OperaWire Portfolio

Q & A: Conductor & Arranger Jonathan McPhee on 'The Essential Ring' - OperaWire

Conductor and Arranger Jonathan McPhee on his process of reducing Wagner's Ring Cycle to create "The Essential Ring"

Delaware Valley Opera Company 2023 Review: The Stronger, Cavalleria Rusticana, and I Pagliacci - OperaWire

The Delaware Valley Opera Company (DVOC) presented a unique triple-bill opera event on August 13, 2023 that had its ups and downs.

Teatro Nuovo 2023 Review: Poliuto - OperaWire

"Poliuto," Donizetti's lesser-known opera, often considered a bridge between Bel Canto and Verdi returned to NYC for first time in 153 years.

Teatro Grattacielo 2023 Review: Don Giovanni - OperaWire

Teatro Grattacielo presented an intriguing staging of Mozart's masterpiece, "Don Giovanni" that reset the power dynamics of the characters.

New York Comedy Club Review 2023: Fizz and Ginger - OperaWire

"Fizz and Ginger," composed by Whitney George to a libretto by Bea Goodwin, premiered on June 19, 2023, at the New York Comedy Club.

Q & A: Soprano Ilanah Lobel-Torres on Her Cancer Journey & Return as a Young Artist - OperaWire

American soprano Ilanah Lobel-Torres is making a name for herself as a young artist, but her journey took an unexpected turn in 2020.

St. John's in the Village 2023 Review: Felix Jarrar & Friends 'Off with His Head' - 'Roberto Devereux' - OperaWire

Gaetano Donizetti's " Roberto Devereux," though not performed with any regularity, showcases the composer's masterful ability to capture the characters' raw emotions through stunning music. Salvadore Cammarano crafted the Italian libretto, drawing inspiration from François Ancelot's tragedy "Elisabeth d'Angleterre" (1829) and Jacques Lescène des Maisons' "Historie secrete des amours d'Elisabeth et du comte d'Essex" (1787).

Vino Theater Review 2023: 'A Ghost's Endeavor' - OperaWire

Countertenor James M. Brown brought together a talented group of young artists to perform "A Ghost's Endeavor," a recital that included music from the Baroque to today. The performance was held in the Vino Theater in Brooklyn, New York. The building is a communal area that comprises several levels and a black box theater.

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: Eric and Dominque Laffont Grand Finals Concert - OperaWire

The 2023 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Grand Finals Concert (Previously National Council Auditions) saw mezzo-sopranos dominate. Typically, it's all about sopranos and tenors, but to see and hear two extraordinary musicians in the lower female register blow the audience away was thrilling.

Teatro Grattacielo 2023 Review: The 10 Faces of Maria Callas - OperaWire

The Consulate General of Greece in New York and Teatro Grattacielo, with support from Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy, co-hosted a concert titled "The 10 Faces of Maria Callas " to commemorate the iconic soprano's 100th birthday. The program featured nine arias that were among the soprano's personal favorites.

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: Falstaff - OperaWire

On Mar. 12, 2023, the Metropolitan Opera revived and gave the Robert Carsen-directed " Falstaff " its season premiere, marking the company's 193rd performance that crackled with energy and verve. There was electricity in the crowd, as well. At times, an opening night can feel like a final dress rehearsal.

Opera Meets Film: Florian Sigl's 'The Magic Flute' (Review) - OperaWire

Photo: ShoutPR (Shout Factory) This review was written jointly by Chris and Finn Ruel. Mozart's "The Magic Flute," directed by Florian Sigl, hit the silver screen nationwide on Mar. 10, 2023. It's a fantasy film that captures the essence of Mozart's stunning operatic fairy tale and does it well.

Off the Beaten Path: Ellis Ludwig-Leone's "False We Hope" - OperaWire

In this installment of Off the Beaten Track, we look at " False We Hope " an experimental and innovative art song album that takes a new and jarring approach to the genre. Ellis Ludwig-Leone's debut album explores themes of hope, loss, connection, and isolation.

OPERA America 2023 Review: Felix Jarrar & Friends - Liederabend - OperaWire

Earlier this month, OPERA America's McKay Studio was home to a compelling performance featuring the latest art songs by composer and pianist Felix Jarrar. Entitled "Liederabend with Felix Jarrar & Friends," the event showcased the vocal talents of mezzo-soprano Jessica Trainor Tasucu, baritone Benjamin Howard, contralto Allison Gish, and tenor Ryan Morgan.

Carnegie Hall 2023 Review: Vincerò Academy Young Artist Gala - OperaWire

A concert featuring young artists who have just completed a week of masterclasses is always a treat. The energy and enthusiasm of these vocalists as they sing their hearts out in front of a captive audience is inspiring.

Flea Theater 2023 Review: Both Eyes Open - OperaWire

Photos: Carlos Castaneda One of the numerous illusions about United States history among Americans is that the country is the ultimate force for good in the world, "a shining city upon a hill," as President Ronald Reagan declared. We believe in the fiction of rugged individualism, exceptionalism, the solitary figure on horseback with a six-shooter and a Remington, and our unassailable goodness.

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: The Magic Flute - OperaWire

(Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) During the holiday season, the Met's annual presentation of a family-friendly, abridged version of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" sung in English is a treat for the young and the young-at-heart.

Review: Richard Tucker Gala 2022 - OperaWire

Photos: Dario Acosta The Richard Tucker Award and Gala came back in full force after two years with no awards. A galaxy of operatic stars was on hand for the event held in the newly renovated David Geffen Hall, which was designed to remedy the venue's seemingly intractable issue with-of all things-acoustics.

Emerging Artists Theatre 2022 Review: Felix Jarrar's Halloween One-act Opera Festival - OperaWire

It's that spooky time of the year with Halloween around the corner, and never one to pass up presenting holiday specials, composer/pianist Felix Jarrar put on an extravaganza of creepiness with his Halloween One-act Opera Festival, which took place at Emerging Artists Theatre on Oct. 21, 2022.

MasterVoices 2022 Review: Carmen - OperaWire

Photos: Erin Baiano If you were to walk down a street, stop a stranger, and ask if they've heard of the opera "Carmen," more than likely, many would say yes. Ask the follow-up question: What's it about? There may be some head scratching and faces scrunched in concentration as they try to recall ...

Q & A: Composer Sarah Van Sciver & Librettist Kirsten C. Kunkle on Their New Opera 'Girondines' - OperaWire

On Oct. 21, 2022, Wilmington Concert Opera will present a new opera, "Girondines," composed by Sarah Van Sciver, to a libretto by WCO's Co-founder and Artistic Director, Kirsten C. Kunkle. Van Sciver will music direct and perform as the presentation's pianist.

Metropolitan Opera 2022-23 Review: Tosca - OperaWire

(Credit: KarenAlmond/Metropolitan Opera) A "shabby little shocker." That's how musicologist Joseph Kerman described Puccini's "Tosca." Shabby? No. A little shocker? No. It's a big shocker. Perhaps we've become inured to how dark and violent "Tosca" is with scenes of rape, murder, torture, and suicide.

Q & A: Composer Lembit Beecher Talks About His New Song Cycle 'A Year to the Day' - OperaWire

Photo: Jamie Jung American composer Lembit Beecher has collaborated with librettist/lyricist Mark Campbell to write " A Year to the Day," a new song cycle rooted in, but not about, the pandemic. The concept was Campbell's, and it was he who approached the composer.

New Camerata Opera 2022 Review: Faust et Hélène & L'heure Espagnole - OperaWire

Photo credit: James Elliott On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, New York's New Camerata Opera staged a double-bill featuring two French one-act operas, Lili Boulanger's "Faust et Hélène" and Maurice Ravel's "L'heure Espagnole." The company, known for its fun and immersive productions, brought these relatively obscure works to the Irondale Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Spotlight Artists Management & Productions 2022 Review: Ukrainian Anthology - OperaWire

In March 2022, just a month after Russia's unprovoked and illegal attack on Ukraine, Spotlight Artists Management presented a benefit concert to support Ukraine at St. John's Church In the Village. There was much uncertainty regarding the outcome of the war. It was a time of heartbreak, but also of Ukrainian pride.

Q & A: Berkshire Opera Festival's Co-Founders Jonathon Loy, Brian Garman & Executive Director Abigail Rollins On the Festival Making Waves in New England - OperaWire

Fresh off a successful run of Heggie and Scheer's "Three Decembers," the Berkshire Opera Fest is set to open the main stage production of "Don Giovanni" at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA, on August 20th. 2022. The show will have additional performances on August 23 and 26.

Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra 2022 Review: Jeanine De Bique in Concert - OperaWire

Photos by: Sachyn Mital, © Lincoln Center Jeanine De Bique is one of the most exciting sopranos to catch onstage these days. Animated, joyful, and technically flawless, the Trinidadian vocalist with the light, starry voice that soars before landing on audiences' ears like a musical meteor shower.

Review 2022: We've Come to Claim the Throne - OperaWire

Pianist/composer Felix Jarrar and soprano Michelle Trovato partnered to stage a themed recital centered on Mary Queen of Scots, titled "We've Come to Claim the Throne," on July 29, 2022, at St. John's in the Village, New York City.

Berkshire Opera Festival 2022 Review: Three Decembers - OperaWire

Photos by Matt Madison-Clark This review is of the July 23, 2022, Berkshire Opera Fest Performance "At the heart of what we do is produce the greatest opera at the highest level. The Berkshires is a magical place.

Bare Opera 2022 Review: Thomas Cabaniss' 'FireSongs' - OperaWire

In February 2022, OperaWire got a sneak peek at Thomas Cabaniss' new song cycle, "FireSongs" at Bare Opera's season opening gala. Cabaniss took to the stage himself and sang a few selections, and in doing so, brought the audience inside of his creative process.

Fotografiska 2022 Review: Jeff Beal's 'Things Unseen' and 'The Paper Lined Shack' - OperaWire

Photo: Fritz Myers On June 17, 2022, at New York's Fotografiska, Jeff Beal's "The Paper Lined Shack," received its New York and string quartet premiere, along with the world premiere of the composer's "Things Unseen" for string quartet. And though "Things Unseen" is an instrumental work, it's worth some words.

At Home With - Vocal Coach Paul Farrington in Birmingham, UK - OperaWire

Photos: Frances Marshall "At Home With... " is a collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews that reveal the human side of artists. Call him the "Voice Whisperer."

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: La Bohème, Spring Cast - Opera Wire

(Credit: Evan Zimmerman) Met audiences love "La Bohème." The company has staged the opera 1,356 times over the past 122 years and has presented the Zeffirelli production for the last 40.

New York OperaFest Kicks Off with Awards and Preview Concert - Opera Wire

Photo: Heather Bobeck The New York Opera Alliance (NYOA) kicked off the seventh annual New York OperaFest with an evening of awards and previews by 11 of the 20 companies participating in the 2022 Festival. The opera organizations will present 30 events across the city from April 15 to June 15, 2022.

Daring to Direct - Director Andrea DelGiudice on Her Homeless-Focused 'La Bohème' - Opera Wire

Acclaimed singer, voice teacher, and stage director Andrea DelGiudice, is set to direct the upcoming Light Opera of New Jersey run of "La Bohème," slated to run March 19-20 and 25-27, 2022. Her career transformation happened in 2017 when she got dared to direct "La Traviata."

Spotlight Artists Management 2022: Benefit Concert to Support Ukraine - Opera Wire

We've seen the photos, the videos, the horror of invasion through our iPhones.

Humanitarian First, Singer Second: Nigerian-Born Soprano Abiodun Koya on Her Multi-Faceted Career - Opera Wire

Soprano Abiodun Koya is about as multifaceted as a person can get: opera singer, poet, fashion designer, model, activist, and humanitarian, to name a few. But the title she's most proud of? Humanitarian. The soprano is living out that purpose, singing in front of and meeting people who can effect positive change and help forward her foundation's goals.

Opera Company of Middlebury 2021-22 Review: 'Candide' - Opera Wire

(Photo: Opera Company of Middlebury) Opera Company of Middlebury's utterly delightful streaming production of Leonard Bernstein's "Candide," originally broadcast in June 2021, is back for a few more days, and viewable on OCM's YouTube channel through Mar. 1, 2022. Don't miss it. The pandemic was the mother of innovation.

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene & New York City Opera 2022 Review - 'The Garden of the Finzi-Continis' - Opera Wire

Photo: Alan Chin Authoritarian governments don't pop up overnight, they grow day by day, sometimes imperceptibly. Little things snowball, and soon, certain "undesirable" communities become targets of opprobrium, violence, and extermination. Hatred is equal opportunity, sparing neither the rich, the poor.

Carnegie Hall 2022 Review: SongStudio 2022 Young Artists Recital - Opera Wire

Photo: Stephanie Berger This is the story of 20 young artists who played and sang their way to Carnegie Hall.

BARN OPERA's Artistic Director Joshua Collier on Keeping the Barn Doors Open - Opera Wire

The Brandon, Vermont Chamber of Commerce describes the home of BARN OPERA as "the quintessential New England town." It sits in the middle of the state, closer to the border with Upstate New York than that of New Hampshire.

At Home With - Tenor Nicky Spence & Pianist Dylan Perez in the UK - Opera Wire

Photos: Frances Marshall "At Home With... " is a collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews that reveal the human side of those we see on stage. Star Scottish tenor Nicky Spence and his fiancée, accompanist Dylan Perez, have a big day ahead of them.

Rockwood Music Hall 2021-22 Review: Felix Jarrar's 'Too Hot to Handel' - Opera Wire

Photo credit: 360 of Opera/Diego Valdez There are two certainties during the holiday season: Santa and countless performances of Händel's "Messiah." The two collided on Saturday, Dec.

Teatro Grattacielo 2021-22 Review: 'L'Amico Fritz' - Opera Wire

On November 14, 2021, New York's Teatro Grattacielo presented a semi-staged production of Pietro Mascagni's "L'Amico Fritz." Unlike his hit, "Cavalleria rusticana," Mascagni's second opera orbits the far reaches of the standard repertoire.

92nd Street Y 2021-22 Review: Lawrence Brownlee & Michael Spyres in Concert - Opera Wire

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, at New York's 92nd Street Y, two titanic tenors of the bel canto repertoire, Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres, delivered a playful antidote to the mid-week doldrums with a rip-roaring performance of Rossini barnburners from four of the composer's operas, "Il barbiere di Siviglia," "Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra," "Ricciardo e Zoraide," and "Otello."

New Amsterdam Opera 2021-22 Review: I Vespri Siciliani - Opera Wire

On Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, for the first time since 2004, Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani" returned to New York with New Amsterdam Opera's concert performance of this lesser-known Verdi work of French grand opera at the historic West Park Presbyterian Church on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Carnegie Hall 2021-22 Review: Jonas Kaufmann in Recital - Opera Wire

Photo: Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical Way Back Before Times, in Sept. 2019, violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter stopped mid-concerto to confront an audience member filming during her performance. Her beef with the velvet-chair concert documentarian centered on rudeness, lack of respect, and the fleeting nature of live music.

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Fiorenza Badila Costantini on Creating a New Type of Masterclass Featuring Frederica von Stade - Opera Wire

OperUS, a young artist community created by and for young artists, will hold its first Growth Environment for Singers, or GEFS for short, beginning Sept. 6, 2021, in Montepulciano, Italy.

Teatro Nuovo 2021 Review: Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Opera Wire

Photos: Steven Pisano This review is of the July 27, 2021 performance.

Q & A: Stage Director Femi Elufowoju Jr on His Debut as the First Black Opera Director at a Major UK House - Opera Wire

(Credit: Tyler Fayose) Femi Elufowoju Jr is a practitioner of many crafts. He's a screen actor with 15 credits, a stage director who has been at the helm for myriads of productions, and a film director. But there was a missing piece.

Off the Beaten Track: Fritz Myers and Clare Drobot's 'In Appetizing Portions' Satiates with Solid Psychological Fare - Opera Wire

Photo Credit: Anna Barbera In this column, we've explored the sacred and the profane-from a song cycle of Psalms composed by Dvořák and performed by Elyse Anne Kakacek to a spoken-word recording reimagining the character of Salome. What's missing? A good meal.

Teatro Grattacielo 2021 Review: Annual Fund Gala - Opera Wire

The young artists of Teatro Grattacielo, along with special guest star the inimitable Karen Slack, showcased rare gems of verismo arias and art songs at the company's 2021 Annual Fund Gala presented in collaboration with Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy. Teatro Grattacielo held the gala at the opulent Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York City on Friday evening, June 18.

Celebrating Native American Music in Montana - Intermountain Opera Bozeman's Interim Artistic Director Michael Sakir & Soprano Kirsten Kunkle on 'Circle of Resilience' - Opera Wire

(Photos: Gillian Riesen; Intermountain Opera Bozeman; Jason Dick) Montana, where Grizzly Bear wade in chilly rivers fed by snowmelt from mountaintops and gobble up Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout. Fly-fishers do much the same but with gentle whips of line. It's "The Treasure State," whose motto is "Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver)."

MET Orchestra Spotlight Series Season to Conclude High Above NYC - Opera Wire

(Photo: Related Oxford) In his January 12, 2021, State of the State Address, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined a plan for resuscitating the arts within the State and New York City. Nearly six months to the day, on June 13 at 3:00 p.m.

Q & A: Met Chorus Artist Ross Benoliel Talks Life Offstage - Opera Wire

A few months back, I spoke with members of the MET Orchestra Musicians about their concert series and the state of affairs within the organization. But what of the 80-member world-renowned Met Chorus that delivers show-stopping performances and put the grand in grand opera?

OPERA NEWS Delivers Virtual Celebration of Three Giants of the Opera World - Opera Wire

The pre-recorded 16th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards Gala streamed on Sunday, April 18, 2021, and the Met Opera Guild and OPERA NEWS deserve kudos for the online event, but let's face reality, after a year of virtual everything, it's all wearing thin-especially given that many of us are suffering serious Zoom fatigue.

Q & A: Composer Evan Mack on His New Album 'The Travelled Road' - Opera Wire

On March 26, award-winning composer Evan Mack's new album of art song, "The Travelled Road" released worldwide on all major streaming platforms. The recording came about organically after Mack invited mezzo-soprano Megan Marino and pianist John Arida to Skidmore College in New York State to noodle around and explore some ideas.

Q & A: Lucas & Irina Meachem on Co-Founding Perfect Day Music Foundation & Its Inaugural Virtual Voice Competition - Opera Wire

Grammy® Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem and his wife, pianist, Irina, saw injustice up close this past summer. While many of us watched the aftermath of George Floyd's death on television, the Meachem's are Minneapolis residents.

At Home With - Mezzo-Soprano Taxiarchoula Kanati in Stuttgart - Opera Wire

"At Home With... " is a series collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews. In this third installment, OperaWire spoke with mezzo-soprano Taxiarchoula Kanati.

Roundtable With the Creators & Performers of Chicago Opera Theater's 'The Puppy Episode' - Opera Wire

Three teens struggle to come to terms with their identities in a time when media ignored the LGBTQ+ experience. That is at the core of "The Puppy Episode," a new work set to showcased by Chicago Opera Theater as part of its Vanguard Emerging Artist Program.

Q&A: 13-Year-Old Welsh Treble Cai Thomas on His Album 'Seren' & Singing the 'Pembrokeshire Murders' Title Song 'Suo Gân' - Opera Wire

I first heard the Welsh lullaby "Suo Gân" watching Steven Spielberg's 1987 film, "Empire of the Sun." The moving piece is perfect for cinematic use, and if you live in the United Kingdom, you can hear it as the title song for the new television series "The Pembrokeshire Murders."

Q&A: Co-Artistic Director of Experiments in Opera Jason Cady on EiO's Serial Opera Podcast 'Aqua Net and Funyuns' - Opera Wire

Jason Cady, co-artistic director of the New York City-based "fun and fearless opera collective," Experiments in Opera (EiO), has been, well, experimenting in fun(yun) and fearless ways with a new podcast opera, "Aqua Net and Funyuns," released in December 2020.

Off the Beaten Track: Zachary James' 'CALL OUT' - A Wild Trip with a Literary Bent - Opera Wire

Off the Beaten Track is an album review series that takes readers on a cross-disciplinary journey through recently released recordings, spotlighting the cool, the unusual, and the beautiful work created by artists who push boundaries and take the road less traveled. What was Zachary James thinking?

Q & A: MET Orchestra Members Barbara Jöstlein Currie & Julia Bruskin on the Orchestra's Spotlight Series & the Current State of Organization - Opera Wire

The MET Orchestra, one of the greatest in the world, is in jeopardy. Read that again. The MET Orchestra, one of the greatest in the world, is in jeopardy. That's not just an opinion. As reported in multiple news outlets, including this one, none other than the iconic conductor, Maestro Riccardo Muti, unequivocally stated just that.

Prototype Festival 2021 Review: Ocean Body - Opera Wire

I'm not a crowd person, so if someone told me I could have a private viewing of a world premiere, I'd welcome it. Sadly, this is one time I wish I had some company because Helga Davis and Shara Nova's "Ocean Body" multi-screen film and audio experience deserves an audience.

A Program Like No Other - Becca Conviser Founder & Director of Opernfest Prague On its Revolutionary Young Artist Program - Opera Wire

Becca Conviser, founder and director of the innovative young artist program Opernfest Prague (OFP), is a remarkable young industry influencer. In four short years Conviser has built up a program like no other.

Q&A: Soprano Rainelle Krause on Taking the Queen of the Night to New Heights - Opera Wire

Aerialist noun : one who performs feats in the air or above the ground, especially on the trapeze. Does singing "Der Hölle Rache," the famous Queen of the Night aria, upside down while suspended by yards of silk count as a "feat?" If not, it should because that's exactly what soprano Rainelle Krause does.

At Home With - Stage Director Julia Burbach in London - Opera Wire

"At Home With... " is a new series collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews. In this second edition, OperaWire spoke with Stage Director, Julia Burbach. "Truth be told, I only realized that things were accelerating when I was in Iceland, rehearsing 'Valkyrie.'

Off the Beaten Track: David Hertzberg's 'The Rose Elf' Will Have You Checking Your Bouquets - Opera Wire

Off the Beaten Track is an album review series that takes readers on a cross-disciplinary journey through recordings, spotlighting the cool, the unusual, and the beautiful work created by artists who push boundaries and take the road less traveled. I have a spooky story for you.

Off the Beaten Track: Exploring Joy & Sadness in Elyse Anne Kakacek's 'formless,' a Touching Recording of Dvořák's 'Biblical Songs' - Opera Wire

Wild rides abound when you take the trail less taken, and in this column, we've taken some crazy trips. But in this installment of "Off the Beaten Track," the album we'll explore provides us a chance to settle down and reflect.

At Home With - Soprano Danielle de Niese in Glyndebourne - Opera Wire

(Credit: Frances Marshall) "At Home With... " is a brand new series collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews. In this first edition, OperaWire spoke with singer, recording artist, television host, and ambassador of the arts, Danielle de Niese.

Q & A: Soprano Ana María Martínez on Singing Mimì in San Diego Opera's Drive-In 'Bohème' - Opera Wire

Opera fans in San Diego have a real treat in store. Ana María Martínez, one of opera's foremost interpreters of Mimì, the beloved heroine of Puccini/Illica's "La Bohème," has come to town to wow audiences at the Pechanga Arena Parking Lot from October 24 - November 1.

Q & A: Atlanta Opera Artistic & General Manager Tomer Zvulun on the Courage & Imagination of Making Opera into a Circus - Opera Wire

The Atlanta Opera (TAO) website greets visitors with an invitation: "JOIN US AT THE BIG TENT!" Cool. The company's staging its 2021 productions in an enormous tent. But wait a minute; is that a circus tent?

Q & A: Baritone Kenneth Overton on Returning to Live Performance & Spotlighting the Lives of the Black Opera Greats - Opera Wire

Baritone Kenneth Overton recently performed for the first time in front of a live audience at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. The performance, entitled "To America," celebrated the poetry of the civil rights activist, James Weldon Johnson, an early leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and who is buried at Green-Wood.

Off the Beaten Track: Setting the Salome Record Straight With London/Karasick's 'Salomé: Woman of Valor' - Opera Wire

Buckle up because we're not just going off the beaten track, we're going musical off-roading extreme style with "Salomé: Woman of Valor," poet and performer Adeena Karasick's wildly creative seven-year endeavor with Grammy Award-winning composer and horn player Frank London. The work premiered at Vancouver, Canada's Chutzpah Festival in 2018.

'You Get What You Put Out Into the Universe:' Baritone Lucas Meachem On His Highs and Lows, Diversity in Opera, & COVID's Impact on Young Artists - Opera Wire

In late May, the COVID-19 pandemic relented for a spell, enticing parts of the United States to reopen after weeks of lockdown. Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer in the States, was in full swing. 2020 had a disastrous start, but big cities like New York had the virus somewhat contained.

Q & A: Director James Kicklighter on His Film "The Sound of Identity" - Opera Wire

History was made on May 3, 2019. The first transgender baritone, Lucia Lucas, sang the title role in Mozart/Da Ponte's, "Don Giovanni."

Roundtable: The Cast of 'Blue' on Race, Police Brutality & Getting Close with their Characters - Opera Wire

In partnership with New York's flagship classical radio station, WQXR, Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival kicked off on Monday, August 10. The annual summer festival has been a fixture of the New York art scene since 1966, and the organization forged a path to keep the tradition in a safe way as COVID-19 continues battering the United States.

Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert Review: Renée Fleming in Washington D.C. - Opera Wire

As Renée Fleming, "America's Diva," introduced the third to last piece in a program that ranged from Handel to Cantaloube to Howard Arlen, the beloved singer sighed deeply. It was a testament to the magic and beauty she had spun singing one of the standout numbers of her concert, "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi."

A Titan Among Opera Singers - Baritone Michael Hewitt Discusses Fitness, His Appearance on 'The Titan Games,' and Opera's Marketing Challenges - Opera Wire

"I am Khumn!" These were the first words ever spoken on stage by baritone Michael Hewitt. The phrase is one you might expect from the Narrator in "Akhnaten" but not in a fifth-grade educational history play about ancient Egypt. According to Hewitt, his entrance was dramatic and well-received.

