Hilary Cronin at 32, Houston Grand Opera at 36, new productions at 40 and Letter from Athens at 44. Hector Bloggs, a baritone, opens the young artist slot at 6.

Reviews run Live Reviews at 46-55, Recordings at 58-59 and Spotlight at 64-69, with the Worldwide Opera Guide and the issue quiz answer at 69. Columns close with On a Role on Corinne Winters at 56 and Design Studio on Andrew Edwards at 70. The Bayreuth anniversary piece and the Titov Parsifal are the two that give the issue weight beyond news.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story
p.18 · HUGH CUTTING
Hugh Cutting takes the cover at 18, with the magazine framing him as defining a new generation. The piece covers his work and the roles he is taking on. Look up his next appearances, since the issue positions him as one to follow this season.

▸ Features
p.24 · EVGENY TITOV
Evgeny Titov is featured at 24, covering his Parsifal production at the Royal Opera. The piece deals with the staging and the interpretation rather than only the music. Book for the Royal Opera run if the production reaches your city.

p.28 · BAYREUTH AT 150
Bayreuth's 150th anniversary gets a feature at 28, looking back over the festival's history and what the milestone means now. The piece covers the institution and its repertoire. Read it before the next festival season, since the history shapes the programming.

p.32 · HILARY CRONIN
Hilary Cronin is profiled at 32, covering her work and the roles she is singing. The piece names the productions and the companies. Check the company's season for the role discussed here.

p.36 · HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
Houston Grand Opera gets coverage at 36, dealing with the company's current work and programming. The piece names the productions and the people involved. Watch their season announcements after reading.

p.40 · NEW PRODUCTIONS
New productions are surveyed at 40, covering stagings opening across companies. The section names the houses and the works. Mark the openings nearest you, since the listings are dated.

p.44 · LETTER FROM ATHENS
Letter from Athens at 44 reports on opera in the Greek capital, covering the scene and its companies. The piece names the venues and the work being staged. Add Athens to a travel list if you chase opera abroad.

▸ Front of House
p.6 · YOUNG ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Baritone Hector Bloggs opens the issue at 6, discussing his dream roles and his route into opera. The column names the roles and the training behind them. Follow his name in casting announcements over the next two seasons.

p.12 · DAME FELICITY LOTT
Dame Felicity Lott appears in News & Notes at 12, within the section running 8 to 15. The coverage deals with her current activity. Read the news section whole, since items connect to the features.

▸ Reviews
p.46 · LIVE REVIEWS
Live Reviews run 46 to 55, covering productions as staged. The section names the houses, the works and the performers. Read the reviews before booking, since they flag which productions are worth travelling for.

p.58 · RECORDINGS
Recordings at 58-59 review new opera discs, naming labels and performers. The section gives verdicts on the sound and the singing. Choose the recording named here over a rival version.

p.64 · SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight runs 64 to 69 with the Worldwide Opera Guide, and the answer to the issue's quiz sits at 69. The guide lists performances by location. Use the guide to plan opera around a trip, then check the quiz answer last.

▸ Columns
p.56 · ON A ROLE
On a Role at 56 covers Corinne Winters, dealing with the role she is singing and why it matters. The column names the opera and the character. Listen to a recording of the role before you see her in it.

p.70 · DESIGN STUDIO
Design Studio at 70 looks at Andrew Edwards' work, covering the design side of opera production. The column names the production and the design choices. Look at the staging photographs with the design notes in mind.

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Editor's Take

Opera Now Autumn 2026 is a steady, workmanlike issue whose best pages are historical and practical rather than starry: Bayreuth at 150 at 28 and the Titov Parsifal at 24 both give the reader something to hold, and the Worldwide Opera Guide at 64 is the kind of listing that gets used. Hugh Cutting at 18 is a fair cover choice and the "defining a new generation" line is honest about what he represents. The weakness is the news and reviews balance: News & Notes runs eight pages at 8 to 15 and Live Reviews ten at 46 to 55, and much of both is company announcements and short notices rather than argument. The cover, a plain portrait of Cutting, is competent rather than striking. This suits regular opera-goers who want Bayreuth history and the listings; it will not convert anyone.

Strengths
• Bayreuth at 150 gives real festival history
• Worldwide Opera Guide is a usable listing
• Titov Parsifal covers staging, not just music

Weaknesses
• News and reviews run long on short notices
• Cover portrait is competent rather than striking

Verdict: Selective read — Bayreuth and the opera guide justify it; the rest is steady.