John Osborn, Amanda Forsythe, Joélle Harvey & Christian Van Horn Lead Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Nicholas Kraemer conducts a program that includes the music of Händel, Beethoven, and Mozart. Soloists include Amanda Forsythe, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, Josh Lovell, and Michael Sumuel. Performance Dates: Oct. 17-19, 2024 Fabien Gabel and Konstantin Krimmel team up for a program of music by Britten, Mahler, {…}

Apr 5, 2023

Karah Son, Samantha Hankey & David Portillo Lead Detroit Opera’s 2023-24 Season

The Detroit Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring a wide array of repertory. Matthew Ozawa directs a new production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with Kensho Watanabe conducting. Karah Son sings the title role alongside Eric Taylor, Kristen Choi, and Nmon Ford Performance Dates: Oct. 7-15, 2023 The company is set to present the site-specific operatic experience composer John Cage’s “Europeras {…}

Nov 1, 2022

Nicole Cabell & Michael Sumuel Lead Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’

The Pittsburgh Opera is set to present “The Marriage of Figaro” in a revival production. The opera, which is set to take the stage between Nov. 5 and 13, will star Natasha Te Rupe Wilson, Michael Sumuel, Nicole Cabell, Jarrett Ott, Ricardo Lugo, Daniel O’Hearn, and Jazmine Olwalia. Antony Walker conducts the revival production by Stephanie Havey, which is jointly owned {…}

Aug 3, 2022

Tamara Wilson & Michael Sumuel Headline Washington Concert Opera’s Annual Gala

The Washington Concert Opera has unveiled its lineup for the fall Gala. The performance, which is set for Oct. 12, 2022, at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., will star soprano Tamara Wilson and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel. Wilson is an internationally renowned soprano who has appeared with a number of major companies including the Canadian Opera Company, the English National {…}

Jul 12, 2022

Opera Stars Speak Out on Blackface in Arena di Verona’s ‘Aida’

(Disclosure: Out of respect for the sensitivity of our audience we will only link to images of blackface instead of showing them here) Following a performance of “Aida” at the Arena di Verona on July 8, several opera singers are calling out Anna Netrebko for the use of blackface. Jamie Barton took to Twitter and said, “It’s been a long {…}

May 17, 2022

Ying Fang & Lauren Snouffer Lead Handel & Haydn Society’s 2022-23 Season

(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Handel and Haydn Society has announced its 2022-23 season featuring important vocal performances. The season opens an all-Bach program at Symphony Hall. Bernard Labadie conducts The Glories of Bach with featured soloist soprano Lauren Snouffer, countertenor Cody Bowers, tenor Andrew Haji, and bass Michael Sumuel. Performance Dates: Oct. 7 & 9, 2022 Raphaël Pichon will return {…}

Apr 15, 2022

Adam Smith, Danielle de Niese, John Relyea & Sean Panikkar Lead English National Opera’s 2022-23 Season

The English National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring eight productions and seven operas. Leo Hussain conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Christof Loy. The cast will include Sinéad Campbell-Wallace, Adam Smith, and Noel Bouley. Performance Dates: Sept. 30–Nov. 4 2022 Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard” will include Anthony Gregory, Neal Davies, Alexandra Oomens, Heather {…}

Dec 13, 2021

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

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. “Classical Heroines,” conducted by Nicholas Kraemer, features baroque specialist, soprano Amanda Forsythe singing Cleopatra’s aria “Da tempeste” from Händel’s “Giulio Cesare,” Haydn’s “Scena di Berenice,” Dido’s famous lament {…}

Oct 13, 2020

Emily Edmonds & Karen Cargill Headline VOPERA’s ‘L’Enfant et les Sortilèges’

VOPERA: The Virtual Opera has announced that it will present Maurice Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges” on Nov. 16, 2020. The performance will feature the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Lee Renolds. The opera will star Emily Edmonds in the title role alongside Karen Cargill as Maman and Michael Sumuel as Un Arbre. Other cast members include Marcus {…}

Oct 14, 2019

San Francisco Opera 2019-20 Review: Le Nozze di Figaro

(Credit: Cory Weaver) “The Marriage of Figaro” is one of opera’s priceless jewels, of any work of art, many would say. And San Francisco Opera’s new production by Canadian Director, Michael Cavanagh, made it all the more enjoyable and high-spirited. With a cast of singers who romped and preened, sang and danced around the stage, and an orchestra that kept {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja, Catalina Cuervo Headline Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend In North America

It’s time for another weekend of opera, with a wide range of impressive offerings coming from around the continent. This week’s selections include a number of repertory staples as well as some unique modern operas by living composers. Frida – Atlanta Opera, Georgia The Atlanta Opera closes out its production of “Frida” with two performances on Friday and Sunday. The {…}

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