Off the Beaten Track: Exploring Race & Identity in Richard Thompson's 'The Mask in the Mirror' - OperaWire

As we wrap up June and African-American Music Month, Off the Beaten Track explores the 2019 recording of composer and librettist Richard Thompson's "The Mask in the Mirror," the story of the ill-fated romance between America's first Black poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Alice Ruth Moore, a New Orleans Creole, poet, journalist, and early civil rights advocate.

Off the Beaten Track: David Hertzberg's Hallucinatory 'The Wake World' Serves Up a Sonic Feast - OperaWire

This month's Off the Beaten Track explores the newly released recording of "The Wake World: A Tale for Babes and Sucklings," a one-act opera composed by Los Angeles-based composer/librettist David Hertzberg and inspired by Aleister Crowley's work of the same name. The recording is the first opera released under the Tzadik label.

Heartbeat Opera 2020 Review: 'Lady M' Virtual Soirées - OperaWire

On Thursday, May 14th, Heartbeat Opera presented its seventh of 22 "Lady M," Virtual Soirées." The soirées which have, for the time being, supplanted the company's staged re-imagining of Verdi's "Macbeth," having been such a hit that an additional 14 were added after selling out the originally slated 18.

HERE Arts Center 2020 Review: All Decisions Will Be Made by Consensus: A Zoom Opera - OperaWire

With the world in the grip of a pandemic that has shuttered opera houses around the globe, composers, librettists, directors, and singers are exploring new ways to connect with audiences and explore technology.

CD Review: Nick Benavides and Marella Martin Koch's 'Pepito' - OperaWire

The recording of "Pepito," a comedic opera in one act with music by Nicolas Lell Benavides and libretto by Marella Martin Koch, is set to release on May 1, 2020 and it is an amusing, quick-hit of delightful opera worth a listen.

Q & A: Soprano Sawsan Al-Bahiti On Her Journey to Becoming the First Saudi Opera Singer - OperaWire

In 2016, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman announced Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, an initiative to diversify the economy of the Kingdom and implement across-the-board reforms, including creating pathways and supporting those seeking a career in the arts.

One in a Million: Soprano Vuvu Mpofu's Fascinating Story of Opera Success - OperaWire

(Credit: Gerard Collett) On the eastern side of the Cape of Good Hope, at the very tip of South Africa, sits Port Elizabeth, a city with a population just shy of one million people.

Off the Beaten Track: Soprano Elyse Anne Kakacek's 'Untethered:' A Celebration of Passion - OperaWire

As so much of the world hunkers down during a pandemic that has shuttered live music venues for the foreseeable future, there's no better time than now to discover new music. "Off the Beaten Track" highlights an album of note-not necessarily a new recording, but one that has caught my attention as I explore the universe of classical vocal music.

Renaissance Woman - Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, On Bringing Cultures Together Through Music - OperaWire

It was the afternoon following the Metropolitan Opera's premiere of "Der Fliegende Holländer," that I met a glowing Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, the founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival.

Q & A: Voice Teacher Bill Schuman on 30 Years at AVA & Receiving the Distinguished Achievement in the Arts Award - OperaWire

On Saturday, March 28th, the Academy of Vocal Arts will celebrate its 85th anniversary with BrAVA Philadelphia! For the first time 80 years, The Met Philadelphia stage will showcase some of the best-known singers in the world. The gala will honor the internationally recognized voice teacher Bill Schuman, bestowing upon him the AVA Distinguished Achievement in the Arts Award.

Mending Wall - How PRISM Saxophone Quartet Joined Forces with Soprano Tony Arnold for a Unique Musical Journey - OperaWire

This article has been updated from the original published on Mar. 6, 2020. In February 2022, PRISM saxophone quartet will present the long-awaited world premiere of "Mending Wall," a fully staged production that examines the meaning of walls and the questions surrounding identity, community, division, and freedom.

Q & A: Soprano Arianna Zukerman on Singing 'Annelies,' Teaching, and Overcoming Cancer - OperaWire

Editorial note & Update: The March 21st performance of "Annelies" referenced within this article has been postponed. On Saturday, March 21st, Soprano Arianna Zukerman is set to sing "Annelies," Anne Frank's Diary in song. She will bring the work to Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, under the baton of church conductor Michael Diorio.

Off the Beaten Track: Marie-Nicole Lemieux's 'Mer(s)' - OperaWire

Music is a rush.

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Susan Graham On Schumann's 'Frauenliebe un -leben: Variations,' The Power of Love & Malcolm Martineau's Genius - OperaWire

(Photo: Dario Acosta) Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham has had an enviable career, winning such prestigious awards as a Grammy, an Opera News Award, and Musical America's Vocalist of the Year. As a champion of the French repertoire, the French government honored her with the title of "Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur."

Prototype Festival 2020 Review: Ellen West - OperaWire

This past summer, OperaWire published an interview with "Ellen West" headliner Jennifer Zetlan. When asked what she wanted audiences to take away from her experience with the opera, Zetlan's replied that, to her, an extremely successful evening of live theater or opera was one in which the audience leaves feeling their soul touched, adding "...

Prototype Festival 2020 Review: Blood Moon - OperaWire

East met West during Wednesday evening's performance of Garret Fisher and Ellen McLaughlin's "Blood Moon," a chamber opera for three voices staged at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York, one of six opera/musical theater productions featured in this year's Prototype Festival. The show was the third in its world premiere run.

Q & A: Opera on the James General Director Marco Nisticò On His Multi-Faceted Career - OperaWire

Opera on the James, located in Lynchburg, Virginia named singer, director, and teacher, Marco Nisticò General Director this past June. Nisticò summed up his mission on the company's website, saying, "[Opera] has the capacity to move, inspire, provoke thought, and entertain. It helps us to understand who we are and how we relate to each other.

2019-20 Review: Mother Goose - OperaWire

(Credit: Orlando Mendiola) There were plenty of F's- High F's, Low F's, and Middle F's-in composer/librettist's Felix Jarrar's "Mother Goose: A Drag Comic Chamber Opera," and, I'm not speaking of notes on a staff; I'm talking about the f-word. Jarrar's latest creation and collaboration with director Bea Goodwin was crass and vulgar; in short, I loved it.

2019-20 Review: As One - OperaWire

The Nov. 8th, 2019 performance of Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed's "As One," produced by Liz Bouk and directed by Bea Goodwin, was a brilliant display of what a small, tightly-knit artistic team can create using a "less is more" approach.

Q & A: Christine Goerke On Singing Isolde and Life as a Wagnerian - OperaWire

(Credit: Arielle Doneson) Hojotoho! Heiaha! When you're at the top of the Wagnerian world singing Brünnhilde, what could possibly be next? Is there much left in the maestro's repertoire to challenge a singer's stamina, musicianship, and let's face it, fortitude? It turns out that there is something, and it's Isolde.

Carnegie Hall 2019-20 Review: Hibla Gerzmava In Recital - OperaWire

Star Russian soprano Hibla Gerzmava performed a recital program featuring art song compositions by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Prokofiev sprinkled with a dramatic dash of Donizetti and Verdi on Nov. 1, 2019 at Carnegie Hall. Her appearance was not without controversy.

Opera In the Big Easy - New Orleans Opera Association Robert Lyall On Developing The City's Rich Operatic Tradition - OperaWire

(Credit: Brittney Werner) If you visit New Orleans today, you can pop into the Napoleon House, the supposed location in which the former emperor would live out his days in North America. The music that you'll hear while sipping your Pimm's Cup in the 200-year-old house-turned-bar is classical.

Q & A: Bass Zachary James on Auditioning for Philip Glass, 'Akhnaten' At the Met & Laying an Egg in 'The Love for Three Oranges' - OperaWire

(Credit: Matt Madison-Clark) Be careful around Zachary James. In his role as the cook in Prokofiev's madcap "Love for Three Oranges" with Opera Philadelphia, he wielded a lethal ladle. If you were a fan of ESPN's show, "Great Outdoor Games" you may have seen him handling an ax as a lumberjack, promoting the show in a television commercial.

Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble 2019 Festival Review: Princess Maleine - OperaWire

There are times when we experience something very special, almost historical. This was the case at the world premiere of "Princess Maleine," a new opera staged by the Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. The premiere was part of Dell'Arte's 2019 festival, "Voices from the Tower."

Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble 2019 Festival Review: La Liberazione di Ruggiero - OperaWire

"La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall' isola d' Alcina" ("The liberation of Ruggiero from the Isle of Alcina") is an opera of firsts. It was the first opera composed by a woman. It was the first opera performed outside of Italy.

Q & A: Soprano Jeanine De Bique on Her Mostly Mozart Debut, Her Journey as a Singer, and the Importance of Serving Others - OperaWire

(credit: Marco Borggreve) Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique hadn't seen a fully staged opera until the age of 21, but had been raised to appreciate the classical arts by her mother. Now, the award-winning singer is highly sought after for concert and staged works, with The "Washington Post" noting her "dramatic presence and versatility."

Q & A: Soprano Susanna Phillips On Her Career Path From Alabama to the Big Stage - OperaWire

Alabama-native, soprano Susanna Phillips will present an intimate evening of song on July 30, 2019 as part of the 2019 Mostly Mozart Festival. The recital will take place at the Stanley Kaplan Penthouse overlooking New York City and spotlights three female composers: Fanny Hensel, Alma Mahler, and Clara Schumann.

MCANA Announces Winner of Third Annual Award for Best New Opera - OperaWire

The Music Critics Association of North America (MCANA) has bestowed its Third Annual Award for Best New Opera to composer Ellen Reid and librettist Roxie Perkins for "p r i s m." Reid and Perkins will be honored at a July 26 Award Ceremony at Tanglewood during MCANA's Annual Meeting.

Q & A: Roxie Perkins & Ellen Reid On Creating 'p r i s m' & Winning MCANA Award For Best New Opera - OperaWire

It was announced on Wednesday that Roxie Perkins and Ellen Reid's "p r i s m" had won the Music Critics Association of North America third Annual Award for Best New Opera, following in the footsteps of such works as "Breaking the Waves" and "The Wake World."

Q & A: Soprano Jennifer Zetlan On the Singing the Title Role in Ricky Ian Gordon's 'Ellen West' - OperaWire

(Photo: Arielle Doneson) Soprano Jennifer Zetlan is a singer known for her enthusiasm for contemporary opera. She has been featured in at least nine premieres of American operas, and created roles in two world premieres, the Messenger in Matthew Aucoin's "Crossing," and Fanny in Ricky Ian Gordon's "Morning Star."

Q & A : Director Antón Armendariz Diaz On His Adaptation of Poulenc's 'The Human Voice' - OperaWire

(Credit: Natalia Munro) New York opera audiences will have another opportunity to encounter one of Francis Poulenc's works after "Dialogues des Carmélites" finished off the Met Opera season to the acclaim of audiences and critics alike. The U.S.

Q & A: Author A.M. Homes On Writing Her First Libretto, 'Chunky in Heat' - OperaWire

Shapeshifting snakes, talking trees, a swimming pool, a tragic Botox accident...it's all in renowned novelist and short fiction writer A.M. Homes' new opera, "Chunky in Heat." The opera, premiering on May 31st during New York Opera Fest, is based on four short stories by Homes and will be staged at The Flea Theater by Experiments in Opera.

Q & A: Anne Hiatt Discusses How Opera On Tap Has Changed Audiences Perception of Opera - OperaWire

Close your eyes music lovers and imagine going to a bar to hear a phenomenal cover band-a top-notch group of musicians who bring the hits alive and gets the joint jumping as the crowd quaffs some brews. Now, imagine the group onstage isn't covering Pearl Jam or The Rolling Stones, but Puccini and Rossini.

Brooklyn College Opera Theatre 2018-19 Review: Gianni Schicchi - OperaWire

Rarely performed as a one-off, Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" is most commonly paired with one of the other two "Il Trittico" operas or a second shorter work by a composer other than Puccini. However, Puccini was adamant that all three operas in his triptych should be performed together.

Q & A: Conductor Rebecca Tong & Mezzo-Soprano Tahanee Aluwihare on City Lyric Opera's 'La Tragédie de Carmen' - OperaWire

New York's City Lyric Opera recently staged a gritty production of Peter Brook's adaptation of Bizet's "Carmen," "La Tragédie de Carmen."

City Lyric Opera 2018-19 Review: La Tragédie de Carmen - OperaWire

Much can and will continue to be said, about the standard repertoire's misogynistic themes in the era of #MeToo. The male gaze dominates the canon, and City Lyric's revival of Peter Brook's 80-minute chamber opera "La Tragédie de Carmen"-an adaptation of Bizet's grand opera-explores the tragedy surrounding the four principal characters, particularly that of Carmen.

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Serena Malfi On Her Spicy Zerlina - OperaWire

New York operagoers are growing increasingly familiar with Napoli-native mezzo-soprano Serena Malfi's Mozartean repertoire.

Q & A: Soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer on 'The Ring' at the Met - OperaWire

Dramatic soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer knows her way around Wagner's "Ring." The California native has sung multiple roles in the composer's epic cycle at some of the most prestigious houses. This spring she's back at the Met singing in three out of the four operas, performing Freia in "Das Rheingold," Ortlinde in "Die Walküre," and Third Norn in "Götterdämerung."

Interview: Contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux on Her Met Debut & Her Mission as a Singer - OperaWire

Quebec-native Marie-Nicole Lemieux, C.M., C.Q., is one of the highest-rated contraltos in the world, performing regularly at Covent Garden, Theater an der Wien, Barcelona's Liceu, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and singing alongside such luminaries as Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo.

Interview: Maestro Joseph Mechavich Talks About His Guiding Principles - OperaWire

Minnesota-native conductor Joseph Mechavich is a truly versatile maestro. He's known for his commitment to contemporary American opera. The conductor is a champion of Jake Heggie's work, has led productions of John Adam's "Nixon in China," and Floyd's "Susannah," among many others.

Interview: Soprano & Conductor Amy Owens' Infinitely Curious & Joyful Journey - OperaWire

Amy Owens is the true definition of renaissance artist. As a coloratura soprano, she gravitates more to recitals and concert operas rather than staged productions. She released an electronic pop album this summer, right before attending the Linda and Mitch Hart Dallas Institute for Women Conductors.

Interview: Soprano Erin Morley's Enriching Work-Life Balance - OperaWire

Soprano Erin Morley is one of opera's most sought-after lyric coloraturas, having wowed audiences and critics alike in such quintessential coloratura roles as Zerbinetta in "Ariadne auf Naxos," Sophie in "Der Rosenkavalier," Cunegonde in "Candide," and, Olympia in "Les Contes d'Hoffmann."

Interview: Soprano Kathryn Lewek, The Queen Who Refused To Sing - OperaWire

Coloratura Soprano Kathryn Lewek never set out to be opera's reigning Queen of the Night, Mozart's show-stealing villainess of "Die Zauberflöte" ("The Magic Flute"). But fate had other ideas. In this case, fate was personified by a casting director.

Interview: Bass-Baritone Mark Steven Doss On His Journey To A Grammy, The Big Stage & Spiritual Fulfillment - OperaWire

Mark S. Doss is an artist recognized for his wide range, not just in his roles, but in his life experience. The singer has performed with the major orchestras of San Francisco, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Toronto.

Interview: Tenor Stephen Costello's Debut Double-Header - OperaWire

What's a nice guy like the 2009 Richard Tucker Award-winner Stephen Costello to do when playing a character known for anger issues and a jealous streak a mile wide? Go for sympathy, make the audience empathize with "a lost person with a good heart."

Interview: Soprano Deanna Breiwick On Dealing With the Currency of the Human Heart - OperaWire

Soprano Deanna Breiwick has been around music and performance her entire life. She comes from a family of musicians and vocalists. She sang her first studio recital at age five, began as a classical harpist at age seven, and was let loose on Italian arias by age 14.

Q & A: Niloufar Talebi on 'Abraham in Flames' & Being a Multi-Faceted Creator - OperaWire

Niloufar Talebi is an author, award-winning translator, multi-disciplinary artist, and producer. She has received commissions from Carnegie Hall, Cal Performances, and the Atlanta Symphony, and her work has been featured at Stanford Live, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, World Literature Today, PBS Frontline, ArteEast, Bidoun, Poetry International, Rattapalax, and Mother Jones Magazine.

Felix Jarrar Jumps-In as Pianist, Coach, and Orchestrator for Hogfish's 'CarmXn' Production - OperaWire

Credit: Eliana Brea Felix Jarrar has accepted a last-minute contract with Hogfish Productions in southern Maine as pianist, coach, and orchestrator for its production of "CarmXn." The collaboration follows a busy season with Opera Ithaca, Santa Fe Opera, and Penn Square Opera. With 39 world premieres of original works under his belt, including Symphony No.

The Metropolitan Opera Announces the 2023 Summer HD Festival Schedule - OperaWire

Credit: Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera has announced the schedule for its Summer HD Festival. Ten free opera screenings will be projected on the façade of the opera house in Lincoln Center Plaza on Aug. 26-Sept. 4.

Rowan Pierce & William Thomas Headline Music at Paxton Summer Festival of Chamber Music - OperaWire

Music at Paxton has announced its 2023 Sumer Festival of Chamber Music schedule. The festival runs from July 21- 30, 2023, at Paxton House, Scottish Borders.

Harbourfront Centre Unveils Summer Music in the Garden Season - OperaWire

Credit: Brian Medina Toronto's Harbourfront Centre has unveiled its 22nd season of the Summer Music in the Garden series, slated for June 21 to Aug. 27, 2023. This free annual event includes 18 concerts at the Toronto Music Garden. The music ranges from dance to classical, presented by new and known artists.

Cumbria Opera Festival 2023 Announces Lineup - OperaWire

The Cumbria Opera Festival has unveiled its 2023 lineup, which will include a range of operas and educational workshops and three fully staged operas and the creation of a Cumbria Community Chorus. There will also be a Young Composers' Competition, with the winning composition performed at the "Cumbrian Opera & Song" event.

Iconic WQXR Radio Host Bob Sherman Announces Retirement - OperaWire

Credit: Steve J. Sherman Iconic WQXR radio host Robert Sherman has announced his retirement after an illustrious 68-year career. As the host of the "Young Artists Showcase" since its inception in 1978, Sherman gave countless emerging musicians their radio debut. The Harold W. McGraw, Jr.

PBS Names Christopher Farley as Senior Director, Arts Programming & Development - OperaWire

PBS has announced Christopher Farley, known for his diverse contributions in media as a writer, editor, and producer, as its new Senior Director, Arts Programming & Development. In this role, Farley will steer the development and execution of the multiplatform strategy aimed at arts, performance, culture, and lifestyle content.

Litha Symphony Orchestra's 2023 Summer Season Features Soprano Sara Pearson - OperaWire

The Litha Symphony Orchestra has unveiled its lineup for the 2023 summer season, centered on romance. Comprising three concerts, two symphonic and one featuring vocal performance, the series culminates in an emotionally charged finale entitled "Lost Love."

Waterperry Festival Unveils 2023 Festival Lineup - OperaWire

The Waterperry Festival has announced its 2023 lineup. The ten-day festival, which runs Aug. 11-20, features something for everyone, from children's shows to grand operas. Here's what's in store for audiences.

WNO Youth Opera Announces Eco-Friendly Opera - OperaWire

Welsh National Opera's (WNO) Youth Opera is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint for its showcase scheduled for May 27 and 28. The event will feature 80 talented young singers who will bring " The Pied Piper of Hamelin & The Crab That Played With The Sea " to life on stage.

Operafest Lisboa Announces 2023 Edition - OperaWire

Operafest Lisboa has announced its fourth edition titled "From Heaven to Hell." The festival will be held from Aug. 18 - Sept. 9, 2023 in the garden of National Museum of Ancient Art, in the city center with beautiful views of Tagus River.

Nola Richardson, Reginald Mobley, Steven Soph, & Steven Eddy to Headline American Classical Orchestra's 2023-24 Season - OperaWire

The American Classical Orchestra (ACO), known for its performances on period instruments has unveiled its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. First up is "Gesù Nato," a concert featuring Bencini's oratorio and Gianettini's "Magnificat." Thomas Crawford conducts the performance at Corpus Christi Church in New York City.

YoungArts Honors 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Classical Music and Voice - OperaWire

YoungArts celebrates 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts in classical music and voice. The 2023 recipients in classical music are Vibha Janakiraman, PA Leadership Charter School; Mira Kim, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; Katherine Liu, Wellesley High School; and Christopher Shin, Cherry Hill high School East.

American Opera Project to Showcase 'Poets of New York: Operas Inspired by Audre Lorde and Walt Whitman' - OperaWire

American Opera project (AOP) and NYU/Tisch Opera Lab will present "Poets of New York: Operas Inspired by Audre Lorde and Walt Whitman," featuring three original operas. The operas will be presented on May 25 and 26, 2024 at the NYU Schubert Theatre, 721 Broadway, 5th Floor, NYC. Tickets are free with reservation.

The Curiosity Cabinet & Fresh Squeezed Opera to Premiere Jazz Opera 'Fizz & Ginger' - OperaWire

The Curiosity Cabinet has partnered with Fresh Squeezed Opera for the premiere of a groundbreaking jazz opera, "Fizz & Ginger." The production reunites the critically acclaimed duo of composer/conductor Whitney George and librettist/stage director Bea Goodwin, known for their previous work on their acclaimed opera " Princess Maleine " and radio drama tryptic "In the Throes of Death."

Felix Jarrar & Friends to Present 'Music for a Better Tomorrow' Supporting LGBTQIA+ Rights - OperaWire

Pianist and composer Felix Jarrar will join soprano Caroline Spaeth, tenor David Rivera Bozón, and violist Justin Ouellett on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Church of the Good Shepherd for a concert to support LGBTQIA+ rights. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to NAGLY.

Eugenia Forteza Headlines BALAM Dance Theatre's 'Return to the Garden of Love' - OperaWire

BALAM Dance Theatre presents the highly expected sequel to their show "Garden of Love," titled "Return to the Garden of Love." The performance, taking place on May 25, 2023, at St.

Guildhall School Introduces Guildhall Young Artists Initiative - OperaWire

Guildhall School of Music & Drama has announced the creation of Guildhall Young Artists (GYA). The program features a network of six centers that specialize in providing performing and production arts training for children and young adults. The centers are established in partnership with various art venues, schools, and Music Hubs to give the participants enriched opportunities that cater to their creative development.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Announces 2023-24 Season - OperaWire

Kazuki Yamada/courtesy of CBSO The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has unveiled its 2023-24 season, and it's full to the brim with opportunities to hear some of the world's finest music and musicians. With over 12 months of programming, the Orchestra has something for everyone.

Met Opera Announces 2023 Summer Recital Series featuring Gabriella Reyes, Will Liverman, & René Barbera - OperaWire

The Metropolitan Opera has unveiled its 2023 Summer Recital Series, set to bring opera to all five New York City boroughs in late June. Featuring both young and established artists, the concerts will include famous arias, duets, and other classical favorites.

Erin Morley, Kate Lindsey, Nicholas Phan & Jonathon Adams to Perform at Lincoln Center's 'Summer for the City' - OperaWire

"Summer in the City" at Lincoln Center features free events with thousands of artists celebrating New York City. The program is full of dance, international pop, stage plays, and more. For this article, only classical vocal performances are listed. Things kick off in June with " Nehanda," an opera conceived and created by Nora Chipaumire.

Barcelona Mayoral Candidate Proposes Renaming of Sants Station to Honor Montserrat Caballé - OperaWire

Credit: Met Opera The Popular Party candidate for mayor of Barcelona, Daniel Sirera, recently campaigned at the gates of Sants Station, proposing that the railway station be named after the Catalan soprano Monserrat Caballé. Sirera proposed the renaming to the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (Adif) to align with the national trend train stations being renamed after distinguished women, such as Almudena Grandes-Atocha and Clara Campoamor-Chamartín.

Santa Fe Opera Goes Green with Solar Power and Water Reclamation - OperaWire

The Santa Fe Opera is making strides toward sustainability with the installation of 431 solar panels. In a region that boasts 320 days of sun, the solar panels will produce 400,000 kW of clean energy, powering the Crosby Theater, rehearsal spaces, and the opera company's administrative offices.

Bass Joshua Bloom Joins OWL Artist Management Roster - OperaWire

OWL Artist Management has taken on the General Management of Australian-American bass Joshua Bloom. Born of musician parents, Bloom studied cello and double bass and was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. The bass received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Melbourne University.

Young People's Chorus of New York City to Launch 'TogetherAgain' Focused on Mental Health and Well-Being - OperaWire

Young People's Chorus of New York City ( YPC) is set to launch "TogetherAgain," a new multimedia art installation designed to raise awareness of mental health and well-being among young people. The exhibit opens on Monday, May 15 at 147 West 29th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea District.

BBC to Consult Musicians' Union on Alternative Models for Cuts to English Orchestras and BBC Singers - NewsBreak

In a communication sent from the BBC to the Musicians' Union (MU) on Apr. 13, 2023, the broadcaster confirmed it will work collaboratively with the MU...

Opera Las Vegas to Premiere Comic Opera 'Behold the Man' Based on Botched Fresco Restoration - OperaWire

Opera Las Vegas is set to stage the world premiere of "Behold The Man," a comic opera by composer Paul Fowler and librettist Andrew Flack, on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2023, at the Horn Theater on the College of Southern Nevada campus in North Las Vegas.

Arts Council England to Consider £24 Million in Support for English National Opera - OperaWire

Arts Council England has set a budget of up to £24 million in funding to support English National Opera's (ENO) transition to a new artistic and business model. The funding is subject to approval and is intended for the 2024-26 period, with a decision on the application expected this summer.

Opera Santa Barbara to Close Season with Abridged 'The Valkyrie' - OperaWire

Opera Santa Barbara closes its 2022-2023 season with " The Valkyrie " ("Die Walküre") on April 23, 2023, at the Lobero Theater. The opera from Wagner's epic Saga, "The Ring of the Nibelung," will be presented in an abridged version created by composer Jonathan Dove and stage director Graham Vick.

