Q & A: TV Director Brian Large On Taping the Met’s Otto Schenk ‘Ring,’ 30 Years Later

Thirty years ago, in June 1990, opera lovers were glued to their television screens for four consecutive weekday evenings as they experienced what Richard Wagner always intended: a consecutive-evening presentation of “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” Of course, his wish for four nights in a row was not realistic for the stage, given the demands it would place on musicians and {…}

Jul 14, 2020

Jacqueline – Luna Pearl Woolf Turns Celebrated Cellist’s Story Into an Opera

Credit: Dahlia Katz Composed for only two performers, the first opera written about the life of legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré received its world premiere this past February in Toronto. Tapestry Opera, the only Canadian company dedicated to the creation, development, and performance of original Canadian operas, presented the first five performances of “Jacqueline” by Luna Pearl Woolf and Pulitzer {…}

Jul 12, 2020

Q & A : Justin Werner on Creating Stratagem Artists & Navigating a Post-COVID Opera World

Justin Werner thought his path in the opera world would be focused on performing. But early on in his training, he came to terms with the fact that it might not be the right path for him. He moved into production with the independent opera company New York Opera Exchange (he also founded the Independent Student Opera Initiative at Boston {…}

Jul 8, 2020

Q &A: Lucy Caplan on Shirley Graham Du Bois’ ‘Tom-Tom’ & Importance of Black Composers

(Credit: Harold Shapiro) On July 9, the Caramoor Festival will present a Livestream event entitled “Listening to Tom-Tom.” The event will be an in-depth exploration of Shirley Graham Du Bois’ opera, “Tom-Tom,” the first opera written and staged by an African American woman. The work has not been produced since its initial run in 1932 and all that survives of {…}

Jun 30, 2020

Q & A: Chair of the MET Orchestra Committee Brad Gemeinhardt on New Fundraising Campaign

Since the members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra were furloughed, the orchestra has launched a fundraising initiative in order to channel its energy into education and engagement through teaching and performing. The fundraising campaign was created in order for the orchestra to be able to do outreach programs and to create new events and concerts during these times of COVID-19. {…}

Jun 28, 2020

Black Opera – How Jonathan Estabrooks, Miranda Plant & Kenneth Overton Are Telling the Story of a Generation of Legendary Black Artists

Back in 2018, baritone Jonathan Estabrooks received a call from Lynne Block, the daughter of pre-eminent bass-baritone Simon Estes. She wanted to see if Estabrooks would work with her on a short documentary about her father’s life. Estabrooks, an internationally renowned performer, was also actively involved in the recording industry, creating music-related documentaries, hybrid music videos, and directing a TV {…}

Apr 13, 2020

Q & A: Raquel Acevedo Klein, Ione, & Claire Chase On the Virtual Performance of Pauline Oliveros’s ‘The World Wide Tuning Meditation’

A growing number of participants are joining an online Zoom performance of Pauline Oliveros’s “The World Wide Tuning Meditation” each Saturday. Together, Raquel Klein of Music on the Rebound, Ione, Claire Chase, International Contemporary Ensemble, and other passionate co-coordinators invite anyone curious to embark on the art of virtually discovering a special connection during the COVID-19 crisis. Composer Pauline Oliveros, {…}

Apr 11, 2020

Q & A: Composer Tobias Picker on Winning the Grammy & Why He Loves Opera

(Credit: Josh Huskin) As Tobias Picker puts it, “It’s not something that happens every day.” The Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera is referring to the 2020 Grammy for “Best Opera Recording” bestowed on the 2014 recording of his opera “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” based on Roald Dahl’s 1970s children’s novel of the same name. The recording is also a nominee in {…}

Mar 15, 2020

Renaissance Woman – Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, On Bringing Cultures Together Through Music

It was the afternoon following the Metropolitan Opera’s premiere of “Der Fliegende Holländer,” that I met a glowing Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, the founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival. The Abu Dhabi Festival was one of four organizations co-producing the Met’s “Dutchman,” the other three being the Metropolitan Opera, L’Opéra de Québec, {…}

Mar 8, 2020

Q & A: Francesco Lanzillotta on Rossini, Musical Styles & His Future

Italian conductor Francesco Lanzillotta is considered one of today’s most “interesting conductors” having performed a vast repertoire that ranges from Mozart to contemporary music. He has been the Music Director in Varna, and is currently the Music Director of the Macerata Opera Festival in Italy. As he continues to expand his repertoire, he is also becoming one of the most {…}