(Photo credit: Ⓒ-Clärchen and Matthias Baus) Something in the Zeitgeist tells us that the old saying “Dreaming is free” is no longer true. If the box-office bomb “Babylon” explored how much the Hollywood dream can cost, and it costs a lot, both in the film and in the box-office. Philipp Stölzl and Philipp M. Krenn’s take on Dvorak’s “Rusalka” follows {…}
The Oxford International Song Festival has unveiled the schedule for its 2023 season. Kicking off the festival will be “Quiet Music: A Draw-Along,” featuring mezzo-soprano Bethany Horak-Hallet, pianist Natalie Burch, and Julia Thaxton. The program includes works by Schubert, Clara Schumann, and Hildegard von Bingen, among others. Performance Date: Oct. 13, 2023 Soprano Soraya Mafi will be joined by such {…}
Classical Movements has announced a venue change for its Alexandria Summer Nights performances of “The Magic Flute.” The company said the performances will now be held indoors at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Theatre instead of the originally scheduled outdoor performances. Classical Movements said, “The reason behind our venue change is the current poor air quality, which poses a potential risk {…}
The Fort Worth Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with “Dinner with the Stars,” a fundraising dinner hosted by Joe Illick, Music Director Emeritus and dear friend to the company. The dinner will feature soloists Vanessa Becerra, Siphokazi Molteno, Alok Kumar, and Kofi Hayford. Performance Date: Sept. 22, 2023 The continues with “La Médium” in Spanish by Gian Carlo Menotti. Directed {…}
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Botio’s “Mefistofele” with Simon Stone directing. Michele Mariotti conducts a cast that includes John Relyea, Maria Agresta, and Joshua Guerrero. Performance Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 2023 Michele Mariotti conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” with Anna Pirozzi, Vittorio Grigolo, and Erwin Schrott. Performance Dates: Dec.9-14, 2023 Damiano Michieletto directs Mozart’s “Die {…}
Lord Sumption has quit the board of the English National Opera over a plan to move out of London. The U.K. Times is reporting that Sumtpion has quit due to the Arts Council U.K.’s decision to reduce funding for the ENO. In a statement, the former supreme court judge called the Arts Coucil a “philistine” organization and accused it of {…}
On June 10, 2023, independent opera “Mr. Twister and the Tale of Tornado Alley,” will conclude its tour at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum in Boston. The work is written by composer and librettist Marc Hoffeditz, with stage direction and puppetry by Brenda Huggins, and performed by singer and climate activist Sonja Tengblad. Focusing on issues of climate change, the opera explores {…}
The San Francisco Early Music Society has announced its 2023-24 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. First up is “El Mundo” presenting “Archivo de Guatemala.” The event features sopranos Jennifer Ellis Kampani and Nell Snaidas, as well as tenor/countertenor Ryland Angel. Performance Date: Oct. 27 – 29, 2023 Vox Lumunis will then present “Bach: The Early Cantatas.” {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2023 Engender Festival. First up will be the UK premiere of “Woman at Point Zero” by Bushra El-Turk with a libretto by Stacy Hardy. Laila Solman directs the opera, which stars Dima Orsho and Carla Nahadi Babelegoto. Kanako Abe conducts. “Woman at Point Zero” is a multimedia work tells a tale of abuse {…}
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has named Maurice Cohn its new Music Director. Cohn is a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award and previously served as the Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He recently conducted the Cincinnati Symphony, Utah Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, and Symphoria New York. He was also Assistant Conductor of {…}
Cape Town Opera has announced that it will be bringing back its production of Terrence McNally’s “Master Class.” The company presented the work earlier this year between Feb. 20-April 2, 2023. However, that entire run was sold out and the company has unveiled its intention to present the work between Sept. 26-30, 2023. The production will feature the cast from the {…}