New Zealand Opera Announces Brad Cohen as New General Director - OperaWire

Brad Cohen has been named New Zealand Opera's new General Director by the Company's Board. Cohen takes over for retiring General Director Thoams de Mallet Burgess. Cohen is a known quantity with the Company, working with the organization since 1998. He is known as an internationally recognized conductor and an innovator with a background in digital music technology.

Tenor Airam Hernández Joins TACT Artist Management - OperaWire

Credit: Dario Acosta TACT Artist Management has announced that tenor Airam Hernández has joined their roster. Airam Hernández is a celebrated tenor who hails from the Canary Islands. With a strong international reputation, he has performed at Teatro Real, Gran Teatro de Liceu, and Ópera de Oviedo.

The Bach Choir Announces Cast Change for St. Matthew Passion - OperaWire

Credit: RT Dunphy The Bach Choir has announced a cast change for its April 2, 2023, presentation of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Due to illness, countertenor Iestyn Davies will not appear as a soloist. Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston will perform in Davies' stead.

Met Opera and BroSis to Host Discussion with Terence Blanchard, Ryan Speedo Green & Michael Bentt - OperaWire

The Met Opera will partner with Harlem social justice and youth program, The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), to provide a behind-the-scenes look at Terence Blanchard's " Champion " through a series of educational workshops beginning On Mar. 29, 2023, with a discussion "What Does It Take?"

Obituary: Renowned Countertenor James Bowman Dies at 81 - OperaWire

The classical music world is mourning the loss of James Bowman, a renowned countertenor who passed away on March 27, 2023, at the age of 81. A trailblazer in early music and baroque period practice, Bowman performed at esteemed venues such as the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Paris Opera, and La Scala.

Seattle Opera Appoints New Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer - OperaWire

Seattle Opera has a new COO and CFO. Marissa Betz-Zall will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer, and Ángela Gist, that of Chief Operations Officer. Both were appointed by the General Director Christina Scheppelmann. The two new executives will begin their functions in March 2023 and replace Jane Repensek served as COO/CFO since 2017.

Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela Honors Teresa Berganza with a Plaza in Her name - OperaWire

Famed Spanish mezzo-soprano, Teresa Berganza, was honored with a plaza in her name at the entrance to Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela. At a ceremony on Mar. 16, 2023, the granddaughter of the celebrated mezzo-soprano Sofía Álvarez Lavilla conveyed her sentiments, saying, "She [Berganza] wasn't a fan of tributes, but she would have really enjoyed this gift."

Nevill Holt Opera's Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers Resigns - OperaWire

Things are happening at England's Nevill Holt Opera. Today it was announced that the company's Artistic Director, Nicholas Chalmers, has stepped down unexpectedly after ten years at the company. Also today, Nevill Holt announced changes to its summer festival lineup.

English Touring Opera Announces Cast Change for 'Lucrezia Borgia' - OperaWire

The English Touring Opera has announced a cast change for " Lucrezia Borgia " on March 24. The company said, "due to illness, Richard Dowling is stepping in to sing the role of Rustighello." Dowling is a Royal Academy of Music graduate and Opera Prelude supported singer who has performed lead roles for English Touring Opera and Garsington Opera.

BBC Singers Saved from Chopping Block - OperaWire

The BBC Singers are off the budget chopping block, for now. In a statement published on the BBC website, the BBC stated that several organizations proposed alternative funding. "We have agreed with the Musicians' Union that we will suspend the proposal to close the BBC Singers, while we actively explore these options.

Eugenia Forteza, Felix Jarrar, Maria Brea and Special Guest Artist David Salazar to Present "Easter Meditations" - OperaWire

Mezzo-soprano Eugenia Forteza, composer/pianist Felix Jarrar, and soprano Maria Brea and special guest artist David Salazar are set to present "Easter Meditations." Billed as "an intimate journey of healing through the operatic voice and meditation," the artists will perform music from Handel's "Messiah," compositions by Jarrar, Lecuona's Zarzuela, and two Stabat Maters, one by Pergolesi and the other by Rossini.

"bauhaus/music weekend" to Feature Soprano Tehila Nini Goldstein - OperaWire

The "bauhaus / music weekend" will mark the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus Week 1923, which was centered on music. The event will showcase a musical premiere and present the initial findings of a research project headed by musicologist and project manager Dr. Kai Hinrich Müller, Ph.D., along with an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the Bauhaus-Archiv in Berlin.

Stefan Veselka Appointed General Music Director and Chief Conductor of Regensburg Philharmonic - OperaWire

Photo: Oliver Berg Theater Regensburg has announced the appointment of Stefan Veselka as General Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Regensburg Philharmonic. Veselka, a Norwegian artist of Czech descent, has become known as one of his generation's most accomplished pianists and conductors.

Tenor David Pomeroy Joins GoDirect Artists Roster - OperaWire

GoDirect Artists Management has announced that Canadian tenor David Pomeroy has joined its roster of artists. The New York Times has described Pomeroy as "a powerful, agile tenor...sincere."

New Jersey Symphony to Present Fauré's Requiem & George Walker's "Lilacs" - OperaWire

The New Jersey Symphony will present Fauré's Requiem , featuring soprano Tiffany Townsend and baritone Reginald Smith Jr. Heather Buchanan will direct the Montclair State University Chorale. Eric Jacobsen conducts. Also on the program is former Montclair, New Jersey resident George Walker's (1922-2018) " Lilacs " Walker was the first African American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Opéra de Paris Cancels Performances Due to Ongoing Strike Action - OperaWire

By Chris Ruel Writer Christopher Ruel started with OperaWire in 2018 and has profiled artists such as Kathryn Lewek, Erin Morley, Stephen Costello, Christine Goerke, Susan Graham, and Zachary James. His work also includes stage reviews. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Bel Canto Productions, an organization that brings together the beauty of opera with the culinary arts.

Los Angeles Master Chorale & Hamilton High School Students to Present "Stonewall: The Oratorio" - OperaWire

Now in its 12th year, the Oratorio Project of the Los Angeles Master Chorale teamed up with 60 students from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School to write "Stonewall: The Oratorio," an eight-part choral piece recounting the events of the Stonewall Inn uprising on June 28, 1969, which sparked the gay rights movement.

Leeds Opera Festival 2023 Celebrates Latin American Music and Opera - OperaWire

Leeds Opera Festival has announced its lineup for the 2023 season, taking place from August 19th to September 10th. The 7th edition of the annual festival, produced by Northern Opera Group, will focus on opera and music from Latin America, featuring performances in over 12 venues across Leeds and surrounding areas.

St. Gallen Concert and Theater Cooperative Board Elects Lukas Bieri as Administrative Manager - OperaWire

St. Gallen Concert and Theater Cooperative's board has elected Lukas Bieri as the first Administrative Manager, beginning August 2023. Bieri, who currently serves as the Commercial Director at Zurich's Neumarkttheater, will primarily be responsible for finance and human resources.

Fallout Continues Over Disbanding BBC Singers - OperaWire

The fallout of the BBC's decision to disband the 100-year-old vocal ensemble isn't quieting. If anything it's getting louder. 700 composers have written to Tim Davie, the BBC General Director, stating in no undertain terms their feelings on the matter.

Opera on Tap Announces Winner of Tik Tok Composition Competition - OperaWire

Opera on Tap has announced the winner of its Tik Tok Composition Competition. Laura Jobin-Acosta's " I Am Lying in the Bed " won. Vocalist Eugenia Forteza performed the work. Voting was done via Instagram and Tik Tok with the winner receiving $500. Laura Jobin-Acosta is a New York City-based multicultural composer and soprano.

Ewa Płonka, Lucas Meachem, Sasha Cooke, Lawrence Brownlee, Denyce Graves & Angela Meade Lead The Dallas Opera 2023-24 Season - OperaWire

The Dallas Opera (TDO) has announced its 2023-24 Season, featuring a world premiere production of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." Kicking off the season, opening with Puccini's " Tosca" starring Ewa Płonka in the title role, Joseph Calleja as Cavaradossi, Gihoon Kim as Scarpia, Andrew Potter as Angelotti, Thomas Cilluffo as Spoletta, and Darren Drone as Sacristan in this Andrew Neinaber production.

Teatro Real to Present the World's First Opera Live in the Metaverse - OperaWire

Teatro Real will make history as the world's first opera house to present a live opera in the metaverse-an immersive virtual 3D environment where humans can have experiences outside the physical world. On Mar. 17, 2023, at 7:30 pm CET, the company will offer free viewing of Shostakovich's " The Nose."

Le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Cancels Peformance of 'Le Rossignol' and 'Les Mamelles de Tirésias' Due to Strike - OperaWire

Le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has canceled the Mar. 15 performance of "Le Rossignol" and "Les Mamelles de Tirésias" due to the ongoing national strike related to proposed pension reforms. A statement on Twitter and on the company's website, noted that staff necessary for the show will not be present.

UK Extends Higher Tax Relief for Cultural Organizations by Two Years - OperaWire

The UK government plans to extend the Theatre Tax Relief (TTR), Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR), and Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief (MGETR) for an additional two years to continue supporting the cultural sector during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Verdi Chorus to Close Season with "Verdissimo! Plus!" - OperaWire

The Verdi Chorus will finish their season with two performances of "Verdissimo! Plus!" at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on Apr. 29 & 30, 2023. Soprano Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman, mezzo-soprano Danielle Marcell Bond, tenor Todd Wilander, and baritone Roberto Perlas Gómez will join the Verdi Chorus, the only choral group in Southern California that focuses on music for opera chorus.

Plácido Domingo Withdraws from Opéra de Monte-Carlo's 'La Traviata" - OperaWire

PlácidoDomingo has withdrawn from Opéra de Monte-Carlo 's production of "La Traviata" scheduled for March 17-23, 2023. Domingo was scheduled to return to Monte Carlo, performing the role Giorgio Germont. In a press release put out by Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Domingo stated, "Unfortunately, it is with great sadness that for very personal reasons of a family nature I have to withdraw from this engagement.

John Swinney Acting Scottish Finance Minister Restores £7m in Proposed Cuts to Arts and Culture Budget - OperaWire

John Swinney, Scotland's Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Minister, has reversed his decision to reduce funding for the national arts and culture sector. The proposed budget included cuts of almost £7 million, but these were canceled at the last minute.

Aalborg Symphony Orchestra Formally Charged for Bullying Culture - OperaWire

Credit: Ulla Jensen The Norwegian Working Environment Authority has formally called for Denmark's Aalborg Symphony Orchestra to address and rectify the pervasive atmosphere of violence and intimidation in the workplace. The orchestra has been charged with "offensive acts which take place almost daily and which have been going on for many years," according to the charge sheet.

Finnish National Opera Sets Go Virtual with XR/VR Tech - OperaWire

Image: Finnish National Opera The Finnish National Opera and Ballet (FNOB), in collaboration with XR/VR technology leader Varjo, made history as the first opera house to use immersive technology throughout the entire production process. FNOB used Varjo Aero virtual reality headsets and the "XR Stage" tool to create the entire set for Puccini's "Turandot," from the proof-of-concept phase to the final production.

NEC Unveils Portrait of Pioneering Black Artist Mary Caldwell Dawson - OperaWire

Photo: Andrew Hurlbut New England Conservatory (NEC) unveiled a new portrait of Mary Cardwell Dawson by Iris Lee Marcus, which will be on permanent display at the conservatory's Blumenthal Family Library. The painting recognizes her trailblazing career as a singer and her founding of the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) in Pittsburgh in 1941.

Orchestre classique de Montréal presents 'Illuminations' with Magali Simard-Galdès - OperaWire

Photo: Brent Calis Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) has announced its upcoming concert, "Illuminations," which will take place on Sunday, March 5, 2023, as part of the Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques Festival. The concert will be held at the Pierre-Mercure Hall in the Pierre-Péladeau Centre.

The Book Publishing Guild Announces Upcoming Release of 'Madama Butterfly' Novel - OperaWire

The Book Guild Publishing has announced the upcoming publication of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly " literary novelization by acclaimed writer Gary Davis. The publisher has set April 28, 2023, as the novel's release date. "Davis' "Butterfly" is set after the American Civil War.

Wilmington Concert Opera Announces 2023 Season 'Back to Before' - OperaWire

The women and minority-run Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO) has announced its 2023 season, "Back to Before," marking its return to its pandemic-postponed 2020 programming. Here's what's in store for Delaware opera fans. In April, WCO will serve up one of two mainstage shows-a first for WCO- starting with "La serva padrona."

USC Thornton School of Music Unveils its Spring 2023 Live Events - OperaWire

The USC Thornton School of Music has unveiled its Spring 2023 Live Event lineup, featuring a wide array of musical genres, including jazz, pop, and opera. For this article, we have highlighted vocal performances only. The USC Thornton Edge will showcase new works for large ensemble in February, featuring Kaija Saariaho's " Quatre Instants " for orchestra and solo soprano.

International Conductor's Guild Elects New Officers and Board Members - OperaWire

The International Conductor's Guild (ICG), in collaboration with La Asociación Española de Directores de Orquesta (AESDO) and with the support of Berklee College of Music Valencia, held their 2023 International Conference in Valencia, Spain, in mid-January. ICG is a service organization focused on advancing the art and profession of conducting.

Connectforce Community CIC Launches Musical Companion Program for Seniors Living with Dementia - OperaWire

The social venture Connectforce Community CIC has launched Musical Companions, a pandemic-inspired program that engages seniors living with dementia in care homes or independently. Singers, musicians, and professional performers pair with adults living with dementia and meet virtually to sing, listen, and link generations through the enjoyment of music.

WQXR New York Announces New Podcast Series "Every Voice with Terrance McKnight" - OperaWire

Terrance McKnight, commentator, curator, writer, author, pianist, and the weekday evening host of New York's classical station WQXR will present a new podcast series, "Every Voice with Terrance McKnight." The series will feature 16 episodes and debut on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Verdi Chorus' Fox Singers to Present 'A Serenade To Music' Concert - OperaWire

As part of the Verdi Chorus ' 39th season, the Fox Singers will present a concert entitled "A Serenade To Music" at Santa Monica's First Presbyterian Church on February 25 at 7:30 p.m. Selections by Debussy, Fauré, Copland, and sequences from Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Puccini's "Tosca," and "La Rondine" feature in this evening of classical vocal music.

Seattle Symphony Announces Five Community Stages Fund Grant Recipients - OperaWire

The Seattle Symphony has announced five local artists will receive grants from the Community Stages Fund (CSF). The CSF helps artists from a wide range of backgrounds and gives the Symphony a chance to highlight those who shape and grow Seattle's rich artistic and cultural scene.

Opera Project Columbus to Present 'Rediscovered Works: I, Too, Sing America-Part 2' - OperaWire

In response to the previous summer's racial unrest, Opera Project Columbus recorded "Rediscovered Works: I, Too, Sing America" in 2021, when theaters were closed due to the pandemic. The recording featured Langston Hughes and Phyllis Wheatley's poetry and works, as well as spirituals and musical pieces by Moses Hogan, Rosephanye Powell, Leslie Adams, and Margaret Bonds.

Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble to Present World Premiere of Karmina Šilec's 'BABA: The Life and Death of Stana' - OperaWire

(Photo: Marko Vanovsek) The world premiere of "BABA: The Life and Death of Stana," written, composed, and directed by renowned Slovenian artist Karmina Šilec, will be presented by Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble at Z Space in San Francisco from Feb. 23-26, 2023.

iSing Silicon Valley Continues 10th Anniversary Season with Workshops by Joyce DiDonato, Concerts, Coaching, and an Album Pre-Release Party - OperaWire

This winter, iSing Silicon Valley continues its 10th-anniversary season by partnering with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato for workshops and an Eden project concert presented by Stanford Live at Bing Concert Hall on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Odyssey Opera & Boston Modern Orchestra Project to Present East Coast Premiere of 'Awakenings' - OperaWire

Odyssey Opera and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) will present the East Coast premiere of Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman's "Awakenings" on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 7:30 p.m, at Boston's Huntington Theatre. "Awakenings" is the Theatre's first opera since it reopened.

Konzert und Theater St. Gallen to Present 'The Ring in One Evening' with Interludes by German Humorist Loriot - OperaWire

Konzert und Theater St. Gallen is set to present "The Ring in One Evening," at Tonhalle St. Gallen from Jan. 12 -15, 2023. The abridged concert version of Wagner's epic includes interludes by German humorist, cartoonist, film director, and actor Loriot. Loriot cut the 14-and-one-half-hour saga into a digestible concert featuring highlights from each opera.

Biennial Heidelberger Frühling Wettbewerb 'Das Lied' Returns March 2023 - OperaWire

After a four-year hiatus, the biennial Heidelberger Frühling Wettbewerb "Das Lied" is back from March 1-5, 2023, at the Alter Saal of Theater Heidelberg. Tickets are available now. The Competition will also be livestreamed worldwide. Founded in 2009 by Thomas Quasthoff, the Competition comes with a sizeable prize of €40, 000, along with concert and festival opportunities and more for the First Prize winner.

UNESCO Commission Enters Salzburg Festival's Audio-Visual Collection in the 'Memory of the World' Registry - OperaWire

Since 2014, the Austrian UNESCO Commission has maintained the National Austrian Documentary Heritage Registry, comprising a collection of highly important documents for Austrian history. In-house recordings of the Salzburg Festival span 80 years of music and theater history and have been cataloged and digitized in collaboration with the Austrian Media Library of the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology since 2020.

Ira Antelis & Rabbi Charles Savenor to Present 'We Are Here' Songs from the Holocaust at Carnegie Hall - OperaWire

Carnegie Hall is set to host "We Are Here," a collection of songs from the Holocaust written in the ghettos and concentration camps of Nazi-occupied Europe. The concert is slated for Jan. 26, 2023, at the Stern Auditorium and will feature music and readings by over 30 stars and cantors, including Harvey Fierstein, Chita Rivera, Andrew Lippa, Shoshana Bean, and Brenda Russell.

ArtDesk Magazine Announces Inaugural ArtDesk 100 - OperaWire

ArtDesk Magazine has announced its inaugural ArtDesk 100, comprising artists from across the creative disciplines. Published to mark the magazine's 10th anniversary, the Art Desk 100 celebrates the next generation of artists and their future as leaders in their respective fields.

Cape Town Opera Names Four Soloists to its Permanent Roster - OperaWire

Cape Town Opera (CTO), the only permanently active opera company on the African continent, has announced its 2023 soloist lineup, which comprises baritone Conroy Scott, soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza, soprano Brittany Smith and tenor Lukhanyo Moyake. The new soloists of CTO will hold permanent positions with the company.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Announces 2023 Lineup - OperaWire

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announced the 2023 lineup for the first Eisteddfod since the pandemic. The event runs July 4-9, 2023. "We enjoyed tremendous celebrations for the Eisteddfod's 75th anniversary in July, and although we all face many challenges in the current climate, for 2023 we've brought together a festival program of real ambition, scope and most importantly fun for everyone!

Pretty Yende Featured on 'Creative Development with IFC' Podcast - OperaWire

In a recent episode of "Creative Development with IFC," hosted by Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, spoke with Pretty Yende about her life trajectory, from her start in Piet Retief, South Africa, to her current stardom on the international opera stage.

Seattle Opera to Stage World Premiere of 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' Directed by Acclaimed Afghan Filmmaker Roya Sadat - OperaWire

Seattle Opera will present the world premiere of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by composer/librettist team Sheila Silver and Stephen Kitsakos and directed by Roya Sadat, one of the first female filmmakers in Afghanistan. The show will run from Feb. 25-March 11, 2023.

Société de musique contemporaine du Québec Announces Concerts for Montreal/New Musics Festival 2023 - OperaWire

Image: Geneviève Bigué The Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) has announced a series of concerts for the 11th edition of Montreal/New Musics (MNM) international festival. Over ten days, from Feb 23 to March 5, 2023, MNM will showcase contemporary music under the 2023 theme of Music and Spirituality.

Obituary: Distinguished Teacher & Soloist Helena Łazarska Dies at 88 - OperaWire

Professor Helena Łazarska passed away on October 28, 2022, at 88 years of age. Łazarska is a former Head of the Vocal Department at the Krakow Academy of Music. Łazarska began taking singing lessons in Krakow and graduated from the Krakow Academy of Music after studying under Prof. Erazma Janowicz-Kopaczynska.

Rhiannon Giddens & Ara Guzelimian Announce the 77th Edition of Ojai Music Festival Program - OperaWire

The Ojai Music Festival, its Music Director, two-time Grammy Award-winner Rhiannon Giddens, and Festival Artistic and Executive Director Ara Guzelimian have shared the initial programming highlights for the upcoming Festival, which will include over 18 music events featuring a wide range of contemporary classical vocal and operatic works.

The Cleveland Orchestra Announces Select Performances for 2023 Blossom Music Festival - OperaWire

Photo: Roger Mastroianni The Cleveland Orchestra has announced select performances for Blossom Music Festival 2023. The concerts will take place at the Blossom Music Center in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park from July 1-Sept. 3, 2023. Blossom Music Center is the summer home of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Felix Jarrar & Robert Feng to Present Workshop Performance of 'you do not recognize the bodies in the water' - OperaWire

Composer/pianist Felix Jarrar and librettist Robert Feng will present Jarrar's 13th opera, "you do not recognize the bodies in the water," in a workshop performance at OPERA America on Nov. 22, 2022. Billed as a horror opera, Jarrar and Feng relate the story of an arsonist who is set free from prison so long as she works for a shadowy organization.

Arizona Opera to Release 'Carmen:The Graphic Novel' in December 2022 - OperaWire

Arizona Opera has announced it will release " Carmen: the Graphic Novel " in early December, just in time for the holidays. The book is a project of Alek Shrader, an operatic tenor and director who appeared in "The Audition," a documentary about the Met Opera National Council Auditions, now called the Laffont Competition.

IndieFest | re:Naissance Opera Announces 2022 Lineup - OperaWire

IndieFest, a musical gathering in its third year, will present everything from new opera to Indigenous practice to drag throughout its 11-day Festival in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. IndieFest will run November 16-27, 2022. The Festival highlights stories and people traditionally overlooked in the arts.

Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival Announces 2023 Lineup - OperaWire

The Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival has announced its 2023 Festival lineup, featuring works beloved by opera-goers. The Festival will run July 4-25, 2023. The Jerusalem International Opera Competition kicks off the season in July. Favorite arias are on tap as singers compete before a jury comprising conductors, singers, and casting directors from several of the world's top opera houses.

La Monnaie's House of Creation Announces Cast for 'Fanny och Alexander' - OperaWire

House of Creations, La Monnaie's new works incubator, has announced the cast for its production of "Fanny och Alexander (Fanny and Alexander)," a new adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's 1983 award-winning film of the same name. Mikael Karlsson composed the opera's music to a libretto by Royce Vavrek.

Glyndebourne to Host Premiere of 'glass human' in Fall of 2022 - OperaWire

"glass human," a new chamber opera by composer Samantha Fernando and writer and sound artist Melanie Wilson, will have its premiere during the fall of 2022 at Glyndebourne. The opera explores the theme of loneliness, featuring the stories of three individuals and their experiences with loneliness.

Gary Thor Wedow to Conduct Juilliard Opera's Production of Händel's 'Atalanta' - OperaWire

Gold Sound Media has announced conductor Gary Thor Wedow will lead Juilliard Opera's production of Händel's seldom-performed "Atalanta." In the pit will be Julliard415, the school's period-music ensemble. Omer Ben Seadia stage directs. "Atalanta," a romantic comedy, is the latest Handel work the maestro will pace at Juilliard.

Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini Abruptly Quits Company - OperaWire

Opera Australia's artistic director Lyndon Terracini announced on Oct. 6, 2022, that he is immediately stepping down from his role after 13 years to "get on with the next phase of my life, to pursue new adventures and enable the transition of my successor," Terracini told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Heartbeat Opera Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring Adaptations of Beethoven, Puccini, and Verdi - OperaWire

New York's Heartbeat Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season, which includes a video premiere and the company's Spring Festival, featuring significant adaptions of Puccini's "Tosca" and Verdi's "Macbeth." The Season kicks off with a free video premiere of Beethoven's " Fidelio " featuring over 100 incarcerated singers from six prison choirs.

New Zealand Opera to Present 'The Unruly Tourists' at the 2023 Auckland Arts Festival - OperaWire

New Zealand Opera will premiere its original comic opera, "The Unruly Tourists," at the 2023 Auckland Arts Festival. Performances will run from March 22-26, 2022. The opera revisits a 2019 incident involving tourists from the UK who misbehave, leaving garbage and ill will.

Carnegie Hall to World Premiere 'Camille's Rainbow' - OperaWire

Carnegie Hall has announced the world premiere of "Camille's Rainbow," an opera written for babies and toddlers (ages 0-2). The show is slated for Oct. 24-28, 2022, at the Resnick Education Wing at Carnegie Hall.

Trinity College Cambridge Announces Departure of Choral Specialist Stephen Layton - OperaWire

Photo: Keith Saunders Stephen Layton, MBE, a renowned choral specialist and conductor, is leaving Trinity College Cambridge at the end of the 2023 academic year after 17 years at the institution to focus on his international conducting career.

Public Workers' Strike Forces Hamburg State Opera to Cancel Premiere of 'Il Trittico' - OperaWire

The Hamburg State Opera has postponed the Mar. 12, 2023, B premiere of Puccini's "Il Trittico" because of a strike by the public service workers' union ver.di. The strike means there may not be enough staff to clean up after the show.

Obituary: Conductor Kenneth Montgomery Dies at 79 - OperaWire

Photo: Annelies van der Vegt British conductor Kenneth Montgomery OBE, British passed away on March 5, 2023, at the age of 79. Montgomery began his career in 1973, when he was appointed as the music director of the Bournemouth Sinfonietta. He worked with leading orchestras inside and outside the United Kingdom, working extensively with music organizations in the Netherlands.

