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 {…}

Jun 16, 2020

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Arlene Belli Provides a Young Singer’s Perspective on Establishing a Career Under Lockdown

(Photo: Riccardo Scrocca) The coronavirus has had a huge impact on theaters and live performances, and opera has certainly not been immune from its consequences. With the theatres closed, singers, directors and musicians, set and costume designers and conductors, to name but a few, have all seen their work come to an abrupt halt. For the stars, this may be {…}

Jun 13, 2020

Q & A: Latonia Moore on ‘Aida,’ Racial Equality in the Opera World, ‘Dead Man Walking’ & COVID-19

The moment Latonia Moore stepped onstage during the Opening Night performance of “Porgy and Bess,” launching the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-20 season, the audience was mesmerized. The soprano stole the show with her potent rendition of “My man’s gone now.” She received arguably the most applause of the evening and critics praised her for her “intensity.” Moore made her Met debut {…}

Jun 7, 2020

Q & A: Varduhi Abrahamyan On ‘Carmen’ & Her Upcoming Metropolitan Opera Debut

“Allure” and “brightness” have been some of the words used to describe mezzo-soprano Varduhi Abrahamyan. The Franco-Armenian mezzo is one of today’s rising stars, having performed at many of the leading theaters in the world including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Opéra de Marseille, and Opernhaus Zürich. She is recognized for her Bel Canto interpretations in {…}

May 28, 2020

Q & A: Maria Bengtsson on Quarantine & Returning to the Stage at the Oper Frankfurt

(Credit: Monika Rittershaus) On May 29, Oper Frankfurt will reopen its theater with its first concert in nearly 3 months. To celebrate the occasion, the company chose acclaimed soprano Maria Bengtsson to lead the performance in an all-Strauss program. The soprano was supposed to be performing a production of “Der Rosenkavalier” in Frankfurt. Bengtsson is a well-known soprano who has {…}

May 27, 2020

Opera in the Time of COVID: Iain Bell, Composer of ‘Jack the Ripper,” “A Harlot’s Progress,’ ‘Stonewall’

(Credit: Frances Marshall) “Opera in the Times of COVID” is an interview series in collaboration with photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio. We talk to notable figures from around the opera world to get their perspective on how they feel these challenging times may change opera’s present and future. In terms of composers rising the ranks of the modern {…}

May 25, 2020

Opera in the Time of COVID: Jonathan Dove, Famed Composer of ‘Flight’

(Credit: Frances Marshall) “Opera in the Times of COVID” is an interview series in collaboration with photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio. We talk to notable figures from around the opera world to get their perspective on how they feel these challenging times may change opera’s present and future. Since its world premiere in 1988, “Flight,” an opera composed by Jonathan Dove, {…}

May 22, 2020

Q & A: Michael Volle & Gabriela Scherer on their Return to the Stage in Wiesbaden

On May 18, the Staatstheater Wiesbaden opened its doors after a nearly two month lockdown in Germany. The theater re-imagined its May Festival and programmed recitals and semi-staged selections of operas. For the concerts, the theater was able to engage some of the world’s greatest soloists including real-life couple, Michael Volle and Gabriela Scherer. Originally scheduled to perform in the {…}