(Photo credit: Wright & Mazzucco) As the third year of BACHtoberfest approaches, Artistic Director of The Worcester Chorus and THE COMPLETE BACH Chris Shepard, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, and BACHtoberfest Choir member, Dana Lauducci spoke with OperaWire about this audacious project. THE COMPLETE BACH, Music Worcester’s 11-year project to present all of the known works of J. S. Bach live features the annual {…}
(Credit: Arielle Donson) A brilliant new CD with soprano Laura Strickling, pianist Joy Schreier, and cellist Carrie Bean Stute, makes a touching and important poetic and musical statement about the condition of women in the contemporary world, with moving poetry, original compositions, and stellar performances. “LEGENDS: Rebellion” explores what it means to rebel politically, emotionally, erotically, maternally, and spiritually. These {…}
(Photo: AJ Coots) When I was asked to interview Wexford Festival Opera’s new CEO, Suzanne Nance, my thoughts immediately turned to balance sheets, profit forecasts, marketing campaigns, contracts, fundraising and staffing issues. I must admit that it did little to set the pulse racing. However, it turned out be a very different experience than expected. While such issues were touched {…}
When Maria José Siri sings her performance of “Aida” on Sept. 10, the soprano will have completed 200 performances of the famed Verdi opera. Since 2003, the role has been in Siri’s repertoire. She first sang it in Argentina and would go on to perform it at such major theaters as the Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Massimo, Arena di Verona, {…}
(Photo: Viktoria Orel) Experimental operatic powerhouse Vache Baroque has cast Stephanie Hershaw in the role of the spirit Ariel in a new production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” — a “semi-opera” in partnership with multi award-winning theater group Out of Chaos and soundscape artist Dan Samsa. Paul O’Mahony (artistic director of Out of Chaos) and Vache Baroque’s co-founding music director Jonathan {…}
Jarvus Ricardo Hester is thinking about opera beyond the traditional theater. As the founder of Harlem Collective Opera, he is exploring how classical music can become more intimate, accessible, and connected to the communities it serves. At the heart of that work is the Black Composer Project, an exploration of Black art song that has grown into something larger than {…}
Italian conductor Sebastiano Rolli is known for his Italian and bel canto repertoire, having conducted all over the world at such theaters as Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Teatro La Fenice, among others. Over the years he has conducted such operas as “L’elisir d’amore,” “Giovanna d’Arco,” “La Cenerentola,” “Torquato Tasso,” “Maria de Rudenz,” {…}
Admired for her dramatic intensity and vocal versatility, mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson is rapidly earning distinction across a wide and varied repertoire. A graduate of The Juilliard School, she was a member of the Opera Studio at Bayerische Staatsoper, later joining their Ensemble between 2015 and 2019. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Ensemble at Staatsoper Stuttgart. {…}
Since 1988, the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Institute has been a major proponent of lifting up the next generation. Since its inauguration the institute has provided coaching, master classes, and performing opportunities for over 1,700 musicians. This year, the program will host 15 classical vocalists, who will get the spotlight for two weeks with a series of masterclasses with such notable {…}