Brindley Sherratt Weighs in on BBC Singers Getting the Axe - OperaWire

Photo: Gerard Collett In a heartfelt article published by The Guardian, renowned bass Brindley Sherratt expressed his disappointment over the BBC's decision to dismantle the BBC Singers. Sherratt, who spent 13 years with the group, described his experience as nothing short of exceptional and praised the supreme level of musicianship he encountered while singing with the ensemble.

The Jarrar and Brea Duo to Present 'Women + Life + Freedom' - OperaWire

NYC-based composer and pianist Felix Jarrar will team up with soprano Maria Brea and other guest artists, including violinist Adam von Housen, for a benefit concert on March 15th at 7:00 pm in Stuytown. The concert is free, but donations collected will go to Amnesty International through their website.

Deutsche Oper Berlin Announces Cast Change for 'Tosca' - OperaWire

By Chris Ruel Writer Christopher Ruel started with OperaWire in 2018 and has profiled artists such as Kathryn Lewek, Erin Morley, Stephen Costello, Christine Goerke, Susan Graham, and Zachary James. His work also includes stage reviews. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Bel Canto Productions, an organization that brings together the beauty of opera with the culinary arts.

DePaul Opera Theatre Announces Upcoming Productions Featuring Comedies by Mozart & Britten - OperaWire

The DePaul Opera Theatre will present two comic operas in March and May 2023. The first is Mozart's "Così fan tutte ." The cast includes Cristina Rosheger as Fiordiligi; Carmen Vizin-Esquivel as Dorabella; Quaine Hogan as Ferrando; Jacob Haines as Guglielmo; Alexis Langlois as Despina; and Michael Seybold as Don Alfonso.

Insult to Injury: BBC Singers Cut from Proms; Gathers 24,000 Signatures on Change.org - OperaWire

Adding insult to injury, the BBC Singers, which will be dissolved as part of the BBC's new classical music initiative will not even get a Proms send-off. For over 100 years, the Singers have participated in the festivities, but under the new initiative, the group will be disbanded the week before Proms begin.

Civil Servant Onofrio Cutaia Appointed to Run Maggio Musicale - OperaWire

Civil servant, Onofrio Cutaia, has been appointed to manage Florence's opera house after the sudden departure of Alexander Pereira as superintendent amid an ongoing fraud case. Authorities are investigating Pereira regarding the use of the company's credit card. The former superintendent has denied any wrongdoing, claiming all transactions were legitimate.

La Monnaie/De Munt Displays Before & After Photos of Ukrainian Civil, Religious , and Cultural Institutions - OperaWire

La Monnaie which bathes the façade of the Mint in blue and yellow each night recently projected the image of the bombed-out Mariupol Theatre, showing the destruction the war has wrought on Ukraine's civil, religious, and cultural institutions. The theater was destroyed on March 22, 2022.

Guild Hall Receives Grants from NYSCA & NEA Totaling $70,000 - OperaWire

Photo: Joe Brondo Guild Hall, a non-profit arts and cultural organization based in East Hampton, New York, has received three grants totaling $50,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts sector.

BBC Singers Shuttered as Part of a New Strategy for Classical Music in the UK - OperaWire

Photo: Mark Allan Citing the need for agility, the BBC has unveiled a new strategy to bolster it's purpose for classical music, and it's causing quite a stir. The BBC will invest in choral singing across the UK, but that decision shutters the BBC Singers, eliminating 20 jobs.

Nicholas Snowman, Former South Bank Centre and Glyndebourne Chief Dies Suddenly at 78 - OperaWire

Nicholas Snowman, former chief of South Bank Centre and Glyndebourne, passed away suddenly at 78 on March 2, 2023. The Arts Council called upon Snowman to lead the South Bank concert halls in 1986, where he served for 12 years.

Kaufman Music Center to Host Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival - OperaWire

The Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival will return to the Kaufman Music Center in New York City from Mar. 17 to 19, 2023. The festival will honor Borys Liatoshynsky (1895 -1968), regarded as the "father" of Ukrainian contemporary music. Featured works include those of his students and contemporary composers influenced by him.

Joyce El-Khoury & Michael Fabiano to Star in Birgit Nilsson Days "Tosca" - OperaWire

Photos: Heather Elizabeth Media & Jiyang Chen The Birgit Nilsson Museum will present a concert performance of Puccini's "Tosca," starring Joyce El-Khoury, and close out the 6th year of Birgit Nilsson Days in grand fashion. El-Khoury will sing the title role alongside Michael Fabiano as Cavaradossi on Aug. 12, 2023.

Metropolitan Opera Announces Cast Change for 'Lohengrin' - OperaWire

The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for the Mar. 2, 2023, performance of Wagner's " Lohengrin." Baritone Thomas Hall will make his Met Opera debut singing the role of Telramund, stepping in for Evgeny Nikitin. Hall made his European debut in 2011, singing Telramund at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, and it has remained in his repertoire.

Salzburg Festival Board Pulls Festival President from Public-Facing Role - OperaWire

Photo: Peter Rigaud A reported shift in the leadership responsibilities of the Salzburg Festival has removed Festival President Kristina Hammer from dealing with the press and media. After assuming Hammer's responsibilities in these areas, Director Markus Hinterhäuser is now the Festival's primary public representative. Hammer will focus on external representation and sponsor search.

Wallis Giunta to Headline Carnegie Hall Weimar Festival - OperaWire

Photo: Kirsetn Nijhof Mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta will headline Carnegie Hall's Weimar Festival on Friday, April 12, 2024. The mezzo will join conductor HK Gruber and Ensemble Modern, along with amacord vocal ensemble, to present a new arrangement of Kurt Weill's "The Seven Deadly Sins."

Palm Beach Hosts Plácido Domingo's U.S. Return - OperaWire

Plácido Domingo is back singing in the U.S., appearing on Feb. 28 in Palm Beach. Domingo performed in recital with maestro Eugene Kohn at the piano, singing a wide range of music from show tunes to zarzuela. In a Reel of the performance posted to his Instagram account, the audience greets Domingo with hearty applause and cheers.

Opera Project Columbus Names Greg Eldridge New Executive Director - OperaWire

Opera Project Columbus (OPC) has appointed Greg Eldridge, an internationally acclaimed stage director, as its new Executive Director. The OPC Board of Directors made the announcement. Eldridge, who has worked on over 70 productions in nine countries, trained at The Opera Studio Melbourne before specializing in Opera Directing at the Accademia Europea di Firenze.

Kristine Opolais Stars in Boston Symphony Orchestra's 'Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk' - OperaWire

By Chris Ruel Writer Christopher Ruel started with OperaWire in 2018 and has profiled artists such as Kathryn Lewek, Erin Morley, Stephen Costello, Christine Goerke, Susan Graham, and Zachary James. His work also includes stage reviews. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Bel Canto Productions, an organization that brings together the beauty of opera with the culinary arts.

Sir Bryn Terfel Announces New Foundation with RWCMD - OperaWire

Sir Bryn Terfel CBE and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama ( RWCMD) have launched a new foundation, Cronfa* Syr Bryn Terfel. The foundation aims to support young artists training at the College through scholarships and bursaries.

Olivier Awards Announces 2023 Nominees for Opera - OperaWire

Photo: Pamela Raith The Olivier Awards has announced the 2023 nominees. Winners will be announced on Apr. 7, 2023. In the category of Best New Opera Production, the nominees are: "Alcina" by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House "Least Like the Other" by Irish National Opera and Royal Opera at Royal Opera House "Peter Grimes " by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House "Sibyl" at Barbican Theatre.

Raehann Bryce-Davis, Quinn Kelsey, Will Liverman, Ana María Martínez & Christian Van Horn Lead Opera Philadelphia's 2023-24 Season - OperaWire

Opera Philadelphia has announced its 2023-24 season. Dubbed Festival 023, the company will bring music to venues around the city. The following productions are included in the Festival. The world premiere of composer Rene Orth and librettist Hannah Moscovitch's " Ten Days in a Madhouse," starring Kiera Duffy, Will Liverman, and Raehann Bryce-Davis.

Alexander Pereira, Superintendent of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Resigns as Fraud Investigation Continues - OperaWire

Alexander Pereira, superintendent of Florence's Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, has resigned amid an ongoing fraud investigation into his use of the company's credit card. According to reporting from Ansa.it, Pereira sent his resignation letter to Florence Mayor Dario Nardella, who also serves as the president of the Foundation and sits on its board.

Alexander Pereira, Superintendent of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Resigns as Fraud Investigation Continues - OperaWire

Alexander Pereira, superintendent of Florence's Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, has resigned amid an ongoing fraud investigation into his use of the company's credit card. According to reporting from Ansa.it, Pereira sent his resignation letter to Florence Mayor Dario Nardella, who also serves as the president of the Foundation and sits on its board.

Soprano Kathryn Lewek & Tenor Zach Borichevsky Present Food for Love Benefit Concert Supporting UN World Food Program - OperaWire

Soprano Kathryn Lewek and tenor Zach Borichevsky will premiere a special benefit concert in response to the global food crisis worsened by the war in Ukraine. Lewek and Borichevsky considered how they could support Ukraine and vulnerable populations facing increased food insecurity because of the war.

BMP: Producer Academy Announces 2022 Cohort - OperaWire

Beth Morrison Projects has announced the participants for the 2022 BMP: Producer Academy. After reviewing nearly 350 applications, BMP accepted 25 arts professionals into the program, which kicks off on Oct. 18, 2022. The Mellon Foundation awarded the program a $485,000 grant, eliminating tuition, and funding the addition of a fellowship to further the growth, experience, and careers of participants.

Nicole Wendl Appointed to Executive Director of Boston University Tanglewood Institute - OperaWire

Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) has announced the appointment of Nicole Wendl as BU Tanglewood Institute's (BUTI) new executive director. Wendl, a professional violinist and administrator, will helm the prestigious summer training program for young musicians ages 14-20. The program takes place on a 64-acre campus in western Massachusetts' Berkshire mountains, close to Tanglewood.

New Music USA's Amplifying Voices Announces the Addition of Two Composers to Co-Commission Roster - OperaWire

New Music USA's Amplifying Voices program has announced the addition of two composers to its existing roster of nine working on high-profile co-commissions. The newly selected composers are Katherine Balch and Clarice Assad.

Leeds Conservatoire Announces Leeds Lieder Weekend of Song - OperaWire

Leeds Conservatoire has announced an autumn season celebrating song. Leeds Lieder Weekend of Song: Rediscovering Lieder is slated for Oct. 21-23, 2022, with all recitals to be performed at The Venue at Leeds Conservatoire.

Obituary: Conductor Klaus Weise Dies at Age 86 - OperaWire

Conductor Klaus Weise has died at age 86. The sought-after maestro from Pomerania began his career in Trier before putting down roots in Kiel, where he served as general music director at Theater Kiel from 1981 to 1985. He would later return to Kiel in 2001 and 2007 as a guest conductor of the Kiel Philharmonic.

Central City Plein Air Festival to Feature Music of Heggie - OperaWire

Central City, Colorado, will welcome selected artists and art fans from around the United States for the 5th Annual Plein Air Festival, which runs Sept. 22-25, 2022. During the Festival, artists paint the breathtaking Colorado scenery in the open air, with the paintings exhibited and put up for sale on the last day.

Obituary: Terry Edwards, Former Chorus Master of The Royal Opera & Founder of London Voices, Dies at 83 - OperaWire

After a short illness, renowned choral conductor Terry Edwards has died at age 83. Prior to using his arms and hands on the podium to bring out the best in choral music, the 6'9" maestro used the same when blocking opponents on the basketball court, where he represented Great Britain at the 1964 Olympics.

Paul Frehner, Lieke van der Voort & Chan Ka Nin Headline Soundstreams' 40th Anniversary Season - OperaWire

Toronto's Soundstreams has announced its 40th anniversary season filled with music, dance, and film. The season will feature over 100 artists, both local and international.

GoFundMe Campaign Created to Support Family of Conductor and Pianist Lars Vogt - OperaWire

Pianist and host of Living the Classical Life Zsolt Bognár has created a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to assist the family of the German conductor and pianist Lars Vogt, who passed away on Sept. 5, 2022, at age 51.

Barn Opera Announces New Production of Ariadne auf Naxos - OperaWire

Brandon Vermont's BARN OPERA has announced a new production of R. Strauss' comedic opera, "Ariadne auf Naxos," set to be staged on Sept. 16 and 17, 2022, at The BARN OPERA House in Brandon, Vermont. The show marks the return of live performances for the company.

John Holiday and Vivica Genaux to Headline US Premiere of Riccardo Broschi's Idaspe - OperaWire

Pittsburgh's experimental Quantum Theatre, in collaboration with Chatham Baroque, will stage the US premiere of Riccardo Broschi's "Idaspe" at Pittsburgh's Byham Theater from Oct. 7-15, 2022. Headlining the show is countertenor John Holiday in the title role and mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux as Dario.

Mountain Time Arts & Intermountain Opera Bozeman to Present Two Concerts Feature Indigenous Opera Singers - OperaWire

Mountain Time Arts, in partnership with Intermountain Opera Bozeman, has announced two evenings of classical performance set for August 24-25, 2022 at All Nations Teepee Village in Madison Junction, WY. The concert is part of the Yellowstone Revealed, a series of place-based projects by an inter-tribal group of Indigenous artists and scholars.

Put the Needle on the Record: Top Five US States That Love Vinyl - OperaWire

Photo: Unsplash/Miriana Dorabantu Here's a trivia question: Which US state is most obsessed with vinyl records? The online vaping shop, ProVape, conducted a survey and compared the results against state populations to discover where the aficionados of the LP reside. Sales of vinyl records have grown steadily, and in 2021 alone, 41.7 million LPs were purchased.

New Music USA Announces 2022 Organizational Development Fund Awardees - OperaWire

New Music USA has announced the selection of 100 organizational awardees as part of the 2022 Organizational Development Fund. Each organization will receive, on average, $6,780.00. A panel of 21 artists, creators, musicians, and administrators selected the 100 recipients from a pool of 392 applicants.

Chants Libres to Present Oper'Actuel - Works in Progress 2022 - 7th Edition - OperaWire

Chants Libes will present Oper'Actuel - Works in Progress 2022 - 7th edition, comprising five operas in progress on Aug. 27-28, 2022 at Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal's Théâtre Rouge. The 7th edition will be co-produced by Chants Libres and Ensemble Paramirabo.

NYU Skirball to Present the North American Premiere of Toshio Hosokawa's 'Hanjo' - OperaWire

NYU Skirball is set to present the North American premiere of Toshio Hosokawa and Yukio Mishima's "Hanjo" on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, 2022, at NYU Skirball.

Minnesota Orchestra Names Thomas Søndergård as Music Director - OperaWire

Photo: Andy Buchanan Minnesota Orchestra has announced the appointment of Thomas Søndergård as Music Director. The Danish maestro will succeed Osmo Vänskä as the 11th Music Director in the Orchestra's 120-year history. Søndergård will helm the Orchestra as Music Director Designate in the 2022-23 season before beginning his duties as Music Director in Sept.

The Happenstancers Release Five Short Films Accompanying Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire - OperaWire

Toronto-based chamber orchestra, The Happenstancers, has announced the release of five short films to accompany Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire." The films feature soprano Danika Lorèn of the Canadian Opera Company and Toronto Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Simon Rivard. Toronto-based filmmaker Jake Kovnat was behind the camera.

Experiments in Opera to Release New Ten-Episode Video Opera Series 'Everything for Dawn' - OperaWire

Experiments in Opera (EiO) will release a 10-episode serial video opera titled "Everything for Dawn." The series will have its one-night-only 'Opening Night' screening of all ten episodes at Anthology of Film Archives on October 1, 2022, after which it will stream for free on All Arts beginning October 7, 2022.

Colin Bain's Book 'Gigli: the Master Tenor' Named ARSC 2022 Finalist for Best Historical Research in Recorded Classical Music - OperaWire

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections has announced the 2022 finalists for the ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. For the Best Historical Research in Recorded Classical Music, ARSC named Colin Bain's "Gigli: the Master Tenor," published by Barry Ashpole, as a finalist.

Guildhall School of Music Announces Autumn 2022 Events Featuring an Opera Triple Bill and a Vaughn Williams Birthday Concert - OperaWire

Guildhall School of Music has announced its autumn 2022 lineup, during which the School will showcase music and drama starting in September and running through December 2022. For this article, only classical vocal/operatic performances are listed.

Obituary: Famed Fiery Musicologist Richard Taruskin Has Died at Age 77 - OperaWire

Renowned musicologist Richard Taruskin died from cancer at age 77 on July 1, 2022. Taruskin was the author of the monumental "The Oxford History of Western Music," a six volume set tracing Western music from around 800 CE to the late-20th century.

Siemens FestivalNights 2022 Announces Free Public Screenings on Salzburg's Kapitelplatz - OperaWire

Siemens FestivalNights 2022, in close collaboration with the Salzburg Festival, Salzburg ORF, and Unitel, has announced free public screenings of operas and concerts to be presented on Salzburg's Kapitelplatz from July 23-Aug. 28, 2022. The Festival screenings will offer three types of programs: opera, concerts, and child-friendly opera.

Webster University Alumni to Present Duruflé's Requiem Featuring Webster University Chamber Singers - OperaWire

Photo: Webster University Webster University Alumni choral conductor Trent Patterson has announced a presentation of Duruflé's Requiem. The benefit concert supports the longstanding St. Louis nonprofit Unleashing Potential, an organization dedicated to increasing economic equity through educational programs. Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in St. Louis will host the concert on July 31, 2022.

Peter Brathwaite, Nicky Spence, & Fleur Barron Among Stars Featured in Britten Pears Arts Fall 2022 Lineup - OperaWire

Britten Pears Arts has announced its Autumn 2022 season that includes "The Blue Woman," a new opera by Laura Bowler and Laura Lomas, a new production of "The Rape of Lucretia," and Britten song cycles performed by opera stars. Here's the lineup.

Portland Opera Announces its 2022-23 Resident Artists - OperaWire

Portland Opera has announced soprano Judy Chirino Yannini, mezzo-soprano Cloe SanAntonio, tenor Matthew Cerillo, and bass-baritone Keanon Kyles as the four artists selected to join the company's Resident Artist Program in the fall of 2022.

Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2022 Announces Performance Lineup - OperaWire

Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2022 has announced its lineup. Under the theme of "burgeoning with life," the productions promise to be one-of-a-kind. The Festival runs from August 15-September 11, 2022. Here's what's on tap.

Nathan Felix's Immersive 'La Malinche: Traitor|Savior' to Premiere at Albuquerque Museum - OperaWire

Mexican-American composer Nathan Felix will premiere his immersive opera, "La Malinche: Traitor|Savior," on July 21 and July 24, 2022, at Albuquerque Museum. The performance is free. The 25-minute one-act opera relates the story of an enslaved Indigenous girl who became Hernán Cortés' interpreter and translator.

Michelle Trovato & JoAnna Pope Headline Felix Jarrar's 'We Come to Claim the Throne' - OperaWire

Composer and pianist Felix Jarrar will present "We Come to Claim the Throne: A Recital of Music Inspired by Mary Stuart" on July 29, 2002, at St. John's in the Village, New York City.

Works of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor & Zanaida Robles to be Featured in the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Celebration - OperaWire

Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, California, will fete Black-English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's 147th birthday with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Celebration, featuring two special performances of the composer's work. "Sacred Choral Music of Coleridge-Taylor and Robles" will be presented on August 12, 2022.

London Artist Management Community Hit with Deaths of Two Veteran Managers - OperaWire

Two London artist management agencies were hit with the deaths of veteran managers, both retired. On May 31, 2022, Classical Music reported David Sigall of Ingpen & Williams International Artists' Management had died on May 29, 2022, at age 79, following a long illness.

New Camerata Opera Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring Five Mainstage Productions - OperaWire

New Camerata Opera has announced its 2022-23 season. The company has expanded from two to five mainstage operas with performances of Boulanger's "Faust er Hélène," Ravel's "L'heure espagnole," and Puccini's "Il Trittico." Also on tap is a summer concert series and two new video productions. Here is what NCO has in store for audiences.

Marquee TV to Showcase Handel Re-mixed with Pop Music as Part of Summer Shorts Festival - OperaWire

Marquee TV has announced its Third Annual Summer Shorts Festival selections. The short film series begins on August 1, 2022, and runs the entire month, providing 31 days of videos featuring dance, theater, and music. Festival films are free to watch.

Soprano Larisa Martínez to Perform 'Voice and Violin' with Violinist Joshua Bell and Philadelphia Orchestra - OperaWire

Puerto Rican soprano Larisa Martínez will perform with violinist Joshua Bell and the Philadelphia Orchestra in a program of duets. "Voice and Violin" is scheduled for July 29, 2022, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and will feature a broad range of music from Berlioz to Bernstein.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell theater to Stage World Premiere of JL Marlor's 'Final Veil' - OperaWire

JL Marlor's "Final Veil" is set for its world premiere at Nancy Manocherian's the cell theater on July 14, 2022. The show runs through July 31. This queer and women-led "movement opera" is an amalgam of theater, opera, and dance.

The Fletcher School at Tufts University Appoints Mezzo-Soprano Carla Canales to Major Positions - OperaWire

The Fletcher School at Tufts University has appointed mezzo-soprano Carla Canales to Professor of Practice and Senior Fellow at The Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World. The appointment went into effect on July 1, 2022. Canales will lead the inaugural Cultural Diplomacy program, exploring how arts and culture can forward foreign policy objectives.

The Harrison Friends of Opera & Teatro Grattacielo to Present Evening of Neapolitan Song - OperaWire

The Harrison Friends of Opera and Teatro Grattacielo will present an evening of Neapolitan song and favorite melodies at the Harrison, New York, Public Library on July 11, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Artists performing include soprano Clara Luz Iranzo, mezzo-soprano Eugenia Forteza, and tenors Diego Valdez, David Santiago, and Enzo Pizzimenti.

Brooklyn Telemann Chamber Society Releases Film Version of Gluck's 'Orfeo' - OperaWire

Brooklyn Telemann Chamber Society (BTCS) has released its film version of Gluck's "Orfeo." The movie is now available for free streaming on the organization's YouTube channel. Soprano/violinist, and BTCS founder, Liz Kiger, directed the film, which premiered on June 30, 2022.

OPERA America Field-Wide Opera Demographic Report 2021 Shows Good News for Gender Representation while BIPOC Languishes - OperaWire

OPERA America (OA) has released its Field-Wide Opera Demographic Report 2021. The first-of-its-kind report provides a snapshot of the demographic landscape of administrators and board members two years after the death of George Floyd, which spurred a flurry of diversity and equity initiatives within the industry.

San Francisco Opera Releases New Installment of Its 'In Song' Series Spotlighting Soprano Meigui Zhang - OperaWire

(Photo: Zane Gan) San Francisco Opera has released "In Song: Meigui Zhang," the latest installment of its Webby Award-winning "In Song" series. The series presents portraits of artists through song and stories, with past episodes presenting a cross-section of genres-from opera to mariachi.

Sound of Fools to Present New Staging of 'The Priestess of Morphine' - OperaWire

Chicago's International Museum of Surgical Science will host the Sound of Fools presentation of "The Priestess of Morphine," a monodrama for two voices, at the museum on June 17-18, 2022. Acclaimed contemporary opera director Bea Goodwin's staging is site specific, with the performances taking place throughout the museum halls.

New Opera West to Present an Evening of Operatic Short Films - OperaWire

New Opera West (NOW) has announced dates for its animation, film, and opera experience. The event, featuring three short films, a live performance, and conversations with the creators, will take place at Hudson Guild Theater in Los Angeles on June 17 and 19, 2022.

Opera for Peace to Close First Iteration of its Academy with Emerging Artist Concert - OperaWire

Opera for Peace Academy, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, LUISS University, the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, l'Accademia Internazionale di Musica e Arte, and Opera Europa, will close out its inaugural installment by presenting a concert of opera's greatest arias and ensembles at the Istituto Pontificio in Piazza S.

Stephanie Fleischmann Named Winner of the 2022 Campbell Opera Librettist Prize - OperaWire

OPERA America has announced librettist Stephanie Fleischmann as the 2022 Campbell Opera Librettist Prize winner. Conceived and funded by Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award-winning librettist Mark Campbell, the prize seeks to raise the profile of librettists, who seldom receive recognition for their work. The award comes with a $7,000 prize to support creative and career development.

Vache Baroque Festival Launches Video Series Celebrating Women Composers of the Era - OperaWire

Photo: Michael Wheatley The Vache Baroque Festival has announced a new video series entitled "VB Showcase," highlighting women composers of the baroque era. The Festival will release a video every two weeks from May 22 through July 31, 2022. Featured vocalists include sopranos Hilary Cronin, Angela Hicks, Jasmine Flicker, and mezzo-soprano Karima El Demerdasch.

Kent Nagano & Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg Offer Video Micro Concerts Featuring Vocal Performances - OperaWire

With the pandemic came innovation, particularly in using video to present works. Renowned conductor Kent Nagano and the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra explored the medium to create Micro concerts-bite-size, half-hour audiovisual performances that take their cue more from pop music visuals than from staid, traditional concert films. The videos are available for viewing for free until October 22, 2022.

'Akhnaten' Star Anthony Roth Costanzo Made Visiting Fellow at Oxford for Helping Boost Egyptology - OperaWire

Photo: Matthew Placek "Akhnaten" star Anthony Roth Costanzo has caught the attention of Academia through his depiction of the opera's titular Egyptian Pharoah. According to Bloomberg, Oxford University has made the singer a visiting fellow at its Centre for the Humanities. The fellowship will begin in November 2022.

Boston Lyric Opera Concludes 'Butterfly Process' with Town Hall, Film Series, and a 2023-24 Season Production of 'Madama Butterfly' - Opera Wire

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) has announced the conclusion of its initiative, "The Butterfly Process," and will close out the project with a public town hall, film series, and a new production of "Madama Butterfly," slated for the company's 2023-24 season. The scheduled events round out an 18-month deep dive into the standard repertoire that explored Puccini's "Butterfly," in particular.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Items Raise Over $800,000 for Washington National Opera - Opera Wire

AP News has reported that 150 items belonging to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg auctioned by Virginia-based The Potomack Company raised $803,650 for Washington National Opera-a surprising amount compared to Potomack's pre-sale estimate of $50,000 to $80,000.

