Obituary: Michigan Opera Theatre Co-Founder Karen VanderKloot DiChiera Dies

(Image Courtesy of Michigan Opera Theater) Michigan Opera Theatre has announced the passing of co-founder and educator Karen VanderKloot DiChiera at age 80. DiChiera, who co-founded Michigan Opera Theatre, worked for the organization as Art Educator, created the MOT Community Programs Department, and was Community Composer. She also trained young musicians. DiChiera studied composition in 1960 and graduated with honors {…}

Michigan Opera Theatre to Present 12-Hour ‘Bliss’

Michigan Opera Theatre is set to open the Michigan Building Theatre with Ragnar Kjartansson’s “Bliss” on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. The 12-hour performance piece, which is being staged in a production by Yuval Sharon, will feature Corey Mckern (Count Almaviva), Nicole Joseph (Countess Almaviva), Grace Wipfli (Susanna), Robert Wesley Mason (Figaro), Jennifer Cresswell (Cherubino), Diane Rae Schoff (Marcellina), Tyrese Byrd {…}

Krysty Swann, Aaron Crouch, Kenneth Kellogg, Gordon Hawkins to Headline Michigan Opera Theatre’s ‘Blue’

Michigan Opera Theatre has officially announced details for its upcoming production of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s “Blue.” The company, which had announced the opera as part of its 2021-22 season, has revealed that it will be directed by Kaneza Schall, whose work has been shown at Brooklyn Academy of Music, LA Philharmonic, The Shed, The Kennedy Center, Walker Arts {…}

Christine Goerke, Brian Jagde, Alfred Walker Headline Cast for Michigan Opera Theatre’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’

The Michigan Opera Theatre has announced the entire cast to its upcoming performance of “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Christine Goerke, who was previously announced as Santuzza, will be joined by Brian Jagde as Turiddu, Catherine Martin as Lola, Ronnita Miller as Mamma Lucia, and Alfred Walker as Alfio. The performance will be held at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and will be conducted by Jader {…}

Michigan Opera Theatre Appoints Yuval Sharon as Artistic Director, Announces New ‘Götterdämmerung’ Staging

(Credit: Enrico Nawath/Bayreuth Festival) Michigan Opera Theatre has announced that Yuval Sharon will join the company as the organization’s first-ever Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director. His five-year appointment comes on the eve of the company’s 50th anniversary and is made possible by a gift from board member Gary L. Wasserman. Sharon is a recipient of both a MacArthur Fellowship and {…}

Detroit Symphony Orchestra & Michigan Opera Theatre Partner with Henry Ford Cancer Institute for Music Therapy Program

Henry Ford Health System has announced that they will be presenting free, virtual performances for cancer patients at their institute, in partnership with Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre. The David DiChiera Music Therapy Program is named in tribute to MOT’s former general director, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2018. On the fourth Wednesday of each month, patients {…}