Opera Philadelphia has announced it is cutting its budget and eliminating five positions. The company noted that due to a post-pandemic slump, it will cut its current annual budget by about 20 percent from its originally approved $13.3 million and will cut five positions or about 16 percent of staff. Additionally, it announced it would be postponing its production of {…}
Opera Philadelphia is set to present “Late Night Snacks” from the Bearded Ladies Cabaret in September. The night will be hotsed by Jarbeaux, Cookie Diorio, and Eric Jaffe at The Closet, a custom-built cabaret at 201 South St. There will also be special guests from Opera Philadelphia including Dicky Dutton and Samantha Rose Williams to legendary composer Jennifer Higdon. Performances {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced its lineup of upcoming free outdoor performances. First up, the company and the East Passyunk Opera Project (ePOP) will team together to present an operatic concert at the Center City District’s “Arts on Center Stage” in Dilworth Park. Aubry Ballarò, Kathryn Leemhuis, Taylor-Alexis Dupont, John Viscardi, Jorell Williams, and Aurelien Eulert are solists Performance Date: August 24, {…}
(Photo Credit: Steven Humes) Opera Philadelphia is set to present a family night featuring a concert performance of opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” on July 13, 2023 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken. Elizabeth Braden will conduct an ensemble that stars by 12-year-old Ethan Monberg, a member and soloist of the Philadelphia Children’s Chorus and the Philadelphia Vocal Conservatory. Other {…}
Opera Philadelphia is set to release “PAPER TIGER,” a 12-minute digital opera composed by Black transdisciplinary artist Yaz Lancaster on May 19. The film features vocalists Eliza Bagg and Miss Grit and pianist Mary Prescott and is directed by Sean Pecknold. “PAPER TIGER” is the latest in a series of world premiere digital commissions released by Opera Philadelphia beginning in {…}
Opera Philadelphia is now streaming “Composing the Future,” a documentary that takes a deep dive into the organization’s Composer-in-Residence Program. The documentary brings together eight composers who participated in the program since its inception in 2011; these composers include Lembit Beecher, Courtney Bryan, David Hertzberg, David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Andrew Norman, Rene Orth, and Tyshawn Sorey. Over the course of 90 minutes, these composers speak about their {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced that it will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the 2024-2025 Season with two new company commissions composed by women with strong ties to the company and the city of Philadelphia. Making its U.S. Premiere at the Academy of Music is “The Listeners,” the latest opera from composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek. “The Listeners” is a {…}
Opera Philadelphia is set to celebrate a decade of new opera with a special concert on March 18, 2023. The showcase will bring together eight resident composers and spotlight their music. Among the composers who will be celebrated are Lembit Beecher, Courtney Bryan, David Hertzberg, David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Andrew Norman, Rene Orth, and Tyshawn Sorey. The performance will feature such artists as Lawrence Brownlee, who will {…}
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. Joanna Settle directs, and Daniela Candillari conducts. The work is co-commissioned {…}
Opera Philadelphia closes its 2022-23 season with a bold staging of Puccini’s “La Bohème” that reverses the order of the famed opera. Following its premiere at the Detroit Opera, Yuval Sharon will bring his production of Puccini’s most famous work which presents the opera starting with Act four and ending with Act one. In a statement, Sharon said, “Reordering a {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced the appointment of Gina Range as Vice President of Development. The company said that Range was chosen to lead the company’s fundraising team and join the organization’s senior management following a nationwide search. She currently serves as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh and will begin her {…}