Khary Wilson, Shanelle Woods, Andrew Wannigman, & Lloyd Reshard to Headline Glow Lyric Theatre's 'Stinney: An American Execution' - Opera Wire

Greenville, South Carolina's Glow Lyric Theatre, has announced the Southern premiere of Frances Pollock and Tia Price's new opera, "Stinney: An American Execution," at the Fred Collins Performing Arts Stage in Greenville, South Carolina's Kroc Center from July 22 to 31, 2022.

The Contemporary Theater Company to Present 'The Voice Of Gertrude Stein' - Opera Wire

As part of their Springboard Season, Wakefield, Rhode Island's Contemporary Theater Company, will present "The Voice of Gertrude Stein" on May 26 and June 4, 2022. On the program are art songs with text by Stein from composers such as Virgil Thomson, Ned Rorem, and Felix Jarrar.

Vache Baroque Festival Announces Ukraine Fundraiser - Opera Wire

The Vache Baroque Festival has announced its Ukraine Fundraiser concert at Grosvenor Chapel in London on May 19, 2022. Featuring award-winning Kyiv-born pianist Sasha Grynyuk and a consort of Vache Baroque Singers, the program comprises music by Purcell and Baldassare Galuppi, along with 16th and 17th century Italian and English vocal music by Marenzio, Byrd, Dowland, Gibbons, and Handel.

Leah Crocetto, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Limmie Pulliam, and Aleksey Bogdanov to Open San Diego Symphony Season - Opera Wire

The San Diego Symphony has announced its 2022-23 Masterworks Classical Season, which will be book-ended with vocal performances of works by Verdi and Antonio Estévez.

Jack Swanson & Michael Spyres to Kickoff Guild Hall and Bel Canto Boot Camp Resident Artist Program and Series - Opera Wire

Guild Hall and Bel Canto Boot Camp (BCBC) has announced the formation of a new Resident Artist Program and Series that will support an emerging generation of opera singers and bring operatic performances and community engagement programs to Long Island's East End.

Cincinnati Opera Announces Discussion and Preview Concert of Tracy K. Smith and Gregory Spears' 'Castor and Patience' - Opera Wire

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith and composer Gregory Spears will hold a discussion and present a preview concert featuring excerpts from their new opera, "Castor and Patience," at Library of Congress's Coolidge Auditorium on May 12, 2022.

Young People's Chorus of New York Names Leonie Kruizenga as Chief Advancement Officer - Opera Wire

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) has announced the appointment of Leonie Kruizenga as Chief Advancement Officer. In her new role, Kruizenga will assist YPC's development team to deepen, strengthen, and expand its work, as well as elevate its fundraising. "We are thrilled to welcome Leonie to the YPC team," said Francisco J.

Marina Costa-Jackson, Zachary Nelson & Nicole Cabell Lead North Carolina Opera's 2022-23 Season - Opera Wire

North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here's what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann.

Hertfordshire Festival of Music Announces Lineup Including Choral Celebration of Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Opera Wire

Hertfordshire Festival of Music (HFoM) has announced the lineup of performances slated for the seventh iteration of the classical music festival beginning June 2, 2022, and running through June 11. The 2022 Festival, dubbed "A Festival of Celebration," will serve up healthy portions of instrumental music, reserving one evening for vocal music to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Ten Singers Headed to Final Round of the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition - Opera Wire

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 10 finalists selected from the April 24, 2022, semi-final round of the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The finalists will compete on the Met stage in the Grand Finals Concert hosted by Nadine Sierra and accompanied by the Met Orchestra under the baton of maestro Marco Armiliato.

Nuno Coelho Appointed to Lead Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias as Chief Conductor - Opera Wire

Photo: Elmer de Haas Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias in Oviedo has announced maestro Nuno Coelho as its newly appointed Chief Conductor. The 33-year-old Portuguese maestro was the winner of the 2017 Cadaqués International Conducting Competition, and currently serves as Guest Conductor of Orquestra Gulbenkian.

Joyce DiDonato Joins London School Children to Create and Record 'Seeds of Hope' - Opera Wire

Photo: Simon Pauly Renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato joined school children from London's Bishop Ramsey CE School Canterbury Choir to create and record a new song for Earth Day called "Seeds of Hope." Erato Records released the song on April 22, 2022-Earth Day.

The Opera Buffs to Present Gala Evening of Donizetti Favorites - Opera Wire

The Opera Buffs will present a gala evening of Donizetti favorites, including excerpts from "Lucia di Lammermoor," and "La Fille du Régiment" at Zipper Hall, The Colburn School in Los Angeles on May 13, 2022.

Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra Benefit Concert Raises $48,000 to Support Ukrainian Refugees - Opera Wire

Photo: Peter Koutun The Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, Lyric Opera Stage Artists, and Ukrainian musicians presented a benefit concert, "We Stand with Ukraine," at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 9, 2022. The benefit raised over $48,000, according to the chief organizer of the event, Principal Bassoon Preman Tilson.

The Orchestra Now to Present 'New Voices from the 1930s' Featuring Deborah Nansteel - Opera Wire

Photo: Arielle Doneson The Orchestra Now (TŌN), led by Leon Botstein, will close its Carnegie Hall season on May 12, 2022, with "New Voices from the 1930s," a concert spotlighting seldom-heard works from the late 1930s and featuring mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel. Nansteel will perform in Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Symphony No.

Tête à Tête Announces Wider 2022 Season - Opera Wire

Tête à Tête, the U.K.'s "outlandish opera company," has announced its wider 2022 season with events scheduled in London, Cornwall, and Newcastle ahead of the 15th iteration of Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival in Sept. 2022.

Des Plaines Theatre to Present 'Voices for Peace' Fundraising Concert for Ukraine - Opera Wire

Des Plaines Theatre has announced "Voices for Peace," a free fundraising concert for Ukraine. The event will take place at the theater on April 12, 2022. Special guests, the DePaul University Ensemble, and accordionist Mario Pizzoferrato, will join vocalists representing a cross section of the global community.

innova Recordings Announces First Cohort of Artists to Participate in Label's New Model - Opera Wire

The American Composers Forum's in-house record label, innova Recordings, has signed eight new artists as the first cohort to take part in the label's new model aimed at making the end-to-end recording process more inclusive and accessible. Sixty-two percent of the cohort identifies as an underrepresented gender and 70 percent as BIPOC.

The Atlanta Opera to Present 'Come as You Are' Festival Featuring 'Cabaret' and the Atlanta Premiere of 'As One' - Opera Wire

The Atlanta Opera, which staged productions in a circus tent during the pandemic, will continue serving up opera in unexpected spaces with "The Come as Your Are" Festival to be held June 2-19, 2022, at the Historic Rail Park at Pullman Yard.

New Music USA's Amplifying Voices Announces First of Nine New Co-Commissioned Works to Premiere Spring-Summer 2022 - Opera Wire

New Music USA Amplifying Voices program, which fosters collaboration toward racial and gender equity in new orchestral music, has announced the first of nine new co-commissioned works by women and BIPOC composers to be performed by over thirty orchestras across the United States. The orchestras will present the works over three years, from 2022 to 2025.

Lincoln Center to Present World Premiere of Georgia Shreve's 'Courageous Women of Antiquity' - Opera Wire

Lincoln Center will present the world premiere performance of Georgia Shreve's "Courageous Women of Antiquity" at Alice Tully Hall on April 26, 2022.

NZ Opera Receiving Hate Mail Over General Manager's Views on Standard Repertoire - Opera Wire

NZ Opera has taken serious flack-complete with hate mail-from New Zealand opera-goers for daring to veer away from the standard repertoire and providing a mix of classic and contemporary offerings. Proving true circus impresario P. T. Barnum's dictum that "There's no such thing as bad publicity," the company's ticket sales are thriving despite the dust-up.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama Announces Summer 2022 Events Season - Opera Wire

London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama has announced a full slate of summer events replete with concerts, drama, opera, and more. For this article, only vocal events and performances are listed. To see the complete lineup, visit Guildhall School's website.

Aural Compass Projects to Present Concert Celebrating African American Composers - Opera Wire

After a two-year delay because of the pandemic, Aural Compass Projects will present "Lift Every Voice," a concert celebrating African American composers, at Trinity Center for Urban Life in Center City Philadelphia, on April 1, 2022. The concert features music by Jacqueline Hairston, John Carter, Marcus Norris, Colin Lett, Undine Smith Moore, Margaret Bonds, Florence Price, H.

'm(0rpheus)' First Italian Opera About Transgender Community to Premiere April 2022 - Opera Wire

The first Italian opera giving voice to the transgender community, "(m)0rpheus," has been named one of three finalists of the Opera Factor Competition and will have its world premiere in Verona at the former Church of San Pietro in Monastero on April 2, 2022.

Against the Grain Theatre Announces New Opera-Film 'Bound' - Opera Wire

Toronto's Against the Grain Theatre has announced the upcoming run of its new opera-film, "Bound." "Bound" features four storytellers, each of whom had challenging yet very different journeys finding their place and voice in Canada.

Feinstein's/54 Below to Present 'Love in Springtime' Concert Featuring Slate of Rising Opera Stars - Opera Wire

Four of New York's rising opera stars are set to perform a program of popular love songs from classical to ragtime and much in between at Broadway's Supper Club, Feinstein's/54Below on March 20, 2022. The featured artists have performed at the Metropolitan Opera in recent runaway productions.

Classical Movements Announces Spring and Summer 2022 Secret Garden Concerts - Opera Wire

Alexandria, Virginia-based Classical Movements has announced their spring and summer 2022 Secret Garden Concerts featuring several vocal performances ranging from art song to zarzuela. For this article, our focus is on scheduled vocal performances. Here's what's in store for audiences.

City Opera Vancouver Announces The Rose-Ellen Nichols Award in Performing Arts - Opera Wire

City Opera Vancouver has announced a new award in honor of Rose-Ellen Nichols, a Canadian Coast Salish mezzo-soprano who died of cancer in February 2022. The award will recognize one promising Canadian artist aged 18-40 pursuing a career and/or education in voice or costume design.

Davóne Tines' OpenProcess Coming to The Atrium at Lincoln Center - Opera Wire

Credit: Allen Hargrove On Mar. 29, 2022, Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium will host an immersive musical performance by Davóne Tines in a program the singer named OpenProcess that utilizes a spatial audio app. The audio-visual experience centers on the song "VIGIL," composed by Tines and Igee Dieudonné, and performed in memory of Breonna Taylor.

Latvian-born Mezzo-Soprano Natalja Sticco Donating Proceeds from Her Single 'Requiem for a Soldier' to Aid Ukraine - Opera Wire

Mezzo-soprano Natalja Sticco is sharing her voice to aid families, refugees, and soldiers in war-torn Ukraine by donating proceeds from her single, "Requiem for a Soldier" to Razom for Ukraine (Together for Ukraine), which provides life-saving medical aid to hospitals, and Army SOS Ukraine which buys medical and basic needs supplies that go directly to those defending their country against {...}

Malmö Opera Presents Video Marrying Rossini and Hip Hop 'Hip Hopera: Il Barbiere' - Opera Wire

Malmö Opera has married opera with hip hop to create "Hip Hopera: Il Barbiere," a creative mashup of hip hop and Rossini's "Largo al factotum" from "The Barber of Seville." The three-minute video features Effayé, a rapper, musician, and songwriter from Malmö, performing alongside Swedish tenor Sebastian Durán.

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo and 13 Guest Artist Debuts - Opera Wire

San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has announced its exciting 2022-23 season spotlighting rare works by Handel and featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo, along with 13 guest artist debuts. Here's what's in store for Bay Area audiences. For this article, only vocal performances are listed.

Baritone James Atkinson Wins Royal Over-Seas League 2022 Solo Singer Prize - Opera Wire

The Royal Over-Seas League has announced baritone James Atkinson as ROSL's 2022 Solo Singer Prize, securing the second section win in the ROSL Annual Music Competition. Atkinson's winning performance included Lieder, art song, and opera by Finzi, Faure, Schubert, and Bellini.

J'Nai Bridges, Norman Shankle, Kenneth Overton Headline World Premiere of Aldolphus Hailstork & Martin's 'A Knee on The Neck' Honoring George Floyd - Opera Wire

An all-star cast will join the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, The Washington Chorus, and The Howard University Chorale to present the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork and Herbert Martin's "A Knee on The Neck" at The Music Center at Strathmore on Mar. 26, 2022, and at Capital One Hall on Mar.

Toledo Opera Announces Annual Fundraising Gala Starring Tenor Chauncey Packer - Opera Wire

Toledo Opera has announced its annual fundraising Opera Gala starring Met Opera tenor Chauncey Packer at the Toledo Club on May 6, 2022. Packer appeared as Spinner in the Met run of Terrence Blanchard's "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" and will reprise the role with the Lyric Opera of Chicago later this month.

Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra Appoints Jonathan Darlington to Chief Conductor Post - Opera Wire

The Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra has appointed Jonathan Darlington as its Chief Conductor for at least the next five years, beginning with the 2022-23 season. The conductor currently serves as Music Director Emeritus at Vancouver Opera, where he spent the past two decades as the company's Music Director.

Sony Classical Announces Exclusive Signing of Rachel Willis-Sørensen's Self-Titled Debut Album 'Rachel' - Opera Wire

Photo: Sandra Ludewig Sony Classical has announced the exclusive signing of soprano Rachel Willis Sørensen's self-titled debut album, "Rachel." The prestigious label also announced the release of a new single, showcasing the recording's first work, Dvořák's "Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém (Song to the Moon)." The single is now available on Apple Music's playlist "The Classical Voice."

CHORALSPACE Announces Spring and Summer 2022 Events - Opera Wire

Berlin-based International Academy for Choral Arts, CHORALSPACE, has announced a series of upcoming spring and summer 2022 events. First up, CHORAL CELEBRATIONS @BerlinPhil will present Händel's "Coronation Anthems," led by Simon Carrington at the Philharmonie Berlin.

Bare Opera Holds its Season Opening Gala Concert with Selections from Thomas Cabaniss' 'FireSongs' and Opera Favorites - Opera Wire

Photo: Gustavo Mirabile New York City-based alternative opera company, Bare Opera, opened its 2022 season with a gala at The Green Room 42 in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.

Felix Jarrar to Present Pangender 'Così pan tuttx' Featuring Highlights from Mozart's 'Così fan tutte' - Opera Wire

Composer, pianist, and coach Felix Jarrar will present a pangender concert performance of highlights from Mozart's "Così fan tutte," titled "Così pan tuttx," at New York's Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 on Feb. 26, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. The one-hour concert features vocalists Hannah Madeleine Goodman as Despina, Julia Claire Taylor as Fiordiligi, James M.

Wear Yellow Proudly to Present 'Girls of Yellow Diamonds' Concert to Honor 2021 Atlanta Shooting And International Women's Day - Opera Wire

In honor of the 2021 Atlanta shooting and International Women's Day, Wear Yellow Proudly will present a concert titled "Girls of Yellow Diamonds: Songs of Asian-American Women" The performance will take place on Mar. 11, 2022, at Philadelphia's prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts.

Obituary: Austrian-born British Composer Joseph Horovitz Dies at 95 - Opera Wire

Photo: Wolfgang Jud Opera magazine has reported the Feb. 9, 2022 death of composer, conductor, and teacher Joseph Horovitz. Born in Vienna, Horovitz attended New College, Oxford, and the Royal College of Music. Among his many teachers was Nadia Boulanger, with whom he spent a year of study in Paris.

VOCES8 Foundation Announces 'LIVE From London Easter' Concerts and World Premiere Recording - Opera Wire

VOCES8 Foundation has announced two "LIVE From London" online concerts slated for Eastertide and the release of a world premiere album, "Requiem Novum." First up is the Mar. 25, 2022 release of "Requiem Novum," composed by Mårten Jansson and performed by soprano Anna Dennis, VOCES8 Foundation Choir, and the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Barnaby Smith.

Takesha Meshé Kizart-Thomas to Perform Motherhood-themed Recital 'Maternità' - Opera Wire

Anima Mundi Productions is set to present a livestream of "Maternità," a recital featuring soprano Takesha Meshé Kizart-Thomas and concert pianist Artina McCain. The broadcast is slated for Mar. 20, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET. "Maternità" explores the theme of motherhood through operatic heroines in works by Puccini, Bellini, Strauss, Verdi, and Wagner.

Bridget Cunningham & London Early Opera Announce June 2022 Release of Handel's 'Caio Fabbricio' - Opera Wire

Photo: Victoria Cadisch Renowned musicologist, conductor, and harpsichordist Bridget Cunningham, with her organization, London Early Opera, has announced a fascinating recording project set to drop in June 2022. The album will premiere Handel's pasticcio opera, "Caio Fabbricio."

Sopranos Rachel Hanauer & Caroline Spaeth to Present Joint Recital 'Music for the End Times' - Opera Wire

Sopranos Rachel Hanauer and Caroline Spaeth will give a joint recital entitled "Music for the End Times" on Feb. 20, 2022, at the Ryan Concert Hall at the Smith Center of the Arts at Providence College, with a reprise on Feb. 25, at Providence's AS220 Black Box Theater.

Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! to Present 'The Only Girl' - Opera Wire

Photo: Karen Hudson Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! has announced its return to live performances on Feb. 22 and 23, 2022, with a production of Herbert's 1914 musical comedy, "The Only Girl." VHRP Live! will hold the production at the company's new performance space, The Theater at St.

BARN OPERA Set to Open 2022 Season with 'Don Pasquale' - Opera Wire

Vermont's BARN OPERA has announced its season-opening production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" scheduled for Feb. 11 and 12, 2022, at The Barn Opera House.

Irish Premiere Screenings of Eric Fraad's Feature-Length Music Film 'The Island of Saints' Announced - Opera Wire

Heresy Films and Hill of Miracles Limited, has announced the Irish premiere of director Eric Fraad's "The Island of Saints," a feature-length music film. The film be screened Feb. 12, 2022, at Wexford Arts Centre (Wexford); and on Feb. 23 at Project Arts Centre (Dublin).

New York's WQXR Announces New Roster of Artist Propulsion Lab Members - Opera Wire

WQXR, New York's renowned classical radio station, along with New Sounds, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space have announced the artists selected to take part in its Artist Propulsion Lab (APL).

Penn Museum Honors Marian Anderson With February Events - Opera Wire

For the entirety of February 2022, The Penn Museum, in partnership with National Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society, honors the first Black woman to perform with the Metropolitan Opera, contralto Marian Anderson. Anderson performed at the Met in January 1955 and became a crucial figure within the civil rights movement.

Regents Opera Announces New Staging of 'La Forza del Destino' - Opera Wire

Regents Opera, formerly known as Fulham Opera, has announced its new Rory Fazan directed staging of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino," featuring a new orchestration for 11 instruments by Ben Woodward. The show will run from February 16-Mar. 5, 2022. Verdi's opera is the first production to be staged by Regents since its merger with Fulham Opera in autumn 2020.

San Francisco's Community Music Center Set to Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrating Campus Expansion - Opera Wire

San Francisco's Community Music Center (CMC) has announced a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the expansion of its Mission District Campus on Feb. 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. PST. This year marks CMC's 100th birthday, and the move into a neighboring building will open up more music space by providing enlarged classrooms and adding a new recital hall.

Bucklesweet Announces Client Events for Spring 2022 - Opera Wire

Bucklesweet has announced its client performance lineup for March and April 2022. With events set to take place in Washington, D.C., New York City, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Los Angeles, audiences around the United States will enjoy live performances across a range of genres and styles.

Houston Grand Opera Announces Finalists for 34th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers - Opera Wire

Houston Grand Opera has announced the nine finalists selected for the 34th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. The 2022 finalists are sopranos Amanda Batista, Tatiana Carlos, Meryl Dominguez, and Olivia Smith; mezzo-soprano Shannon Keegan; baritone Navasard Hakobyan; bass-baritones Jongwon Han and Evan Lazdowski; and bass Jonas Jud.

The Atlanta Opera Adds Livestream Option for 'Pirates of Penzance' Amid Omicron Surge, Adjusts Negative COVID Test Option - Opera Wire

The Atlanta Opera announced it has added a livestream option for the company's production of "Pirates of Penzance," which opens Jan. 22, 2022. The move comes in response to the current omicron surge and enables ticket holders to enjoy the show from their home should they feel uncomfortable attending in person.

Young People's Chorus of New York City Announces Extension of 'Alone Together' Exhibit Through January 2022 - Opera Wire

Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) has announced the extension of its immersive, mixed-media installation, "Alone Together," through January 2022. YPC has held the exhibit at and in the High Line Nine gallery in New York's Chelsea Art District since November 2021.

The Cleveland Orchestra Unveils 2022 Blossom Festival Lineup - Opera Wire

Photo: Roger Mastroianni The Cleveland Orchestra has announced its 2022 Blossom Music Festival, presented by The J.M. Smucker Company. The Festival, which features 10 weeks of concerts from Fourth of July through Labor Day, comprises nineteen concerts, with programs ranging from Beethoven to film scores to Broadway.

Aspect Chamber Series Announces Winter/Spring 2022 Season Featuring Lieder By Haydn, Handel, and the Mahlers - Opera Wire

Aspect Chamber Music Series has announced its Winter/Spring 2022 season which includes chamber music by Ravel, Schubert, and Beethoven, among others. In this article, vocal performances will be the focus. Baroque and Classical specialists, Four Nations Ensemble, will present "Music of the Pleasure Gardens."

Gonzalo Farias Announced as Kansas City Symphony's Associate Conductor - Opera Wire

Photo: R.R. Jones The Kansas City Symphony has announced the appointment of Gonzalo Farias as the David T. Beals III Associate Conductor. Farias will assume the role beginning with the 2022-23 season, replacing Jason Seber, who concludes his six-year tenure with the Symphony in June 2022.

Annette Brown Takes Helm as New General Manager of Australia's Sydney Eisteddfod - Opera Wire

Sydney, Australia's community-based, youth performing arts organization, Sydney Eisteddfod, has announced a leadership change. As of Jan. 10, 2022, the organization has a new General Manager, Annette Brown. Brown comes to Sydney Eisteddfod having held positions at the Australian Music Examination Board, The Australian Youth Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra, and Musica Viva.

Wilmington Concert Opera Announces 2022 Season Featuring World Premiere of 'Girondines' - Opera Wire

Delaware's Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO) has announced its 2022 season, titled "Everything Old is New Again." The season will feature both live and virtual performances, including a continuation of the company's Virtual Recital Series, a new outside collaboration with Concert Operetta Theater of Philadelphia, and the world premiere of 'Girondines.'

Barn Opera Announces a British New Year's Eve Bash Featuring 'H.M.S. Pinafore' - Opera Wire

Vermont's Barn Opera will be holding a British-themed New Year's Eve bash full of festivity as it presents a semi-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore," streamed fireworks broadcast from London, and a traditional New Year's countdown with the streaming of the Times Square celebration. The event begins at 7:00 p.m.

Frisson Films Announces Upcoming Release of Animated Short Film 'Le Desert et la Mer' - Opera Wire

Frisson Films has announced the release of their fully animated short film, "Le Desert et la Mer." The short will run for free on Frisson's social channels on Jan. 3, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Navona Records Announces Release Date of Guerrilla Opera's 'Rumpelstiltskin" - Opera Wire

Image courtesy of Navona Records Navona Records has announced the Jan. 14, 2022 release of Boston-based Guerilla Opera's "Rumpelstiltskin." Composed by Marti Epstein and conducted by Jeffrey Means, the album re-examines the classic fairy tale and explores the idea that villains are made, and not born.

New York City Master Chorale to Kick Off 15th Season with 'What Sweeter Music' - Opera Wire

New York City Master Chorale has announced its 15th Anniversary season-opening concert, "What Sweeter Music," will be held on Dec. 19, 2021, at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Church in Manhattan. The concert, which will be the first live performance by the Chorale since Feb.

Barn Opera Announces Performances of 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' - Opera Wire

Vermont's Barn Opera has announced the Dec. 17 and 18, 2021 performance of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at Salisbury Congregational Church in Salisbury, VT. In 2019, Barn Opera proclaimed the production an annual tradition only to have it broken a year later because of COVID.

Elizabeth DeShong, Amanda Forsythe, Michael Sumuel Headline Music of the Baroque Winter/Spring 2022 Concerts - Opera Wire

Photo credit: Elliot Mandel Chicago's Music of the Baroque (MOB) has lined up five concerts as its season continues into winter and spring 2022. Here are the vocal performances MOB has slated.

Agate Publishing Announces February Release New Novel from Rosalyn Story 'Sing Her Name' - Opera Wire

Agate Publishing has announced the February 15, 2022 release of a new novel from Rosalyn Story, "Sing Her Name." In keeping with her previous novels, Story focuses on the impact Black artists have had on American music. The narrative traces the careers of two gifted singers, who, though set apart by time, become interlinked.

Russian Opera Society Announces Performance of Scenes from 'Eugene Onegin' and Holiday Greetings - Opera Wire

The Russian Opera Society is set to perform scenes from Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin," along with selections of holiday music on Dec. 15, 2022, at the National Opera Center in New York. The program features baritone Daniel Scofield, (Chicago Lyric, Seattle Opera); soprano Zoya Gramagin, (St.

Angel Blue & Anthony Roth Costanzo Headline The Frederick R. Koch Foundation's 'Townhouse Series' - Opera Wire

The Frederick R. Koch Foundation has announced "The Townhouse Series," comprising filmed concerts featuring two of opera's brightest stars, Angel Blue and Anthony Roth Costanzo. Seven concerts, all filmed at the Foundation's historic Upper East Side townhouse, feature programs curated by Daniel Schlosberg and produced by ffflypaper.

