The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2021 summer festival which will run between July 2 and 25. The company announced that its new season was developed in conjunction with the Medical Advisory Panel and that all 225 company members completed a COVID-19 vaccination series prior to their arrival for the festival. Additionally, all audience members will be required {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has unveiled that its own Virtual Opera Curriculum to teachers, parents, and schools around the country free of charge. The program, an online music education series, teaches students the basics of opera and culminates with a professional, filmed performance of the children’s opera “Rusalka: The Little Mermaid,” which is adapted from Dvorak’s iconic “Rusalka.” “Rusalka: The {…}
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. James will perform his award-winning one-man show with Broadway pianist Charity Wicks as a continuation of DMMO’s Virtual Concert Series The program includes popular Broadway numbers mixed with stories from {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its inaugural virtual holiday program “Merry & Bright Holiday Concert,” which is set for Dec. 18, 2020. The online program will feature performances from such artists as tenor Jonathan Burton, mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle, tenor Joseph Dennis, soprano Sara Gartland, bass Zachary James, soprano Alexandra LoBianco, soprano Zulimar López-Hernández, mezzo-soprano Megan Marino, baritone Michael Mayes, {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced the programming for their 2021 Summer Festival, set to run from July 2 through July 25. The lineup includes three new productions of opera and musical theatre. Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” is set to be led by Principal Conductor and Music Director David Neely and stage director Kristine McIntyre. The cast features baritone Zachary Nelson {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced a Virtual Festival. After the company announced it was canceling the 2020 edition due to the coronavirus pandemic, Des Moines Metro Opera revealed that it would show performances from previous festivals. The virtual festival kicks off with Massenet’s “Manon” starring Sydney Mancasola in the title role, Joseph Dennis, and Michael Adams. David Neely {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera recently presented “Bon Appétit,” but those who missed on the July , 18, 19 and 21 performance can still check out the unique work via a couple of streaming options. The Iowa Public Television presented an exclusive live stream of the opera by Lee Hoiby, which can be viewed below. The live stream took place {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2020 season. The 48th season will showcase three main stage operas and two-second stage series. Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” will open the festival followed by Rameau’s “Platée.” The third and final opera will be Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades.” In the second stage series Poulenc’s “La Voix Humaine” will open the series followed {…}
Festival season is in full swing and this weekend’s major offerings come from some of the most exciting summer festivals in North America. Here are our top five offerings (in alphabetical order by company). Madama Butterfly – Central City Opera The famed Puccini masterpiece opens on Saturday with Raquel González, Annie Rosen, Cody Austin, Troy Cook, and Joseph Gaines. Adam {…}
The assortment of works on offer this weekend features a look at the United State’s most important document, a classic Shakespeare tale, a classic Bernstein work, a unique zarzuela, and a fascinating take on “The Greatest Opera of All Time.” Figaro 90210! – Chautauqua Opera Eric Einhorn directs this iconic adaptation of the famed opera. Jorge Parodi conducts a production {…}
As we get ready for Thanksgiving, we can look around and be thankful for all the opera options in North America. Here’s a look at what you can check out before you start to think about your Thanksgiving feast. Poppea – Bare Opera It might be a reduced version of Monteverdi’s masterpiece, but it remains a vital piece of work {…}
