Welcome back for this week’s review of the major CD and DVD releases. This week, audiences are in for many world premiere recordings as well as rarely performed works. Here is a look at some of the pieces audiences will discover! Virko Baley: Music for Emily Dickinson Toccata Classics releases an album dedicated to the music of Virko Baley, a {…}
Grammy award-winning artist Zachary James released his first full-length classical vocal album, “Song of Myself” on Sept. 7. “Song of Myself” is James’ classical composition debut. The song cycle was born from the words of Whitman’s iconic work of the same title. There is additional music by cellist Wick Simmons, percussionist Ariel Campos, and guitarist Frederick Poholek. When writing James {…}
Zachary James is set to team up with voices from the West End, Broadway, and the English National Opera for a limited one-night-only event to benefit Soup Kitchen London and Maestra UK. The evening set to be performed on March 5, 2023 at Wonderville is entitled “Some Enchanted Evening” and will feature Kelly Glyptis and Telly Leung alongside James. Laura {…}
Zachary James has released an American Mixtape in celebration of July 4. The mixtape features patriotic anthems, new poetry, and a full reading of the original Constitution of the United States. The album is in response to the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and the continued climate of division in the United States. In a statement, James {…}
The Recording Academy has invited more than 2,000 people to become voting members. The Academy announced on June 28 that it was also inviting more than 600 additional people to become professional (non-voting) members. In a statement, the Academy said, “it has been aggressive in recent years about expanding and diversifying its membership. It currently has more than 12,000 voting members {…}
(Photo Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Opera is a way in which we can creatively examine momentous historical shifts and rediscover the possibilities of radical change in an existentially emblematic and exuberant way, especially at the Met. However, what is it that makes this art form balanced enough not to tip over into becoming purposefully deceptive and overly politically {…}
On May 21, 2022, Washington Irving High School will present “Tribute to Kurt Weill.” This one-night only concert comes as part of People’s Symphony Concerts, and will feature soprano Katherine Riddle and bass Zachary James, accompanied by Laura Bergquist. Both prior winners of the Lotte Lenya Competition through the Kurt Weill Foundation, Riddle and James will honor the composer with {…}
The Grammy Awards have announced the classical music winners. The Best Opera Recording went to “Akhnaten” from the Metropolitan Opera. The award was accepted by Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James, and Dísella Lárusdóttir. Among the other winners who were part of the recording were producer David Frost, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, conductor Karen Kamensek, and J’Nai {…}
The Dallas Opera will premiere Jonathan Dove and April De Angelis’ “Flight” starting on March 4, 2022. The opera, which is based on the true story that also inspired Steven Spielberg’s “The Terminal” will runt through the 12th and stars John Holiday, Abigail Rethwisch, Elena Villalón, Andrew Stenson, Seth Carico, Zachary James, Will Liverman, Deanne Meek, Kristen Choi, and Catherine {…}
Opera Omaha is set to present a new production of Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” The company will continue its 2021-22 season with the music conducted by Hal France and the production directed by Susan Clement, making her Opera Omaha debut. The production will star Zachary James in the title role of Sweeney Todd and Emily {…}
Opera Saratoga and Proctors Collaborative have announced the cancelation of a live concert at UPH on New Years Eve starring bass-baritone Zachary James. Per the official press release, Opera Saratoga and Proctors Collaborative decided to cancel the live concert due to the steep rise in COVID-19 cases and the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. Zachary James and conductor and {…}