OPERA America Announces 2022 Opera Hall of Fame Inductees and National Opera Trustee Recognition Award Recipients - Opera Wire

OPERA America has announced "OPERA America Salutes," a celebration of opera's outstanding leaders and the organization's next 50 years. The March 4, 2022 event honoring artists, producers, and champions of the art form, will take place at The University Club of New York, and be hosted by mezzo-soprano, Denyce Graves.

Toronto's Tapestry Opera & Nightwood Theatre Asked to Leave Venue After 20 Years - Opera Wire

Photo : Dahlia Katz Artscape has asked Tapestry Opera and Nightwood Theatre to vacate their offices and The Ernest Balmer Studio in Toronto's Distillery Historic District. The unexpected move leaves Nightwood Theatre without an artistic home as of March 2022. Tapestry Opera must leave by August 2022.

Early Music Vancouver Announces 2022 Winter and Spring Season - Opera Wire

Early Music Vancouver (EMV) has announced its 2022 winter and spring season. The program promises to transport audiences on a musical journey, comprising music from some of the great cities of the world at key points in music history. Live performances and digital offerings are on tap.

The New York Choral Society Premieres Latest Digital Short 'Morning Light' - Opera Wire

On Dec. 1, 2021, The New York Choral Society premiered its latest multidisciplinary and collaborative digital short, "Morning Light," which pays homage to Black queer Shaker Rebecca Cox Jackson. In the film, composer Kevin Siegfried and choreographer David Hamilton Thomson bring the 1870s text New York Shaker Lydia Annas life in this digital film collaboration.

Young People's Chorus of New York City Announces Lineup for 'TogetherAlone' Series - Opera Wire

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) has announced the lineup for a new music series that explores the pandemic's impact on children and young adults. The series, entitled "AloneTogether," will take place in an immersive, mixed-media art exhibition at New York's High Line Nine Gallery through Dec.

Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra Announces 2021-22 Vocal Performances - Opera Wire

Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC) has announced upcoming vocal performances featured in its 2021-22 season. First up is a presentation of Handel's "Messiah." Baroque and Classical specialist Bernard Labadie will be on the podium for this holiday staple. Performance Dates: Dec.

PRISM Quartet Announces Philadelphia Student Composer Project Concert Program - Opera Wire

photo by Ara Howrani PRISM Quartet has announced the inaugural program of the Philadelphia Student Composers Project. The concerts, set for Dec. 6 at the University of Pennsylvania's Fisher-Bennet Hall, and Dec. 7 at Christ and St. Stephen's Church in New York, will feature new works by rising-star composition students representing four of Philadelphia's most prominent music schools.

Valhalla Media Announces Launch of New Livestream and On-Demand Platform AÏRIS - Opera Wire

Valhalla Media has announced the planned early December launch of its new livestream and video-on-demand platform, AÏRIS, which was designed for performing arts organizations, educational institutions, and independent artists. AÏRIS is a refreshed conception of Valhalla's previous platform, Valhalla Media Live.

Sphinx Organization Announces 2022 Sphinx Venture Fund Grantees - Opera Wire

The Sphinx Organization has announced the recipients of its 2022 Sphinx Venture Fund grants. The winning projects are the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition, the inaugural New York City Opera's Duncan-Williams Voice Competition, and Composing Inclusion. The piano competition and Composing Inclusion will receive $100,000 in funding, and the voice competition, $97,500.

Soprano Sarah Brightman to Present 'Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony' - Opera Wire

Acclaimed soprano Sarah Brightman will perform her new Christmas concert, "Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony" at NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey, on Nov. 27, 2001. Brightman, whose portrayal of Christine Daaé in "Phantom of the Opera," placed her in the international spotlight, is an accomplished classical crossover performer.

Cambridge Handel Opera Company Announces Staging of Handel's 'Tamerlano' - Opera Wire

Photo credit: Luke Koch de Gooreynd Cambridge Handel Opera Company (CHOC) has announced its spring 2022 staging of Handel's "Tamerlano." Scheduled to run April 5-9 at The Leys Cambridge, the production, directed by Dionysios Kyropoulos, features stagecraft practices from Handel's era and the use of period instruments.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim Continues with Inside Look at Aucoin and Ruhl's 'Eurydice' - Opera Wire

(Photo: Paola Kudacki) Works & Process at the Guggenheim Museum in New York continues its fall 2021 season with the Metropolitan Opera on Nov. 1 with a 60-minute inside look at composer Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice."

Conor Mitchell's 'MASS' to Headline 2021 Outburst Queer Art Festival - Opera Wire

Outburst Arts and the Belfast ensemble in partnership with the Ulster Orchestra will present the world premiere of "MASS," a work by Northern Irish composer Conor Mitchell, which combines elements of the profane, the sacred, and queer ceremony. Mitchell is scheduled to conduct. "MASS" has been selected to headline this year's Outburst Queer Art Festival.

Q & A: Composer Felix Jarrar and BARN Opera's Creative Team on 'Cask of Amontillado' - Opera Wire

Prolific young composer and pianist Felix Jarrar's ninth opera will premiere virtually on Oct. 31, 2021, and in keeping with the Halloween season, his latest chamber opera is based on an Edgar Allan Poe story.

MasterVoices Details 2021-22 Season Featuring Mikaela Bennett, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Vanessa Williams - Opera Wire

MasterVoices Artistic Director Ted Sperling has announced details about the company's 2021-22 season. In the official press release, Sperling said, "We are delighted to return for our 80th season to our historic home, Carnegie Hall, where MasterVoices, then The Collegiate Chorale, first began.

Wear Yellow Proudly Announces Inaugural In-Person Concert 'Songs to the Moon' - Opera Wire

Wear Yellow Proudly (WYP), an arts and advocacy initiative founded to counter anti-Asian sentiment in the pandemic's wake, has announced its first in-person concert, "Songs to the Moon." The concert is set to take place on Oct. 30, 2021, at The Dimenna Center for Classical Music in New York City.

Manhattan School of Music Announces 2021-22 Class of Artist Scholars and School's Artist Citizen in Residence - Opera Wire

Manhattan School of Music has announced its 2021-22 Class of Artist Scholars. The scholars will open space for dialogue on issues of racial equity, inclusion, and representation by relating their own experiences. This year's 10 Scholars represent esteemed and influential artists, activists, educators, and arts leaders.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra Announces 2021-22 Season - Opera Wire

The Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra has announced its 2021-22 season featuring music by Mozart, Caccini, Puccini, and others in a diverse program featuring standard repertoire favorites and new music celebrating the stories of immigrants. Performances will take place in a variety of venues and these are noted in the season listing that follows.

The Pleiades Project to Present 'A Women's Suffrage Splendiferous Extravaganza!' Celebrating Women's Right to Vote - Opera Wire

The Pleiades Project will present a staged reading of "A Women's Suffrage Splendiferous Extravaganza! (AWSSE!)" on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, 2021, at The Lab at Alchemical Studios. "AWSSE!" is a music-theater work inspired by the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, enfranchising women in the United States.

Vermont's Barn Opera to Open Company's New Home with Production of 'La Traviata' - Opera Wire

Vermont's Barn Opera has announced "La Traviata" as the new Barn Opera House's inaugural production. The show will run Oct. 15 and 16, 2021. Verdi's tragic masterpiece will feature soprano Kasey King as the party-loving escort Violetta Valéry, with tenor Chris Plaas as the smitten Alfredo Germont.

Royal Opera House to Welcome Little Amal to Draw Attention to Plight of Refugees - Opera Wire

Photo: Andre Liohn On Oct. 23, 2021, the Royal Opera House welcomes an 11 foot, cane and carbon-fiber guest named Little Amal, a puppet traveling nearly 5,000 miles from Syria to the U.K. to draw attention to the plight of refugees.

Virtual Tickets for San Francisco Opera's First-Ever Live Stream Featuring 'Fidelio' Now On Sale - Opera Wire

Set design by Alexander V. Nichols Virtual tickets for San Francisco Opera's new production of Beethoven's "Fidelio" are now on sale. The fresh staging by Matthew Ozawa is set to open on Oct. 14, 2021. SFO's first-ever virtual option enables audiences from around the world to experience Beethoven's only opera from the comfort of their homes.

Opera on Tap Wins Grant from Renée Fleming Foundation for Playground Opera Educational Research - Opera Wire

Opera on Tap's flagship education program, Playground Opera, received a grant from the Renée Fleming Foundation to study the effects of music on empathy development and social-emotional learning in children.

Elizabeth Llewellyn, Jennifer Johnston, and Nicky Spence Shortlisted for Royal Philharmonic Society Award - Opera Wire

Photo credits: Jennifer Johnston/RT Dunphy, Elizabeth Llewellyn/Frances Marshall The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) has announced the 2021 shortlist for the Society's annual awards.

Schubert Club Announces 2021-22 Season Hosted by Composer Abbie Betinis - Opera Wire

The Schubert Club has announced its 2021-22 Courtroom Concert Series. Composer Abbie Betinis will host the popular Saint Paul, Minnesota series, now entering its 25th season. All but two of the free concerts will take place at the Landmark Center, the exceptions being performances of "Songs of the Season," which will be presented at Central Presbyterian Church.

Bryn Terfel, Simon Keenlyside, and Joseph Calleja Headline Grange Park Opera Surrey's 2022 Season - Opera Wire

Grange Park Opera, Surrey has announced its 2022 season, which will feature operas by Janáček, Ponchielli, Verdi, and Wagner. Several of opera's biggest stars, including Bryn Terfel, Simon Keenlyside, and Joseph Calleja, are slated to perform opera at its most grand. Here's what is in store for audiences when the season kicks off in June 2022.

Byzantine Choral Project Releases Musical Drama 'Icons/Idols: Irene' - Opera Wire

Byzantine Choral Project (BCP) has announced the release of "Icons/Idols: Irene," a 12-episode musical drama available for free on all major streaming platforms. The first two episodes dropped on Sept. 22, 2021, and BCP will release new installments each Wednesday until Nov. 17.

Fresh Squeezed Opera Announces 2021-22 Season with a Spotlight on Resilience - Opera Wire

Fresh Squeezed Opera (FSO) has announced its 2021-22 season spotlighting works that explore perseverance, hope, and resilience in the face of hardship. FSO's season comprises two major programs: the 6th Annual Showcase of New Vocal Chamber Music, which will present several premieres, and the world premiere of a fully staged chamber opera by composer Jillian Flexner and librettist Orlando Segarra.

New York Festival of Song 2021 Next Festival Features Composers Under 40 and a Tribute to James Primrosch - Opera Wire

New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), led by Steven Blier, has announced two concerts as part of its 2021 NYFOS Next Festival. The performances will take place at the Kaufman Music Center. NYFOS will present the first concert on Oct. 22, 2021, which will feature 10 composers born after the music organization's first-ever concert.

Angel Blue & the National Institute of Social Sciences to Present "What's Next for Opera?" Webinar - Opera Wire

Star soprano Angel Blue, along with the National Institute of Social Sciences (NISS), has announced a free webinar, "What's Next for Opera," on Sept. 23, 2021. The webinar will feature a high-profile panel of industry leaders comprising mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves; countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo; James Robinson, former General Director of Opera Theatre St.

Austin Opera and the Consulate General of Mexico Announce 'Concerts at the Consulate' - Opera Wire

Austin Opera and the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin have announced "Concerts at the Consulate," a new series of free concerts spotlighting Latinx composers and performers. Renowned Mexican mezzo-soprano and Austin resident Claudia Chapa has joined Austin Opera as the artistic curator of the series. Chapa's responsibilities include program development and artist selection.

Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival Announces Leonardo Vinci's 'Alessandro nell'Indie' as 2022 Festival Focus - Opera Wire

As the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival 2021 came to a close on Sept. 12, 2021, the Festival announced its 2022 Festival showcase opera, Leonardo Vinci's "Alessandro nell'Indie." The Bayreuth Baroque staging of the work about Alexander the Great's Indian campaign represents the first time in 300 years the opera will be performed in its entirety.

Academy of Vocal Arts Announces the Return of the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition - Opera Wire

Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts has announced the return of the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition to the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater on Oct. 15, 2021. AVA Master Vocal Coach Danielle Orlando will accompany the soloists.

Felix Jarrar and Thomas Barrett Blakeley's Chamber Opera 'Washington Square' Releases on Apple Podcasts - Opera Wire

Composer/pianist Felix Jarrar and lyricist/librettist Thomas Barrett Blakeley have announced the digital release of Act one of "Washington Square" exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Act two of the opera will be available later in 2021. The chamber opera, based on Henry James' novel of the same title, is Jarrar's tenth operatic work and a first for Blakeley.

London Philharmonic Orchestra Announces Marquee TV Digital Residency - Opera Wire

The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the two-year digital residency of the streaming service Marquee TV. Within its first year, the collaboration will bring 12 concerts, filmed live for later broadcasts, into homes worldwide. Ten of those performances will be from the LPO's 2021-22 Royal Festival Hall season.

Virginia Opera to Stage Innovative 'Das Rheingold' at Topgolf - Opera Wire

Virginia Opera tees off its season with performances of a condensed version of Wagner's "Das Rheingold" at Topgolf Virginia Beach on Sept. 12, 2021, and at the venue's Richmond location on Sept. 19.

Festival ZeitRäume Basel to Stage World Premiere of Michael Hersch and Stephanie Fleischmann's 'Poppaea' - Opera Wire

Photo of Michael Hersch by Richard Anderson American composer Michael Hersch and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann's "Poppaea," will have its world premiere at Switzerland's Festival ZeitRäume Basel on Sept. 10 & 12, 2021, before moving on to the Vienna and the Wien Modern Festival, Nov. 5-7, 2021. The production is directed by Markus Bothe.

Joana Mallwitz to Lead Konzerthausorchester Berlin as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director - Opera Wire

(Photo: Lutz Edelhoff) Joana Mallwitz will lead Konzerthausorchester Berlin as its new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, replacing Christoph Eschenbach. Mallwitz is scheduled to assume the role at the start of the 2023-24 season. Since 2018-19, Mallwitz has served as General Music Director at Nuremberg State Theatre, where she won Conductor of the Year in 2019.

Aundi Marie Moore, Liv Redpath, and Dashon Burton Headline Pacific Chorale 2021-22 Season - Opera Wire

Photo credit: Dashon Burton/Tatiana Daubek Pacific Chorale announced its 2021-22 season, which will spotlight contemporary composers as the Chorale returns to live, indoor performances. The 54th season, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, will feature two world premieres, two West Coast premieres, and a lineup of celebrated guest artists.

The Oratorio Society of New York Announces Winners of 44th Annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition Finals - Opera Wire

The Oratorio Society of New York (OSNY) announced the winners of its 44th Annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition Finals, which was held on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Here are the winners: Soprano Emily Cedriana Donato won First Place, receiving the Andrew R. Preis Award and a $7,000 prize.

TRG & Black Opera Alliance Release Update on The Pledge for Racial Equity and Systemic Change in Opera - Opera Wire

TRG Arts, an international arts and cultural consulting firm, in partnership with Black Opera Alliance (BOA), released a study measuring progress toward eight areas of needed transformation as defined in the September 2020 Pledge for Racial Equity and Systemic Change in Opera.

Gulfshore Opera Announces Irish Tenor Anthony Kearns in Concert - Opera Wire

Gulfshore Opera in Florida has announced a one-night-only concert by the internationally known Irish tenor, Anthony Kearns. The concert is set for Jan. 21, 2022, and will be presented in partnership with Artis-Naples at Daniels Pavilion, Artis-Naple's black box theater. The program will comprise selections from Kearns wide repertoire-from popular classics and Broadway to great tenor arias.

Toledo Opera Now Accepting Applications to Participate in 'View Than Voice' Focus Groups - Opera Wire

Toledo Opera has announced it is now accepting applications for first-time Toledo area opera-goers to take part in "View Than Voice" focus groups. The initiative's goal is to build up the next generation of opera fans. Applicants selected to participate in the program will receive two tickets to attend the company's production of "Il Trovatore" on either Oct.

Alternative Classical to Offer Opera Roulette Beginning September 2021 - Opera Wire

Hannah Fiddy/ Photo by Nick Rutter Fresh off the success of its web-based application, Concert Roulette, Alternative Classical (AC) will release Opera Roulette in Sept. 2021. Created by AC's Co-founder Hannah Fiddy, Opera Roulette presents users with high-definition scenes at random from over 200 operas recorded at venues large and small.

San Diego Opera Announces Winning Proposals for 'Opera Hack 2.0' - Opera Wire

San Diego Opera has chosen three proposals as the winners of the company's "Opera Hack 2.0," with each winning proposal awarded $5000. This year's winners are Lisa Szolovits, Ian Garrett, and Charles Coes' "Real-Time Theater Engine: XR Show Control for Unity," Kristen P Ahern and Amy Sutton's "Performance Stock Exchange," and Camilla Tassi and John Horzen's "MusiCue."

Signum Records Announces Partnership with Irish National Opera - Opera Wire

Signum Records has announced its partnership with Irish National Opera (INO), starting with the November 5, 2021 release of Gerald Barry's "Alice's Adventures Under Ground." "Alice's Adventures" was a co-production with the Royal Opera House and received its world premiere in the U.K. However, COVID forced INO to cancel its own staging.

Nevill Holt Opera's Outdoor Season to Use Virtual Acoustic Shell for Optimal Audio Experience - Opera Wire

Image: Nevill Holt Opera Nevill Holt Opera has announced the use of a virtual acoustic shell for staging this season's outdoor performances. It is the first opera company in the United Kingdom to use leading audio technology provider d&b audiotechnik's Soundscape technology. The system creates a virtual shell to produce an audio experience traditional loudspeaker set-ups cannot.

Composer Matthew Aucoin's Debut Book 'The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera' to Publish in December 2021 - Opera Wire

Photo: Steven Laxton Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux has announced the Dec. 7, 2021 release of composer Matthew Aucoin's debut book "The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera," which centers on what he considers the magic of opera: its impossibility.

Tenor Sungho Kim Announced as Winner of Verbier Festival Academy's Prix Yves Paternot - Opera Wire

After closing out the 28th edition of the Verbier Festival on Aug. 1, 2021, with a stirring performance as Rodolfo in Puccini's "La bohème," 31-year-old Korean tenor, Sungho Kim, was awarded the Verbier Festival Academy's highest honor, the Prix Yves Paternot.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Names Shanta Thake as Chief Artistic Officer - Opera Wire

(Photo credit: Gregory Kramer) Shanta Thake will take the helm as Lincoln Center's first Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer, replacing Jane Moss who held the position of Artistic Director for 26 years before stepping down in 2020. The new position replaces that of Artistic Director.

Opera Australia Struggles to Move 'Ring Cycle' from Sydney to Brisbane - Opera Wire

Photo: photoholgic Opera Australia's rush to move its production of Wagner's "Ring Cycle" from Sydney to Brisbane to avoid border closures hit a snag when Brisbane implemented a snap lockdown last weekend, according to an August 1, 2021 report by Linda Morris published in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Tenor Sungho Kim Announced as Winner of Verbier Festival Academy's Prix Yves Paternot - Opera Wire

After closing out the 28th edition of the Verbier Festival on Aug. 1, 2021, with a stirring performance as Rodolfo in Puccini's "La bohème," 31-year-old Korean tenor, Sungho Kim, was awarded the Verbier Festival Academy's highest honor, the Prix Yves Paternot.

Chicago Fringe Opera Announces 2021-22 Season - Opera Wire

Chicago Fringe Opera (CFO) has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring a mix of in-person and virtual productions. Here's what audiences have to look forward to this coming season. First up is a hip-hop twist on Rossini's comedic masterpiece, "The Barber of Seville."

Opera Australia, in Dire Straits, Will Receive $4 Million in Emergency Funding - Opera Wire

Opera Australia will receive an injection of $4 million in emergency funding to keep the organization afloat after canceling its run of "Phantom of the Opera," which raked in $20 million (AUS) in ticket sales, according to a July 25, 2021 article by Linda Morris in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Chicago Ear Taxi Festival Announces 2021 Lineup - Opera Wire

Chicago's Ear Taxi Festival has announced its slate of artists and performances appearing at the 2021 festival, which runs from Sept. 15 - October 4, 2021. This year's theme, "Hear Chicago," once more celebrates the diversity and richness of styles that make Chicago a city for music lovers of all kinds.

Nevill Holt Opera Announces Outdoor Summer Festival Creative Teams, Principal Cast, & Orchestra Partners - Opera Wire

Nevill Holt Opera has announced the creative teams, principal cast, and orchestra partners for its outdoor summer festival kicking off on Aug. 4, 2021. The company will present two operas, Verdi's "La Traviata," and Mozart's "Don Giovanni," on an outdoor stage built to frame the stunning valley views from Nevill Holt.

Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2021 Focuses on the World's Future - Opera Wire

This article was written in collaboration with David Salazar. The U.K.'s Tête à Tête's Festival 2021 will gaze into the future, both utopian and dystopian with programming that includes opera dating apps, sword-wielding sopranos, and an interactive operatic ritual. Here's a look at what's in store for festival-goers.

TRG Arts Releases New Study of Comeback Plans for Performing Arts Organizations - Opera Wire

TRG Arts, an international arts management consulting group, released data from its most recent study of U.S., U.K., and Canadian performing organizations' comeback plans.

Russell Thomas, Vanessa Becerra, Karen Slack, Elaine Alvarez, César Delgado Headline Fort Worth Opera's 2021-22 Season - Opera Wire

Fort Worth Opera (FWO) has announced its 2021-22 season which marks the 75th anniversary of the company. The upcoming season shifts away from FWO's festival model to year-round programming. Here's what the company has in store for its audiences. The season kicks off with a special one-evening only performance of "Entre Amigos: A Concert in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month."

Pittsburgh Festival Opera Announces New Four-Part Series 'Legends in the Limelight' - Opera Wire

The Pittsburgh Festival Opera has announced a new four-part series, "Legends in the Limelight," as part of its expanded season. The concerts will feature both established and younger artists, two with ties to the Pittsburgh area.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra Announces 2021 Summer Music Festival Lineup - Opera Wire

(Photo credits: Jūratė Švedaitė/Devon Cass; Levi Hernadez/Opera Theatre St. Louis) Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra has announced the lineup of its 2021 Summer Music Festival, which features several vocal performances and one opera. Here's a peek at what audiences have to look forward to at this year's Festival.

Festival Aix-en-Provence to Live Stream Kaija Saariaho and Sofi Oksanen's New Opera 'Innocence' - Opera Wire

Photo credit: Toni Härkönen Festival Aix-en-Provence is set to live stream Kaija Saariaho and Sofi Oksanen's new opera, "Innocence," on July 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm EDT on Arte Concert. The opera had its in-person world premiere at the Festival on July 3.

Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers Competition 2021 Opens Applications - Opera Wire

Bampton Classical Opera has announced that applications are now open for the fifth biennial Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers Competition, the public final of which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. Singers who are UK residents and aged 21-32 years old are welcome to apply with their accompanists.

Redivivus Opera to Present 'Haute Mess: An Evening of Song and Opera' - Opera Wire

Photo Credits: Stephanie Gross/Laura Isabella Redivivus Opera is set to present "Haute Mess," an online concert presenting the music of Felix Jarrar, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, and others. The concert is scheduled to stream on YouTube on July 7, 2021 at 7:00 pm EDT, and will feature crossover soprano Laura Isabella, with Jarrar accompanying on the piano.

Opera San José General Director Khori Dastoor to Lead Houston Grand Opera as General Director and CEO - Opera Wire

Photo Credit: Chris Hardy Khori Dastoor, the current General Director of Opera San José (OSJ), has been named the new General Director and CEO of Houston Grand Opera (HGO). Dastoor will assume her new role in January 2022. Dastoor has served OSJ for the past 14 years, first as a member of the company's ensemble of principals.

The Crossing Announces its 2021-22 Season Featuring Six World Premieres - Opera Wire

The Crossing, led by conductor Donald Nally, has announced its 2021-22 season. Here's a look at what's in store for audiences. Opening the season will be "Returning," a concert marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The program will comprise popular repertoire by Ayanna Woods, Michael Gilbertson, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and James Primosch with percussionist Ted Babcock.

The Industry Announces Significant Changes in Management Structure, Forms Artistic Director Cooperative - Opera Wire

Ruth Eliel, Chair of the Board of Directors at The Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary production company, The Industry, announced a radical change in management structure, establishing a cooperative of three co-artistic directors called Artistic Director Cooperative. The new structure goes into effect on July 1, 2021.

Curiosity Cabinet to Present 'Axeman,' Announces Leadership Appointments - Opera Wire

The Curiosity Cabinet has announced it will be premiering a new radio drama, "Axeman," on Friday, June 25, 2021, at 7:00 pm EDT. The drama is a companion piece to the Cabinet's "Home" (2020), written by Bea Goodwin and scored by the Curiosity Cabinet's founder and Artistic Director, composer Whitney George.

Regina Opera Company Announces Free Summer Concert - 'Celebrate Summer 2021' - Opera Wire

Regina Opera Company will be presenting a free summer concert entitled, "Celebrate Summer 2021" on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at 3:00 pm EDT. The concert will be held at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Gymnasium and will be 90 minutes in length.

Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra Announces Opera-Themed Cruise Along Chicago Shoreline - Opera Wire

Members of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra will set sail for an evening cruise along the Chicago shoreline on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 7:30 pm CDT. The cruise will depart from Shoreline's dock at Polk Bros Park at the southwest corner of Navy Pier.

/kor/ productions to Present 'PRIDE' Featuring Songs by Felix Jarrar - Opera Wire

Chicago-based /kor/ productions kicks off the first production of its 2021-22 hybrid season with "PRIDE" on June 24, 2021, at 8:00 pm EDT. This virtual event will feature world premieres of new songs written by award-winning composer Felix Jarrar, and performed by soprano Tracy Cox and bass-baritone Joseph Beutel.

