Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, now in its thirteenth year, is a cultural entity in Australia, made possible with the ongoing financial assistance of the Japanese businessman, philanthropist and spiritual leader, the mysterious Dr Haruhisa Handa. This time in every year (except for 2020, due to COVID cancellations), an enormous stage is erected on the water of Sydney Harbour, while {…}
The Gran Theatre del Liceu has announced that it will present Bernstein’s “West Side Story” in concert during the 2024-25 season. The company said, that the performances on July 29 and 31, will feature Gustavo Dudamel, Nadine Sierra, and Juan Diego Flórez. Dudamel famously conducted the 2021 film adaptation of the work, which was directed by Steven Spielberg. Meanwhile, both {…}
Opera Australia has announced that the cast of “West Side Story.” opening on March 22, hail from all over Australia. The performers come from Mount Gambier, Wagga Wagga, Alice Springs, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Melbourne and Adelaide. There is also one international cast member from the U.S. The cast includes First Nations soprano Nina Korbe as Maria and Canberran Billy {…}
(Photo Credit: Chris Lee) On September 12, 2023, the New York Philharmonic opened its “The Art of the Score” series with Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” The series features the orchestra playing the score to a selection of films projected onto the screen above the stage, creating a truly immersive musical experience. The choice {…}
(Credit: Steven Kemp) Opera San José is set to present Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s classic “West Side Story.” The American tale of two star-crossed lovers and the prejudices that keep them apart will be conducted by Christopher James Ray, staged by director Crystal Manich, and choreographed by Michael Pappalardo. The production will be performed by soprano Teresa Castillo as {…}
(Credits: © McQueen / Deutsche Oper am Rhein official website / © Jean-Baptiste Millot / Jiyang Chen) Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, France has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas Hans Abrahamsen’s “The Snow Queen” will spotlight Lauren Snouffer, Rachael Wilson, Helena Rasker, David Leigh, Michael Smallwood, Owen Willetts, Floriane Derthe, and Moritz Kallenberg. Robert {…}
Opera San José has announced plans to create the Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio, a state-of-the-art performance space housed within Opera San José headquarters in Northern California. The project demonstrates OSJ’s commitment to presenting the first half of its 2020 – 21 season while safeguarding audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by Opera San José trustee Peggy Heiman in honor {…}
This spring, Handa Opera will present U.S. based director Francesca Zambello’s new production of ‘West Side Story,’ the very first musical to take place outside on Sydney Harbor. The production, according to the press release, will bring “a gritty, urban New York landscape to a floating stage on the picturesque shores of Sydney Harbor, complete with graffiti-covered streetcars, a subway {…}
Leonard Bernstein feared he would only be remembered for “West Side Story.” As theaters around the world celebrate the centenary of his birth, a range of his works have come back to the spotlight, but opera theaters have confirmed Bernstein’s fears. His only “true” operatic masterpiece, “A Quiet Place,” has received relatively scant attention. This is a shame, in part {…}
It’s an interesting question: should opera companies stage musicals? On one hand — especially for US opera companies and festivals — you can argue that it is a uniquely American art from, this descendant of operetta that entertains audiences all the way from Broadway and the West End, to Sydney and Shanghai. And, you might also argue that it is music, {…}
The Arizona, Seattle, Canadian and Houston Operas have announced their 2017-18 seasons with a variety of operas to see. For the experienced opera goers the choices are not so hard as they have already seen most of the selections but for newcomers who have seen one or no operas before it may be hard to choose what opera to see. {…}