The Richmond Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, the focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. The company will team with Virginia Opera for a presentation of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Performance Dates: April 1 & 3, 2022 The orchestra is also set to present Haydn’s “The Creation” under the music {…}
Composer/pianist Felix Jarrar and lyricist/librettist Thomas Barrett Blakeley have announced the digital release of Act one of “Washington Square” exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Act two of the opera will be available later in 2021. The chamber opera, based on Henry James’ novel of the same title, is Jarrar’s tenth operatic work and a first for Blakeley. The libretto relates the {…}
Opera Company of Middlebury in Vermont is set to present “The Maid of Orleans.” The production, which is set to be presented at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater, will be “the first full production of this magnificent opera in New England.” It will also mark the first live production for the company since 2019. The company has since performed two operas {…}
Alter Ego Chamber Opera in Philadelphia, PA has announced a unique adaptation of Händel’s classic baroque opera “Alcina” set for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. “Alcina Revamped,” which will be presented on September 24 and 26, 2021, is an English-language adaptation of the famed opera by librettist and soprano Alize Francheska Rozsnyai. Brenna Marley will star in the title role; Kaitlyn {…}
Spoleto Festival USA has announced the formation of the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus, a new professional choir that builds upon the company’s commitment to showcasing exceptional choral music and artists. The chorus will embark on an audition tour in search of 50 inaugural vocal fellows, who will perform major choral works, as well as sing in mainstream opera productions and {…}
Random Opera Company has announced the winners for its New Works Competition. The U.K.-based company announced that Evan Henry and John Klaess’ “Algorithims” was the jury’s choice. “‘Algorithims’ impressed the jury with a pertinent story that was told with humor and yet with deep sadness and musically, contained a strong sense of melodic line, dance-like rhythms and jazz inspired harmonies,” {…}
Opera Santa Barbara is set to kickstart its 2021-22 season with “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna.” The mariachi opera by José “Pepe” Martínez and Leonard Foglia will be directed by Octavio Cardenas and conducted by David Hanlon. It will star Mariachi Los Campers alongside Daniel Montenegro, Efraín Solís, Kelly Guerra, Bernardo Bermudez, Sergio Gonzalez, Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez, and Raphaella Medina. {…}
American Lyric Theater is set to return to live performances with its presentation of Jorge Sosa and Julian Crouch’s “The Opposable Thumb.” The workshop is set to take place at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City on Oct. 1, 2021. “The Opposable Thumb” ruminates on whether humans are superior to the animals that are kept behind {…}
(Image Source: The American Opera Project) This September, The American Opera Project will launch their 33rd season with music from five new operas in an outdoor concert, titled “C&V Scene and Heard 2021.” The concert will showcase works from emerging composers: “Marble House,” by Matt Frey; “Simone de Beauvoir at the Museum,” by Alaina Ferris; “28th Ave” by Michael Lanci; {…}
Heartbeat Opera has announced a free outdoor screening of “Breathing Free” on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The showcase, which will take place at the Hudson River Park’s Pier 63 in New York City starting at 7 p.m., will feature live performances by soprano Kelly Griffin, dancer Tamrin Goldberg, and spoken word artist Katherine George. The film was directed by Ethan {…}
New York-based New Amsterdam Opera has announced two new cast members to its upcoming performance of Verdi’s “I Vespri Siciliani.” Diego Valdez will perform the role of Manfredo and Andrew Richardson will sing the role of Bethune. Richardson will also cover the role of Procida. Both artists will join a cast that includes Indira Mahajan as Elena, Jeremy Brauner as {…}