Opera Elect to Present Filmed Opera Concert "A Very Human Experience" - Opera Wire

Boise, Idaho-based Opera Elect will be presenting "A Very Human Experience," a filmed opera concert on Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 7:00 pm EDT. The concert will feature the world premiere of "The Anthropocene Vignettes" by Jessi Harvey, "Non Motus" by Marc Hoffeditz and Ilana Fogelson, and "Sense of Self" by Lisa Neher and Kendra Leonard.

OPERA America to Offer Webinar Series on Mental Health for Opera Professionals - Opera Wire

OPERA America has announced it will be presenting a special series of webinars curated by the Women's Opera Network that will focus on mental health challenges faced by those working in the opera industry. The Taking Care series will begin with "Mental Health Care for Creators and Artists" on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 5:00 pm.

OPERA America Announces 2022 Dues Waiver - Opera Wire

OPERA America has announced a dues waiver for the fiscal year 2022. This is the second consecutive year the organization has issued a waiver. In sum, 170 U.S. Professional Companies and 425 Organizational Members, including Associate, Business, Career Services, and Educational Producing Associate Members, are eligible.

Make Music New York Announces Updated Schedule for Make Music Day - Opera Wire

Make Music New York (MMNY) is set to celebrate Make Music Day on June 21, 2021. The free, live, in-person, and virtual music events are open to the public and begin at 12:00 pm EDT in Manhattan and at various times in other boroughs.

Opera Company of Middlebury to Present Cinematic Retelling of "Candide" - Opera Wire

(Credit: Erica Furgiuele) The Opera Company of Middlebury (OCM) in Vermont has announced a cinematic reimagining of Leonard Bernstein's comic operetta "Candide." The production will stream online as a ticketed event from June 15 to June 30 on the company's YouTube channel.

Dutch National Opera Launches "Soft Valkyrie" Podcast: A Lighter Version of Wagner's "Die Walküre" - Opera Wire

(Credit: David Kanaga, Jaap Dankert, Muhammad Desta Laksana, Danika Perkinson) The Dutch National Opera launched a new podcast series, "Soft Valkyrie," on June 3. Presented by American composer and game designer David Kanaga, the episodic radio play presents Wagner's "Die Walküre" in completely electronic form.

American Opera Project to Present 'Music as Message: Sing Together, Children' Celebrating Juneteenth - Opera Wire

The American Opera Project has announced the fourth live, interactive concert in the Music as Message series created and hosted by Emmy Award-winning soprano Adrienne Danrich. The concert will stream on Sunday, June 13, at 4:00 P.M. EDT.

Mezzo-Soprano Joyce DiDonato Explores Grief in Memorial Day Weekend Episode of 'Sing For Today' - Opera Wire

Credit: Chris Singer Princeton University Concerts and University Music Society (University of Michigan) will present a Memorial Day Weekend episode of star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato's "Sing for Today."

Opera Lafayette Announces 'Fête de la Musique' Schedule - Opera Wire

Washington D.C.-based Opera Lafayette has announced the lineup for its "Fête de la Musique," a free virtual 12-hour classical music feast featuring the music of Bach, Britten, Forqueray, Couperin, Rameau, and Roussel, among others. "Fête de la Musique" kicks off on June 20 and runs from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Young People's Chorus of New York City's Virtual Benefit Gala Raises $1 Million for Its Children Programs - Opera Wire

The Young People's Chorus (YPC) of New York City, one of the most highly acclaimed choruses in the world, held its annual benefit gala virtually on May 10. The event raised over $1 million that will be used to assist 2,000 children in New York City and beyond.

8 Companies Receive $180,000 in Civic Practice Grants from OPERA America - Opera Wire

OPERA America has announced the recipients of $180,000 in Civic Practice Grants. The awards went to eight Professional Company Members that were selected by industry leaders from a pool of 38 applications.

International Contemporary Ensemble to Host the Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum - Opera Wire

In partnership with Opera Omaha and FringeArts, the International Contemporary Ensemble will host the Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum, a free, three-day series of events that center on stories of Black experiences. The Ensemble is an artist collective dedicated to transforming the way music is created and experienced.

LA Opera to Premiere New Digital Short 'Gallup (Na'nízhoozhí)' - Opera Wire

LA Opera announced the premiere of the newly commissioned work, "Gallup (Na'nízhoozhí)," by composer Matthew Aucoin, poet Jake Skeets, and filmmaker Blackhorse Lowe. The premiere is scheduled for May 28, 2021, and will stream for free on LA Opera's On Now platform as part of the company's Digital Shorts initiative.

Concert Touring Company Classical Movements Announces 'Choral Escapes' - Opera Wire

Classical Movements, a leading concert touring organization has announced a new program, "Choral Escapes," a set of offerings crafted for amateur choral singers. Participants will travel to stunning locations within the US to work with renowned choral directors on themed programs that de-emphasize formal performance while providing a safe and relaxing way to enjoy singing.

Film Director James Kicklighter & Female Baritone Lucia Lucas Featured as Guests on 'Tawkin' with the Roses' - Opera Wire

Award-winning film director James Kicklighter and celebrated American baritone Lucia Lucas, were guests on the season finale of "Tawkin with the Roses," hosted by actor Bonnie Rose and cabaret star Stephen S. Miller (aka Mama Rose). The episode is available on Miller's website, and across the web on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cincinnati Song Initiative Announces Season Finale Video Concert 'Let it Be New' - Opera Wire

The Cincinnati Song Initiative, an organization dedicated to connecting diverse communities through the performance and innovation of classical art song, announced its upcoming season finale video concert, "Let it Be New." The finale celebrates new works from Black composers and caps off one of the largest commissioning projects undertaken by the organization to date.

Interlochen Center for the Arts Names Enrique Márquez as Director of Music - Opera Wire

Interlochen Center for the Arts has named Enrique Márquez as the organization's Director of Music. He will assume the role on June 1, 2021. Márquez will lead music programming, pedagogy, and curriculum at Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen Online, and Interlochen College of Creative Arts.

Aural Compass Projects Announces #StopAsianHate Benefit Concert - Opera Wire

As part of its Wear Yellow Proudly initiative, Aural Compass Projects has announced its upcoming benefit concert #StopAsianHate in response to the precipitous rise in violence against Asians. The concert will stream on Tuesday, April 27th, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. EDT via the Wear Yellow Proudly Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Lawrence Brownlee to Open Opera America's Opera Conference 2021 - Opera Wire

One week remains to register for Opera America's Opera Conference 2021 which runs from May 10th, 2021 - May 27, 2021. The opera field will come together to discuss and address key opportunities as the industry rebuilds after devastating closures. The conference's first week, "Artists at the Center" highlights significant innovations produced by individual artists during the pandemic.

Kaufman Music Center Announces 2021 Gala Featuring Angel Blue - Opera Wire

Kaufman Music Center (KMC) has announced its 2021 gala honoring Devorah Rose and David Krieger.

92Y to Resume In-Person Events with Alyson Cambridge and Friends in Concert - Opera Wire

For the first time since March 2020, the Kaufmann Concert Hall will open its doors for in-person events. Soprano Alyson Cambridge, along with members of the Glimmerglass Festival Young Artist Program, will take to the stage in front of a limited audience on May 3, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. EDT.

LA Opera Announces Upcoming After Hours Recitals: 'Latina Composers' and 'Songs of Protest' - Opera Wire

LA Opera has announced the next two installments of its After Hours recital series. The online recitals explore thematic programs and will return live to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion's Founders Room in the fall. Artist in Residence Russell Thomas curated the programs and will host the recitals.

LA Opera Announces Premiere of Short Film 'let me come in' Featuring Soprano Angel Blue - Opera Wire

LA Opera has announced the April 30, 2021 premiere of 'let me come in," a digital short film created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and filmmaker Bill Morrison. Star soprano Angel Blue provided the vocals for the Lang/Morrison collaboration, for which Lang served as both composer and lyricist.

Pocket Opera Announces 'Handel with Care' Mini-Concert - Opera Wire

San Francisco's Pocket Opera has announced the second of its three virtual mini-concerts comprising the company's aptly named PocketWatches series. "Handel with Care" features soprano Marcelle Dronkers and pianist Jefferson Packer performing arias from Handel's "Agrippina," "Alcina," and "Rinaldo." The concert will stream on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 3:00 P.M.

Chicago Fringe Opera Announces First Half of Spring Season - 'City of Works' - Opera Wire

Chicago Fringe Opera (CFO) has announced the first half of its spring season, entitled "City of Works." Crafted with pandemic safety protocols top-of-mind, "City of Works" takes audiences on a journey through Chicago as they travel from one landmark to another. Upon arrival at their destination, audiences unlock digital content using a QR code.

Los Angeles Master Chorale Oratorio Project to Premiere Student-Written 'Naia: The Spirit of Hoyo Negro' - Opera Wire

(Photo Credit: Los Angeles Master Chorale) The Los Angeles Master Chorale's Voices Within Oratorio Project has announced the digital premiere of a new oratorio, "Naia: The Spirit of Hoyo Negro." Released over four days, the digital premiere features four episodes beginning on May 3, 2021, and leading to the presentation of the complete work on May 7, 2021.

Vocal Arts D.C. Announces the Gerald Perman Emerging Artists Recital Featuring Mezzo-Soprano Emily D'Angelo - Opera Wire

Photo Credit: Dario Acosta Vocal Arts D.C. is set to stream the Gerald Perman Emerging Artists Recital featuring mezzo-soprano, Emily D'Angelo, with pianist Sophia Muñoz accompanying. Streaming access begins April 9, 2021, and will be available through 11:59 P.M. on April 18, 2021.

Composer / Pianist Felix Jarrar to Premiere 'Change Comes in Full Glory' Featuring Cantata - 'The Unsleeping Ones' - Opera Wire

Composer/pianist Felix Jarrar, along with soprano Caroline Spaeth, mezzo-soprano Eugenia Forteza, and La Cuarta Productions is set to premiere "Change Comes in Full Glory" on Sunday, April 11, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The program features a cantata entitled "The Unsleeping Ones," as well as two additional pieces penned by Jarrar.

Pocket Opera Announces 'Handel with Care' Mini-Concert - Opera Wire

San Francisco's Pocket Opera has announced the second of its three virtual mini-concerts comprising the company's aptly named PocketWatches series. "Handel with Care" features soprano Marcelle Dronkers and pianist Jefferson Packer performing arias from Handel's "Agrippina," "Alcina," and "Rinaldo." The concert will stream on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 3:00 P.M.

San Francisco Opera's Department of Diversity, Equity and Community Offers New Interactive Talks - Opera Wire

The San Francisco Opera's Department of Diversity, Equity, and Community has announced the spring lineup for the Opera Aficionado virtual interactive conversation series. Each month from April through June, the company will offer themed discussions ranging from Shakespeare's influence on opera to a celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts Releases 'Mission: Commission' Podcast Trailer - Opera Wire

The Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts has announced the release of a trailer for its upcoming podcast series "Mission: Commission," whetting the audience's appetite for the series launch scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, and running on consecutive Tuesdays through May 18.

Opera Critic & Historian Fred Plotkin to Host Virtual Talk: 'A Gay Romp Through Four Centuries of Opera' - Opera Wire

(Photo credit: Frances Marshall) What's opera about? Passion? Drama? Politics? Sex? All the above, of course, and it's been that way since 1597, even in the face of censorship. Yet, the prohibitions around taboo topics such as politics and sex caused composers and librettists to get creative when including such material in their operas.

Q & A: Vincerò Artistic Director Angelo Taddeo on its Inaugural Singing Competition - Opera Wire

Italy, the homeland of opera, is getting its own international vocal competition with the inaugural Vincerò World Singing Competition. The event which commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the great Enrico Caruso's death in 1921, is a celebration of the artist, his hometown of Naples, and Italy's opera culture.

City Opera Vancouver Answers Questions About Wigs in 'Perruqueries' - Opera Wire

(Credit: Chris Randle / City Opera Vancouver) On March 26, City Opera Vancouver released the comic cantata "Perruqueries" on the company's YouTube channel. Composed by Jocelyn Morlock to Bill Richardson's libretto, the video work explores wigs and the people who wear them. Viewing is free.

White Snake Projects Announces Three Online Events Leading Up to New Virtual Opera 'Death By Life' - Opera Wire

Cerise Jacobs' activist opera company, White Snake Projects, is set to host three online events starting on March 30. The projects lead up to the premiere of a new virtual opera, "Death by Life." The new opera examines the intersection of systemic racism and mass incarceration and was conceived as a monument of support for Black Lives Matter.

NYFOS Next to Spotlight Work of Award-Winning Lyricist Mark Campbell - Opera Wire

(Photo credit: Final Note Magazine) For the first time in the history of the New York Festival of Song's NYFOS Next series, the program will focus entirely on the work of one lyricist/librettist, Pulitzer Prize, and Grammy® Award-winner Mark Campbell. The 40-minute virtual concert will take place on April 14, at 7:00 P.M.

2021 Bard SummerScape and Music Festival to Celebrate Nadia Boulanger - Opera Wire

Bard SummerScape is set to kick off on July 8 and run through August 22. As part of SummerScape, the 31st Annual Bard Music Festival will celebrate the life and works of one of the most important women in music history, Nadia Boulanger (1878 - 1979).

Soprano Olivia Warburton & Conductor Finnegan Downie Dear Present 'Sundays at Six' Recital Series - Opera Wire

Award-winning soprano Olivia Warburton is set to team up with Mahler Competition-winning conductor/pianist Finnegan Downie Dear in a continuation of their "Sundays at Six" live-streamed virtual recital series. Founded by Warburton in March 2020, the Berlin-based duo has presented 15 recitals to date, performing music ranging from traditional arias to art songs and Broadway tunes.

Enigma Chamber Opera's Reimagines Mozart's 'The Impresario' Through the Lens of COVID - Opera Wire

Enigma Chamber Opera announced its newest production-a virtual reimagining of Mozart's satiric, comedic singspiel "The Impresario." The company brings the classic tale of backstage intrigue into a pandemic lockdown setting, resulting in a triumph of the creative spirit. "The Impresario" is available free on Enigma's YouTube page.

New York Choral Society Announces Short Film 'Mother to Son' as the Fourth Installment of 'Our Voices' - Opera Wire

The New York Choral Society announced the fourth installment of its season, "Our Voices" with the premiere of Undine Smith Moore's six-minute short film, "Mother to Son." The work is based on Black poet, Langston Hughes' poem. The Society set the premiere for release on April 6 on both the company's website and YouTube channel.

Anthony Roth Costanzo Headlines Works & Process Return of Live Performances at the Guggenheim Museum - Opera Wire

Live performances return at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, starting Friday, March 19. The reduced-capacity performances are part of New York State's "Safely Bring Back the Arts" pilot program. Two concurrent series of performances produced by Works & Progress are scheduled to take place in the Guggenheim's iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rotunda.

Sarasota Opera Announces Sarasota Opera: A Celebration! Honoring Community Support - Opera Wire

Sarasota Opera has announced "Sarasota Opera: A Celebration!" a broadcast event that includes a retrospective saluting the overwhelming support the company has received during its 62nd season of bringing world-class productions to Florida's Gulf Coast.

Interlochen Arts Camp to Continue its 94th Season at Reduced Capacity - Opera Wire

Interlochen Arts Camp has announced it will move forward with its 94th season, reducing in-person campers by 50 percent to adhere to highly effective protocols that successfully thwarted transmission of the virus at the facility's Interlochen Arts Academy. The Academy reported zero instances of community transmission among the 500 students who attended the nation's premier arts boarding high school.

Venice Music Biennale Announces Award of Golden Lion to Composer Kaija Saariaho and Silver Lion to Neue Vocalsolisten - Opera Wire

Venice Music Biennale's new Artistic Director, Lucia Ronchetti, has selected composer Kaija Saariaho as the winner of the Golden Lion (Leone d'oro). Ronchetti chose Saariaho for her breadth of work for voice, vocal ensemble, choir, and the originality of her vocal compositions.

The Canales Project Announces the Upcoming Release of its Debut Compilation Album ​'Hear Her Song' - Opera Wire

The Canales Project (TCP), a nonprofit founded by internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Carla Canales and dedicated to giving voice to issues of identity and culture through song, announced the March 26 release date of Project's debut compilation album, "Hear Our Song."

BIPOC and Women-Led Wilmington Concert Opera Announces their First Completely Virtual Opera 'Dido and Aeneas' - Opera Wire

Wilmington Concert Opera will stream the company's first complete virtual opera, Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas," on April 11 at 2:00 P.M. EDT, on Wilmington Concert Opera's YouTube channel and includes a live chat with the cast.

Chicago Opera Theater to Present 'The Puppy Episode' - Opera Wire

(Credit: Sean Su) Chicago Opera Theater (COT) will present "The Puppy Episode," with music by Matthew Recio, a COT Vanguard Emerging Opera Composer. The premiere is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are available for purchase until 7:30 P.M. the following day, and ticket-holders will have 24 hours to stream the opera.

Against the Grain Theatre Commissions 'Identity: A Song Cycle' Exploring Multiple and Shifting Identities - Opera Wire

Toronto's Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) has announced the commission of composer Dinuk Wijeratne and writer/poet Shauntay Grant's "Identity: A Song Cycle." Baritone Elliot Madore will perform the cycle that charts the protagonist's journey of self-discovery. The song cycle will premiere as a film in 2022 with an eye toward producing a live show in the future.

Hartford Opera Theater to Present World Premiere of 'Changing Fortunes' - Part Two of 'Fortune's Children: A Zoom Opera' - Opera Wire

The Hartford Opera Theatre (HOT) will give the world premiere of "Changing Fortunes: A Zoom Opera," part two of composer/librettist David Wolfson's "Fortune's Children: A Zoom Opera" on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13 at 7:00 P.M. EST.

Manhattan School of Music Names Dr. Carleen Graham as the Inaugural Associate Dean and Director of Vocal Arts - Opera Wire

The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) has named educator, director, and arts ambassador Dr. Carleen Graham as its inaugural Associate Dean and Director of Vocal Arts. Graham assumes her new role beginning on June 1, 2021.

Nicole Braunger to Remain Opera Director at Staatstheater Karlsruhe Until Summer 2024 - Opera Wire

Nicole Braunger, the first woman opera director at Staatstheater Karlsruhe, will stay on with the theater for three more years, until the summer of 2024, as part of an interim management restructuring at the opera house, Badische Neuste Nachrichten reported on February 25.

Academy of Vocal Arts' 2020-21 Season Continues with Three Virtual Concerts - Opera Wire

The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) has announced the continuation of its virtual season with three upcoming spring performances. On Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 P.M. EST, the Academy will present a virtual performance of "Jubilate! A Concert of Sacred Music." AVA will film the annual concert at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.

OPERA America Awards IDEA Opera Grants to Support Two New Works by Composers & Librettists of Color - Opera Wire

OPERA America awarded the second cycle of IDEA Opera Grants (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) to composer/librettist Damon Davis; and composer Liliya Ugay and librettist Sokunthary Svay.

Boston Symphony Orchestra Appoints Gail Samuel as its First Female President & CEO - Opera Wire

The Boston Symphony Orchestra appointed Gail Samuel as its first female Julian and Eunice Cohen President and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment will be finalized on June 21. Upon Samuel's installation, she will be the eighth president of the 140-year-old renowned music organization.

Des Moines Metro Opera to Present 'Zachary James on Broadway' - Opera Wire

Star of opera and Broadway, Zachary James, will tread the virtual boards when Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) presents "Zachary James on Broadway" on March 19 at 7:30 P.M. CST.

IDAGIO Appoints John Kieser to Director of Partnerships - Opera Wire

Till Janczukowicz, Founder and CEO of the leading streaming service for classical music, IDAGIO, announced the appointment of John Kieser as Director of Partnerships. Kieser was the Executive Vice President and Provost of the New World Symphony for the past five years and will continue to work with that organization as Executive Vice President of Media.

WQXR Announces 2021 STAR Initiative to Support New York City's Creative Communities - Opera Wire

WQXR, New York City's only all-classical radio station, announced four platforms to aid the city's creative community and sustain the arts culture for which The Big Apple is famous. The station's multi-pronged approach named STAR (Salutes The ARts) represents the first initiative led by WQXR's new Chief Content Officer and Senior Vice President, Ed Yim.

Music of Remembrance to Present 'Return to Amasia' Recalling the Armenian Genocide - Opera Wire

Music of Remembrance (MOR), a music organization dedicated to remembering the Holocaust through music, will present "Return to Amasia" on February 28 at 5:00 P.M. PST. The concert will be available for one week following the premiere. The online presentation features the world premiere of a new work by composer Eric Hachikian, the grandson of survivors of the Armenian genocide.

Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre to Present Mozart's 'Bastien and Bastienne' With Island-Inspired Digital Production - Opera Wire

Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre (HOT) will present the company's digital debut of Mozart's "Bastien & Bastienne" beginning on February 12 at HOT Digital. Audiences can pre-order tickets now.

Opera Elect Announces Virtual World Premiere of Felix Jarrar's 'The Oval Portrait' - Opera Wire

Boise, Idaho's Opera Elect has announced the Feb. 21, 2021 virtual world premiere performance of composer/pianist Felix Jarrar's "The Oval Portrait," featuring baritone Andrew Jurden and pianist Chad Spears. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, "Life in Death" and "The Oval Portrait," Jarrar's micro opera relates the story of a painter's descent into drug-induced madness.

Opera San José Offers Personalized Virtual Valentine's Day Telegrams - Opera Wire

Looking for a unique Valentine's Day gift? Opera San José will send your special someone a personalized Virtual Valentine's Day Telegram sung by one of the company's acclaimed Resident Artists. The Telegram includes a customized greeting.

Fleur Barron & Myra Huang Headline All-Asian Digital Concert with Aural Compass Projects - Opera Wire

Mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron and Grammy® Award-nominated pianist Myra Huang will perform an all-Asian digital concert with Aural Compass Projects entitled, "On Belonging." The recital premieres on February 21 and features a program including Aural Compass Projects' first commissioned work, "Bright Fear" with music by Raymond Yiu and text by Mary Jean Chan.

Soprano Adrienne Danrich Headlines American Opera Project's Valentine's Day Edition of 'Music as Message' - Opera Wire

The American Opera Project (AOP) will present the second installment of "Music as the Message: Sing Me to the End of Love" on February 14 at 4:00 p.m. EST. The event is free with goodwill donations accepted and will stream on Zoom through AOPTV.

Canadian Opera Company Names Toronto-Based Amplified Opera as Disruptor-in-Residence - Opera Wire

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) has selected Toronto-based Amplified Opera as its first Disruptor-in-Residence, a newly developed program that grew out of the COC's Company-in-Residence and is part of the COC Academy. Amplified Opera will take part in the two-year residency aimed at providing resources and support for emerging companies.

The Cleveland Orchestra Announces Promotion of Vinay Parameswaran to Associate Conductor - Opera Wire

The Cleveland Orchestra announced the immediate promotion of Vinay Parameswaran to Associate Conductor, continuing his three-and-a-half-year tenure with the Orchestra through the 2021-22 season. Parameswaran, who served as the Orchestra's Assistant Conductor since 2017, will continue to hold the Elizabeth Ring and William Gwinn Mather Assistant Conductor Endowed Chair, despite his new title.

Fort Worth Opera Announces Expansion of Spring 2021 Lineup Including Collaboration with Met Opera - Opera Wire

Fort Worth Opera (FWO) has announced an expansion of its 2021 spring lineup that comprises a film festival in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera, a virtual celebration of Black History Month, a collaboration with Opera San José, drive-in events, and more.

Felix Jarrar & Bea Goodwin to Stream Virtual Benefit Concert for Artist Relief Tree - Opera Wire

Long time collaborators pianist/composer Felix Jarrar and lyricist/librettist Bea Goodwin have announced "Looking: a Jarrar/Goodwin Benefit for Artist Relief Tree" The event, scheduled for Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. EST features tenor Josh Kaneklides and soprano Caroline Spaeth. The performance will stream on Jarrar's YouTube Channel and is free to watch.

The Santa Fe Opera Announces New Digital Series Consider the Source - Opera Wire

The Santa Fe Opera announced a digital initiative exploring the literary works behind the operas planned for its 2021 Festival Season. Consider the Source Conversations and Seminars start January 19 and run through May 20.

Opera Saratoga Launches New Virtual Education Program Featuring World Premiere of 'The Selfish Giant' - Opera Wire

Opera Saratoga has taken its OPERA-TO-GO education program virtual, according to the company's recent press release. The organization converted the format of the popular program in response to the continued rise of COVID infections across the United States and addresses ongoing safety concerns for all involved in the program.

Art Song Platform Sparks & Wiry Cries to Present NYC songSLAM Festival - Opera Wire

New York-based global art song platform Sparks & Wiry Cries will present its flagship NYC songSLAM Festival with twelve days of song in a virtual event beginning on Jan. 11 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The 2021 songSLAM runs through Jan. 22 and will showcase 14 emerging composer and performer teams presenting new art song competitions.

Felix Jarrar to Debut 'The Jarrar Trio' with Virtual Boston Premiere of 'The Ulster County Songbook' - Opera Wire

Composer/pianist Felix Jarrar has announced his first 2021 concert with the virtual Boston premiere of his song cycle, "The Ulster County Songbook" on January 15 at 7:30 p.m. EST. "The Ulster County Songbook" will showcase the composer's new ensemble, The Jarrar Trio, comprising Jarrar, tenor Fran Daniel Laucerica, and baritone Gray Leiper.

Cappella Clausura Presents Video Production of Chiara Cozzolani's 'Magnificat' - Opera Wire

Music continues to find a way during the pandemic, this time with Boston-based Cappella Clausura's video production of the 17th-century female composer, Donna Chiara Margarita Cozzolani's "Magnificat." The video is currently available for streaming on the organization's website and YouTube. Dedicated to presenting female composers' works from the 9th-century to the present, Cappella Clausura's production foregrounds Cozzolani's circa 1650 masterpiece.

Boston Lyric Opera to Stream Animated Film Version of Philip Glass and Arthur Yorinks' 'Fall of the House of Usher' - Opera Wire

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) announced the January 29 debut of a full-length animated presentation of Philip Glass and Arthur Yorinks' "Fall of the House of Usher." The project, directed by film and opera director James Darrah, in collaboration with Spanish screenwriter Raúl Santos, will air exclusively on BLO's operabox.tv.

