On June 26, 2023, The Phoenix Symphony and its musicians, members of Professional Musicians of Arizona, American Federation of Musicians, Local 586, reached a new contract, which will be effective until Nov. 2, 2024. The new contract features a 35-week season with a 2.5 percent increase in weekly compensation as well as the creation of an insurance task force comprised {…}
(Credit: Kristen Hoebermann) David Portillo has been awarded the Sphinx Medal of Excellence for 2024. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization, recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx musicians. The award includes a $50,000 career grant and annually recognizes three artists who early in their career demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, {…}
Chautauqua Opera and Institution has announced plans for its future as it continues to go through financial hardship. Per an official press statement, “like many performing arts organizations industry-wide, they are navigating challenges and uncertainties as the field emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a period of deep reflection about the future of opera in America, including at Chautauqua {…}
The Camerata of Fine Arts has announced the passing of original member Ingeborg von Huene, who died of natural causes at 93. “With Ingeborg von Huene’s passing, a beautiful chapter in the history of the early music revival comes to a close,” says Joel Cohen, fellow Camerate member who has known von Huene since 1963. “Inge so loved and encouraged {…}
The Atlanta Opera has unveiled the lineup of Glynn Studio Artists for its upcoming 2023-2024 season. The selected artists include mezzo-soprano Aubrey Odle, soprano Amanda Sheriff, director Nora Winsler, and bass-baritone Jason Zacher, meanwhile tenor Kameron Lopreore has been chosen for a second season. The Studio Artists will be given training and stage experience, including some lead performances and major {…}
Martin Rajna has been appointed to the position of principal conductor of the Hungarian State Opera for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. This season, Rajna, 27, will conduct Verdi’s “Attila” and Rossini’s “L’ italiana in Algeri;” he will also oversee new productions of “Don Giovanni” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The conductor previously led productions of “Die Entführung aus dem Serail,” {…}
(Photo Credit: andre uspensky) Russian Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina is being hailed as one of the most exciting opera singers in a generation. Called “The New Netrebko” by renowned critic David Mellor, she sings with a rare, coloratura mezzo voice. A luminary of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, she debuted at just 21-years-old at the Royal Opera House in the {…}
Young Concert Artists (YCA) revealed its 2023-2024 season, including debuts of four new artists in New York and a co-presentation with the New York Festival of Song. The season will feature YCA Auditions and a Winners Concert, both live-streamed, four noontime performances, and a grand finale at Carnegie Hall. Four YCA artists will also showcase their talent at the Kennedy {…}
The Fundación Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid has announced its 2023-2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Jacek Kasprzyk conducts a program of music by Fauré, Penderecki, and Prokofiev. Marta Matheu, Javier Franco, and Carolin Widman are the soloist. Performance Date: March 21, 2024 Marzena Diakun conducts Haydn’s “Missa in tempore belli” and Rachmanioff’s {…}
The Manchester Music Festival (MMF) has announced the selection of violinist Philip Setzer as the artistic director and pianist Jenny Lin as the executive director. Setzer is a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet, while Lin is a Steinway Artist who has over 50 recordings and is renowned for her close association with conductor Phillip Glass. Lin will take {…}
Vocalis Consort is set to present “Amor Pasión” on July 8, 2023 at Salon 33 in Princeton, New Jersey. The showcase, which will spotlight Latin American songs from Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico will star tenor Paul Appleby, soprano Andrea Salazar, and mezzo-soprano Eugenia Forteza. They will be joined by pianist Martin Néron. “Amor Pasión” kicks off at {…}