Sasha Cooke, John Holiday, Liv Redpath, Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang Headline San Francisco Symphony’s 2024-25 Season

The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. Joe Hisaishi conducts a concert of music from the films of Hayao Miyazaki. The concert will feature the participation of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Performance Dates: Sept. 5 – 8, 2024 Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Verdi’s Requiem with Leah Hawkins, Karen Cargill, {…}

Feb 14, 2024

Michael Spyres, Ben Bliss & Susanna Phillips Lead St. Louis Symphony’s 2024-25 Season

St. Louis Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of its vocal performances. Stéphane Denève conducts Mozart’s Requiem with Dashon Burton, Kelly O’Connor, Joélle Harvey, and Ben Bliss. The program will also includes Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546 and Detlev Glanert’s Four Preludes and Serious Songs. Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2024 Take 6 {…}

Oct 13, 2023

Lucas Meachem Leads The Dallas Opera’s ‘The Diving bell and the Butterfly’

(Credit: Kyle Flubacker) The Dallas Opera is set to present the world premiere of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” The opera by composer Joby Talbot and librettist Gene Scheer will star baritone Lucas Meachem and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. The cast will also include tenor Richard Croft, soprano Deanna Breiwick, bass Kevin Burdette, soprano Andriana Chuchman, tenor Andrew Bidlack, soprano Jocelyn {…}

Sep 30, 2023

San Francisco Opera 2023-24 Review: ‘The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs’

Steve Jobs forever changed the world of communications. The opera, “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,” composed by Mason Bates with libretto by Mark Campbell, opened at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House and brought the story of how Jobs gave birth to the computer with panache. Although the opera’s premiere occurred in Santa Fe in 2017, and was the {…}

Sep 5, 2023

San Francisco Opera to Present ‘The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs’

(Credit: Ken Howard) The San Francisco Opera is set to present the Bay Area premiere of “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” The opera, which is set to premiere on Sept. 22, is composed by Mason Bates with a libretto by Mark Campbell. Kevin Newbury will direct the production with Michael Christie leading the San Francisco Opera cast, Orchestra, and Chorus. {…}

Aug 5, 2023

Q & A: Sasha Cooke on the Ravinia Festival, the Mahlers & Her Passion for Modern Opera

Few artists in the opera world today are as versatile as mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Just take a look at the two-time Grammy Award winner’s upcoming 2023-24 season and you’ll find performances of classics such as “Don Giovanni” and “Messiah,” alongside newer works such as “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” Last season was no different with Cooke navigating works by Mozart, {…}

May 13, 2023

Sasha Cooke & Paul Groves Headline La Jolla’s SummerFest 2023

La Jolla Music Society has announced its 2023 SummerFest, which will take place at The Conrad in San Diego, California between July 28 and August 26. The season’s main theme will be “The Great Unknown.” “Audiences will discover fantastical and otherworldly pieces, myths, fairy tales, dreams, and memories, reveling both in the canon’s most beloved works and in hidden gems {…}

Apr 25, 2023

Sash Cooke & Kirill Kuzmin to Perform in Merkin Hall

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and pianist Kirill Kuzmin are set to perform at New York’s Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall on May 25, 2023. The performance is set to feature songs from her 2023 Grammy-nominated album, entitled “how do I find you.” The performance will include new commissions by some of the most innovative contemporary artists/composers Caroline Shaw, Missy Mazzoli, Nico {…}

Apr 24, 2023

Ana María Martínez, Michelle Bradley, Sasha Cooke Headline the Music Academy’s 2023 Season

California’s Music Academy, formerly known as the Music Academy of the West, has unveiled its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. It all kicks off with an opening night gala “The Magic of Miraflores” featuring Michelle Bradley and Sing! children’s chorus. Pianist Natasha Kislenko also performs. Performance Date: June 3, {…}

Mar 29, 2023

Sasha Cooke, Rodrick Dixon, Kelley O’Connor, & Matthew Polenzani Lead Aspen Music Festival 2023 Summer Livestreams

The 2023 Aspen Music Festival has released its livestream lineup. All livestreamed performances are free and will be available on the AMFS virtual stage website. This article will focus solely on vocal performances. LA Opera’s James Conlon leads Sasha Cooke and Rodrick Dixon in “Conlon Conducts Mendelssohn, Mahler.” Cooke and Dixon present Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde.” Performance Date: July {…}

Mar 21, 2023

J’Nai Bridges, Ailyn Pérez, Russell Thomas & Luca Pisaroni Lead Houston Grand Opera’s 2023-24 Season

The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}

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