Q & A: Conductor James Gaffigan on Loving Wagner, His Musical Grounding & the Idiosyncrasies of Conducting

Recognised worldwide for his natural ease and extraordinary collaborative spirit, conductor James Gaffigan has attracted international attention for his prowess as a conductor of both symphony orchestras and opera. The mutual trust he builds with artists empowers them to cultivate the highest art possible. Gaffigan is uniquely positioned, with music directorships at two international opera houses. He is the General {…}

Q & A: Valentin Schwarz on the Bayreuth Festival’s ‘Ring Cycle’

(Credit: Daniel.Karmann) At the age of 33 Vienna-based Valentin Schwarz designed and directed a controversial staging of Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” which for the past four years has been featured at the celebrated Bayreuth Festival. This August 2025 marks Bayreuth’s final performance of Schwarz’s “Ring.” Starting in the autumn, he becomes artistic director of the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle {…}

Q & A: David E. Weaver on His Book ‘Black Diva of the Thirties: The Life of Ruby Elzy’

This year marks the 90th anniversary of George and Ira Gershwin’s folk opera, “Porgy and Bess” on Broadway. Many major opera houses around the country have planned productions, including the Washington National Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. While there are many biographies about Gershwin that include chapters devoted to “Porgy and Bess,” the only book that {…}

Q & A: Omer Ben Seadia on the Merola Opera Program & Mentoring the Next Generation

Director Omer Ben Seadia has become known for her inventive, thoughtful, and socially conscious productions. The director has led production at some of the leading theaters in the world including the Israeli Opera, Portland Opera, Curtis Institute of Music, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Chautauqua Opera Company, Houston Grand Opera, Calgary Opera, Utah Opera, Cincinnati Opera, The Florentine Opera, Hawaii Opera {…}