Barn Opera to Present American Premiere of Andrew Ager's 'A Christmas Carol' - Opera Wire

On December 21, Barn Opera will present the first of a two-part Christmas Special. Part One features the American premiere of Canadian composer Andrew Ager's 30-minute operatic adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The program will stream for free on the company's webpage at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Chiltern Arts Presents Excerpts from Britten's 'Saint Nicolas' Via Free-to-Watch Short Film - Opera Wire

Chiltern Arts presents excerpts from Benjamin Britten's "Saint Nicolas" cantata via a free-to-view 20-minute video celebrating the story of Santa Claus. Director Bill Barclay has created a powerful, spiritually uplifting film that anticipates the time when we will once more come together to celebrate musicmaking.

Former Vice-President at Columbia Artists Opens Minerva Artists - Opera Wire

Former vice-president at Columbia Artists, Michael Benchetrit, has struck out on his own, founding Minerva Artists with 15 high-profile artists entrusting their careers to the seasoned agent. Benchetrit was at Columbia for 25 years before the agency shuttered in August.

Composer/Pianist Felix Jarrar & Friends to Conclude 2020 Virtual Performances With Holiday Special 'Felix Navidad' - Opera Wire

Composer/Pianist Felix Jarrar will wrap his virtual performances for 2020 with a filmed recording of "Felix Navidad" on Wednesday, December 23, at 7:30 p.m. EST. The holiday special will stream on ​the composer's YouTube channel​. "Felix Navidad" features soprano Théodora Cattarel, mezzo-soprano JoAnna Pope, and bass-baritone Joseph Beutel.

Grand Teton Music Festival Announces Five-Year Contract Extension for Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles - Opera Wire

Grand Teton Music Festival's (GTMF) Board of Directors has extended Sir Donald Runnicles' contract as Music Director through 2026 with Board Co-Chairs John Costello and Barbara McCelvey crediting the maestro with the artistic growth of the Festival and outstanding leadership, according to the Festival's press release.

Quinn Kelsey to Headline Hawai'i Opera Theatre's First Opera Kanikapila - Opera Wire

Hawai'i Opera Theatre (HOT) is set to host its first kanikapila, and impromptu jam session, featuring HOT's own international star, baritone Quinn Kelsey. Virtuoso 'ukelele player, Taimane, will join Kelsey for the inaugural session on January 29 at 1:00 p.m.HST/6:00 p.m. EST.

Zachary James Releases Original Video Rendition of Poe's 'The Raven' - Opera Wire

Broadway, opera, and television star Zachary James has released an original video capture of Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem, "The Raven." James' collaborator, multi-genre composer Kristin Hevner, penned a lush and haunting cinematic score for the bass-baritone's portrayal of the tortured poet, lending wonderful ambiance as the audience takes a visual trip through Poe's masterpiece.

Composer/Pianist Felix Jarrar Presents ​'Too Hot to Handel: A Virtual Messiah Part One' - Opera Wire

It's the holiday season, a time when performances of Handel's "Messiah" are a long-standing tradition. But with the world in the grip of a second wave the COVID-19 pandemic, music organizations large and small have looked for new ways to perform the work safely.

Chautauqua Opera Company Premieres 'In Our Silence,' a New Song Cycle for Our Times - Opera Wire

On December 3, Chautauqua Opera Company premiered Part One of a new three-part song cycle entitled, "In our Silence." Part Two is set to premiere on Dec. 10 and Part Three on Dec. 17, with each performance broadcast at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Take a Peaceful Walk in 'The Forest' with Award-Winning Choir, The Crossing - Opera Wire

The Grammy® Award-winning professional choir, The Crossing, is inviting audiences to take a walk in the woods with its new film, "The Forest." The Crossing released the 20-minute film on November 24 and is available on the choir's YouTube channel.

Trinity Church Wall Street to Stream Interactive High-Definition Performance of Handel's 'Messiah' - Opera Wire

Trinity Church Wall Street announced a special, high-definition, interactive stream of its 2019 concert performance of Handel's "Messiah," featuring the Grammy®-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Music Director Julian Wachner. The performance will stream on Facebook on December 13 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Obituary: Italian Soprano Eugenia Ratti Dies at 87 - Opera Wire

Soprano Eugenia Ratti died in her hometown of Piacenza on November 16, 2020 at the age of 87. Ratti was a contemporary of Maria Callas, singing opposite the famed soprano in 1957 at Teatro alla Scala as Lisa in the Visconti production of "La sonnambula," conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

Atlanta Opera Announces December Launch of Spotlight Media - Opera Wire

The Atlanta Opera (TAO), hailed by the industry as being at the forefront of opera's response to the pandemic with its innovative "Big Tent" series, announced the December 15 launch of Atlanta Opera Spotlight Media.

Fort Worth Opera Announces World Premiere Streaming of 'Bernadette's Cozy Book Nook' - Opera Wire

Fort Worth Opera (FWO) announced the world premiere of "Bernadette's Cozy Book Nook," a film by composer and FWO Artistic Director Joe Illick and Pulitizer Prize and Grammy® Award-winning librettist Mark Campbell. The film, part of FWO's Green Room digital initiative, premieres on January 14, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.

Royal College of Music to Premiere 'Opera Scenes' - Opera Wire

The Royal College of Music (RCM) announced additional details about its upcoming two-part series, Opera Scenes. RCM selected works from across the repertoire that touch on themes of isolation, separation, and resolution. The premiere of Opera Scenes will stream on the College's YouTube channel and Facebook page on Nov.

Oregon Symphony Cancels All Live Concerts Until June 2021 - Opera Wire

Oregon Symphony announced this week that the organization has canceled all live concerts and events until June 14, 2021. The Symphony's decision comes at a time when COVID-19 cases within the United States have exploded weeks ahead of health officials' predictions, and the country enters a dangerous season of family get-togethers.

Lacey Huszcza Named New Executive Director of Richmond Symphony - Opera Wire

The Richmond Symphony has named Lacey Huszcza as the organization's new Executive Director. Her turn at the helm begins on Dec.1. Huszcza will succeed David Fisk, who was tapped to head the Charlotte (North Carolina) Symphony earlier this year. "The search committee selected Lacey Huszcza unanimously from an outstanding field of candidates to become the Richmond Symphony's next Executive Director.

Manhattan School of Music Announces Inaugural Roster of Artists Scholars - Opera Wire

Manhattan School of Music, one of the premier music schools in the United States, announced a roster of 24 Black artists ranging from instrumentalists to educators, authors, activists, composers, and singers to become Artists Scholars. The illustrious roster includes Pulitzer Prize winning composer Anthony Davis, classical pianist Lara Downes, and novelist Tayari Jones.

Barn Opera Announces October Surprise: The World Premiere of Jarrar-Goodwin's 'Patience & Pearl' - Opera Wire

Frequent collaborators, composer Felix Jarrar and librettist Bea Goodwin, continue their string of operatic works with "Patience and Pearl," a micro-opera relating the story of Pearl Curran, a historical 20th-century medium with the ability to channel the words and poetry of the supposed spirit of Patience Worth.

Music Academy of the West Announces Beth Morrison Projects Residency - Opera Wire

The Music Academy of the West announced Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) will be in residence in Santa Barbara from June 28 to July 25, 2021. Partnering with BMP, a company known as one of the most innovative in the industry advances the Academy's commitment to growing young artists at a time when imaginative thinking is critical to long-term success.

The American Opera Project to Stream Six-Part Video Album 'First Glimpse' - Opera Wire

The American Opera Project (AOP) announced the streaming of "First Glimpse," a video album of 20 songs composed during the first year of AOP's 2019-2020 cycle of Composers & the Voice, a two-year, tuition-free fellowship for composers and librettists that provides experience writing for the voice and opera stage.

Carnegie Hall Streams Highlights from Joyce DiDonato's Three Master Classes - Opera Wire

On October 21 at 2:00 p.m. ET, the "Learn with Carnegie Hall" series continues with an episode featuring highlights from acclaimed mezzo-soprano and audience favorite Joyce DiDonato's three Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute (WMI) master classes. The program will stream on the Hall's Facebook and YouTube channels.

Helios Opera's Modular Opera Project Presents Felix Jarrar & B.L. Foxley's "Stardust" - Opera Wire

Helios Opera's second project to emerge from their Modular Opera Project (MOP) is Felix Jarrar and B.L. Foxley's monodrama "Stardust." The world premiere is scheduled for December 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET, with affinity groups co-hosting future screenings. The creatives behind "Stardust" form an entirely BIPOC team.

Morris Robinson Hosts 'A Concert for Equity in the Arts' Presented by Sparrow Live - Opera Wire

Star bass Morris Robinson will host "A Concert for Equity in the Arts" presented by Sparrow Live on Oct. 25, 2020.

Opéra de Montréal Receives $700K to Form Incubator for Digital Opera Projects - Opera Wire

Opéra de Montréal announced $700,0000 dollars in financial support from the Ministére de la culture et dans communications Ambition numérique initiative.

The Royal Swedish Opera's Revival of Rufus Wainwright's 'Prima Donna' Opens October 10 - Opera Wire

The Royal Swedish Opera opens a new production of acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright's "Prima Donna" on October 10, running through November 14. "Prima Donna's" libretto is Wainwright's, written in collaboration with Bernadette Colomine. "Prima Donna," billed as a tribute to the art of Romantic opera, premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2009.

Zachary James Announces Debut Visual Album 'CALL OUT' Featuring All-Female Composers - Opera Wire

Star opera and Broadway performer, Zachary James, announced the December release of his debut visual album, "CALL OUT." The album showcases the new compositions of 11 female composers with text ranging from Twitter to Edgar Allan Poe.

Experiments in Opera to Release Five-Episode Opera Podcast: 'Aqua Net & Funyuns' - Opera Wire

What happens when you take four librettists under quarantine and have them write in a virtual, TV-inspired writers' room? Answer: Brooklyn, New York-based Experiments in Opera's five-part podcast opera, "Aqua Net & Funyuns." All episodes will be available for streaming or downloading on December 7, with each running about 25 minutes.

Bass-Baritone Davóne Tines Pays Tribute to Breonna Taylor With 'VIGIL' - Opera Wire

Lincoln Center announced a new video scheduled for release on September 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Boston Camerata to Stage Its First Digital Opera: 'Dido and Aeneas, An Opera for Distanced Lovers' - Opera Wire

Boston Camerata is marking the 40th anniversary year of the release of its landmark period-instrument recording of Purcell/Tate's "Dido and Aeneas" with a new digital production of the opera set to stream from November 14-29. The cast is led by mezzo-soprano Tahanee Aluwihare as Dido and baritone Luke Scott as Aeneas.

Spoleto Festival USA General Director Nigel Redden Retires After 35 Years - Opera Wire

The Spoleto Festival USA General Director Nigel Redden announced his retirement in a statement Thursday, September 24. Redden cited the cancellation of the 2020 season and "the enforced isolation of the past several months," as his reasons for departure after 35 years at the Festival's helm.

Felix Jarrar Presents 'Treasure Chest: A Social Distancing Salon' Virtual Recital - Opera Wire

Award-winning composer Felix Jarrar kicks off fall 2020 with "Treasure Chest: A Social Distancing Salon." The virtual recital will stream on Jarrar's YouTube channel on Sunday, October 18, at 5:00 p.m. ET. "Treasure Chest" features soprano Kirsten Kunkle performing art songs written by Jarrar with text by librettist/lyricist Bea Goodwin.

Lincoln Center to Host Food Bank for New York City Pop-Up Food Pantry With Live Music - Opera Wire

On Thursday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m until 2:00 p.m., Lincoln Center, in partnership with Food Bank for New York City, will host a pop-up food pantry.

New York Polyphony Announces Release of Innovative Audiovisual Project 'Aleph Earth" - Opera Wire

Grammy ®-nominated vocal chamber ensemble New York Polyphony announced the release of "Aleph Earth," a 12-minute visual presentation produced in collaboration with the University of Oregon's Artificial Intelligence Creative Practice Research Group (AICP).

Aural Compass Projects Accepting Submissions to 1st Annual Emerging Composer Competition - Opera Wire

Aural Compass Projects invites emerging composers to submit art song compositions for a chance to win a $250 cash prize and the opportunity for the work to be produced, performed, and recorded as part of a future ACP project. The music organization's 1st Annual Emerging Composers Competition opened for submissions on September 1 and will close at 11:59 p.m.

Mezzo-Soprano Carla Canales to Release Genre-Busting Debut Album, 'Duende' - Opera Wire

Mexican-American mezzo-soprano Carla Canales will release her experimental debut album entitled "Duende" on October 9.

Luca Pisaroni Headlines Decameron Opera Coalition's Operatic Reimagining of 'The Decameron' - Opera Wire

(Credit: Frances Marshall) In 1353, a few years after the Black Death raged in Florence, Giovanni Boccaccio finished "The Decameron," 100 stories told by seven women and three men holed up in a countryside villa as they awaited the passing of the plague.

Lied Society to Live Stream World Premiere of Anthony Davis' Latest Work - Opera Wire

On October 18 at 4:00 p.m. CT, The Lied Society will broadcast the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Anthony Davis' "We Call the Roll," a work commissioned by the Society in partnership with the Schubert Club. The broadcast will stream live on The Lied Society's website and hosted by Trilloquy podcast host Garrett McQueen.

Baruch Performing Arts Center & Opera Omaha Co-Production of 'dwb (driving while black)' to Have Virtual New York Premiere - Opera Wire

The Baruch Performing Arts Center and Opera Omaha's co-production of "dwb (driving while black)" will get its virtual New York premiere on October 23-29. The work was originally set to have its New York premiere in March 2020, just as the pandemic ground the performing arts to an abrupt halt.

Naomi Lewin to Host New York's 92Y 'Unsung Heroes of the Opera: Vocal Coaches' - Opera Wire

New York City's premier cultural and community organization, 92Y, will present "Unsung Heroes of the Opera: Vocal Coaches," an online and in-person class featuring three heavy-hitters of the opera and classical music world.

Fort Worth Opera Announces Digital-Debut Performances & 2020-21 Resident Artists - Opera Wire

Fort Worth Opera has announced additional details about its fall virtual season under a new online initiative, FWO Green Room. The company has two performances planned beginning on Tuesday, September 20 with the digital debut of the Fort Worth Opera Chorus singing Moses Hogan's "His Light Still Shines."

Guildhall School of Music & Drama Announces New Broadcast Technology & Autumn 2020 Events - Opera Wire

London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama has announced the installation of low-latency broadcast technology to facilitate large scale musical collaboration within the school while maintaining social distancing measures. The technology represents a significant investment in Guildhall's streaming and broadcast capabilities.

Les Arts Florissants' 2020 Dans Les Jardins de William Christie Festival to Concludes This Weekend - Opera Wire

Les Arts Florissants' 2020 "Dans Les Jardins de William Christie" Festival opened in Thiré, France on August 22 with a performance of Handel's "L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato," the composer's pastoral based on the poetry of John Milton. The production kicked off the annual event that combines the thrilling beauty of Baroque music and the art of gardens.

Alexandra Nowakowski & Hannah Ludwig to Present 'Music, Give Us Hope' - Opera Wire

Academy of Vocal Arts Class of 2018 award-winning alumnae, soprano Alexandra Nowakowski, mezzo-soprano Hannah Ludwig, and pianist José Meléndez will perform a live streamed recital entitled, "Music, Give Us Hope," on Saturday, September 5 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

New Voices Opera Artistic Director Duncan Holzhall Releases 'Voices of Tomorrows Songs' - Opera Wire

Duncan Holzhall, a creative leader, writer, and performing arts producer announced the release of his new book, "Voices of Tomorrows Songs." The book details a vision statement for the industry dictated by young professionals entering the field.

FringeArts Announces 2020 Philadelphia Fringe Festival Lineup - Opera Wire

Philadelphia's FringeArts has announced its 2020 lineup featuring 12 curated productions ranging from music to theater, installation art, and more with 114 independently-produced shows across genres and platforms. The 24th annual event runs from September 10 through October 4. On the musical end of the spectrum, there are four performances of note, all presented in a virtual format.

Kaufman Music Center to Present Lisa Bielawa's Entire 'Broadcast from Home' Song Cycle - Opera Wire

Audiences will have the opportunity to hear the award-winning composer, vocalist, and producer, Lisa Bielawa's "Broadcast from Home" song cycle in its entirety during a two-part listening event on Thursday, August 20 at 2:00 p.m. EDT and Friday, August 21 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The program is presented by Kaufman Music Center.

Be An Arts Hero Seeking Emergency $43.85 Billion in Relief for Arts & Culture from U.S. Senate - Opera Wire

With the Arts and Culture sector's 5.1 million Americans out of work, BeAnArtsHero.com, an intersectional grass-roots campaign to provide proportionate relief to the sector, has sent an open letter to the U.S. Senate calling on the body to pass $43.85 billion in direct relief to artists and arts institutions.

Opera Omaha Moves Annual 'Opera Outdoors' Concert to the Airwaves - Opera Wire

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in the Omaha area, concerns about safety have prompted Opera Omaha to move the company's annual concert, Opera Outdoors, from the lawn to live audio broadcast. Opera Omaha has partnered with radio station, Classical 90.7, KVNO, to ensure all who wish to enjoy the concert can do so from the safety of their homes.

Tête à Tête to Present First Performance to a Live Audience Indoors in UK - Opera Wire

"The Other Side of the Sea & Beyond," a program of operatic excerpts performed solo by soprano Héloïse Werner, will be the United Kingdom's initial foray into bringing live audiences back into the theater. On July 26, Tête à Tête was the first opera company selected to present a live performance of opera in a theater to a live audience.

Opera Coaches Rachelle Jonck & Derick Goff Launch Bel Canto Boot Camp - Opera Wire

Two New York City-based opera coaches, Rachelle Jonck and Derrick Goff have launched Bel Canto Boot Camp, a space for singers who had their performances canceled and have no access to in-person rehearsals, lessons, or coaching.

Theodore Front Music Selects Dr. Adolphus Hailstork As August's Composer of the Month - Opera Wire

Theodore Front Music Literature, Inc., a leading sheet music and music book dealer based in Santa Clarita, California has named Black composer, Dr. Adolphus Hailstork as its composer of the month. Hailstork is currently at work on a George Floyd requiem cantata titled "A Knee On a Neck."

Nashville Opera Announces 40th Anniversary Season - Opera Wire

Nashville Opera celebrates its 40th Anniversary Season with a lineup of new and standard rep productions, including a streaming world premiere, an online concert with surprise guests and an aria-auction, and Verdi's "Rigoletto," starring the celebrated tenor Zach Borichevsky as the Duke of Mantua.

Lincoln Center to Cease Paying Above-Market Interest Rates by Ending Derivative Deal Known as Swaps - Opera Wire

Lincoln Center, the heart of New York's performing arts scene, comprising the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet, has agreed to pay two Wall Street banks $73 million to end its contracted interest-rate swaps, according to a Bloomberg report.

Royal Opera House to Stream ZooNation's 'The Mad Hatter's Tea Party' - Opera Wire

The Royal Opera House continues its #OurHouseToYourHouse program with a screening of ZooNation's family-friendly "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party" on Friday, July 31 at 7:00 p.m. BST. ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, a British hip-hop influenced dance company, reimagines Lewis Carroll's classic tale with a 21st-century twist, zeroing in on perceptions of mental illness and the concept of "normality."

New Digital Media Company OSSIA Launches Op Culture Channel - Opera Wire

OSSIA, a new digital media company arrived on the opera scene on July 16. Co-founded by four artists from within the industry, OSSIA's mission is to open the door to the world of opera through engaging digital content. The company's initial foray into the content space is "Op Culture," a digital channel dedicated to providing original content to global audiences.

Opera on the James & The Listening Present #LifeTheseDays - Opera Wire

The Lynchburg, Virginia-based Opera on the James has partnered with The Listening Inc., an arts advocacy and mentoring nonprofit serving underrepresented and disadvantaged youth, to create a song cycle entitled #LifeTheseDays.

Royal Opera House Expands Free Content Offerings as Streaming Series Continues - Opera Wire

The Royal Opera House, in partnership with The Luna Drive In Cinema, will bring the opera and ballet to British audiences at drive-in theaters set up at iconic venues, a press release dated July 10 stated.

Clare Burovac Named General Director - Designate of New Orleans Opera - Opera Wire

Clare Burovac has been named General Director - Designate of New Orleans Opera, effective immediately. Burovac is the first woman to take the helm of the historic arts organization and succeeds Robert Lyall who is stepping down as General Director, as of September 15, 2020.

BBC Philharmonic & Omer Meir Wellber Launch 'The Music Room: Beyond Beethoven' In-Conversation Series - Opera Wire

The BBC Philharmonic announced a new series entitled "The Music Room" with Chief Conductor Omer Meir Wellber. The series kicks off on Thursday, July 16 at 8 p.m. BST, with filmed online in-conversations hosted by BBC Philharmonic Chief Conductor Omer Meir Wellber.

The Kennedy Center Announces Long-Term Social Impact Initiatives - Opera Wire

On Thursday, July 9, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the continuation and expansion of long-term Social Impact initiatives leveraging the arts for non-arts outcomes.

Off the Beaten Track: Exploring Race & Identity in Richard Thompson's 'The Mask in the Mirror' - Opera Wire

As we wrap up June and African-American Music Month, Off the Beaten Track explores the 2019 recording of composer and librettist Richard Thompson's "The Mask in the Mirror," the story of the ill-fated romance between America's first Black poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Alice Ruth Moore, a New Orleans Creole, poet, journalist, and early civil rights advocate.

Dutch National Opera & Ballet Announces the Fall 2020 Departure of General Manager Els van der Plas - Opera Wire

Dutch National Opera & Ballet announced the November 1, 2020 departure of General Director Els van der Plas. The announcement, posted on Dutch National Opera's Facebook page on July 3, stated van der Plas will join the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht as the art museum's business manager.

United States Conference of Mayors Adopt Resolution Urging Congress to Provide Long-Term Relief for Arts & Cultural Institutions - Opera Wire

San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti spearheaded efforts by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) to adopt a resolution urging Congress to provide long-term relief funding for arts and cultural institutions as the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated within the United States, according to a press release issued by the USCM on July 1.

Nadine Sierra & Michael Fabiano Headline Festival Napa Valley's 'One Night, Many Voices' Virtual Concert - Opera Wire

California Wine Country's premiere music festival, Festival Napa Valley, will present "One Night, Many Voices," a free, global, virtual concert featuring a star-studded line-up of performers, including Soprano Nadine Sierra and tenor Michael Fabiano. The concert will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2020.

Mozart's 'Requiem' Opens Granada Festival in Tribute to COVID-19 Victims - Opera Wire

The 69th Grenada Festival opened its 32-day extravaganza of music with a solemn performance of Mozart's "Requiem" at the Granada Cathedral. Soloists soprano Katharina Konradi, countertenor Carlos Mena, tenor Xabier Anduaga and bass-baritone Carlos Álvarez joined the Grenada Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Andrea Marcon.

Steven Brosvik Named President and CEO of Utah Symphony-Utah Opera - Opera Wire

In a decision announced by the Utah Symphony-Utah Opera on June 24th, Steven Brosvik, chief operations officer at the Nashville Symphony, has been named President and CEO of Utah's flagship music organizations. Brosvik has held the position of COO at Nashville for 15 years and will assume his new role on August 17th.

Opera Ithaca to Create Filmed Production of Puccini Classic - Opera Wire

Opera Ithaca announced plans for a September release of an original filmed production of the Puccini/Forzano comedic opera, "Gianni Schicchi." The New York State-based company is working to revamp its 2020-21 season as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt live performances in the United States and abroad.

The Drunken Tenor Teams Up with Seattle Opera for Tongue-in-Cheek Performance - Opera Wire

Metropolitan Opera tenor Robert McPherson, in collaboration with Seattle Opera, will showcase the singer's soused alter-ego The Drunken Tenor in "The Drunken Tenor: Quarantini Edition." The program is set to stream on the company's website, YouTube, and Facebook June 26th at 7:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. EDT).

New Opera West to Premiere 'Having Guests for Dinner' Micro-Opera - Opera Wire

On June 27th at 5:00 p.m. PDT (8:00 p.m. EDT), New Opera West (NOW) will premiere "Having Guests for Dinner" a virtual 16-minute "trash micro-opera" composed by Nicholas Bentz with libretto by Robert Feng. The event is free, but RSVPs are required and can be reserved here.

MCANA Picks Tesori and Thompson's 'Blue' as Winner of Best New Opera Award - Opera Wire

On June 17th, the Music Critics Association of North America (MCANA) announced "Blue" as winner of its Fourth Annual Award for Best New Opera. "Blue," composed by Jeanine Tesori with libretto by Tazewell Thompson, premiered at the Glimmerglass Festival in July 2019 and tells the story of an African American couple residing in Harlem, New York City.

Paris Opera to Initiate Advance Renovation of Stage Equipment Starting July 2020 - Opera Wire

Operations to renovate certain parts of stage equipment at the Paris Opera has been approved by the organization's Board of Directors with work slated to begin July 2020. Originally planned for the 2021 off-season, the move advances possibilities for broader programming by mid-2021 when the opera anticipates an environment more conducive to presenting performances.

Chandos Records Announces World Premiere Release of Dame Ethel Smyth's 'The Prison' - Opera Wire

Chandos Records announced the August 7th release of British composer Dame Ethel Smyth's "The Jail." The recording features such soloists as soprano Sarah Brailey and baritone Dashon Burton backed by the Experiential Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of James Blachly.

Opera San José Announces New Digital Performance Space to Stream Fully-Produced Opera - Opera Wire

Opera San José has announced plans to create the Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio, a state-of-the-art performance space housed within Opera San José headquarters in Northern California. The project demonstrates OSJ's commitment to presenting the first half of its 2020 - 21 season while safeguarding audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.