Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Opera Theater is set to present “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” starting on Nov. 15. Michael Christie conducts a production of the Mason Bates and Gene Scheer opera directed by Bartlett Sher. The set design will be by 59 Productions with costume design by Jennifer Moeller. The work is based on Michael {…}
Pacific Symphony has named Alexander Shelley as its next artistic director. Shelley, who has served as Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, commences his tenure during the 2026-27 season and will be the third person to take on the role, following Carl St. Clair, who becomes Music Director Laureate in 2025-26. Shelley’s initial term will be {…}
(Credit: Lucas Sanchez) Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra will present “South American Heat” on Nov. 15 and 16, 2025. The program includes Camargo Guarnieri’s “Three Brazilian Dances,” “Primavera Porteña” from Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” Copland’s “El Salon México,” and Antonio Estévez’s “Cantata Criolla.” The showcase will be headlined by tenor Santiago Ballerini and baritone Gustavo Castillo. {…}
Opera Zuid has started a petition asking for the government to continue to subsidize the company. The news comes after Opera Zuid wrote, “During the cultural debate in the House of Representatives on Monday 11 November, a lot of attention was paid to the situation of Opera Zuid. Unfortunately, the minister did not allocate extra money. Groenlinks-PvdA has submitted a {…}
(Credit: © Clara Evens) On Oct. 11, Rachel Fenlon made history with her debut album on Orchid Classics, becoming the first ever to sing and accompany herself in Schubert’s masterpiece “Winterreise” on recording. Fenlon has self-accompanied herself at prestigious festivals and venues such as Fundación Juan March, the Oxford Lieder Festival, Festival de Lanaudière, Martha Argerich Festival Hamburg, Ottawa Chamberfest, National {…}
(Credit: Victoria Janashvilli) The Houston Symphony has announced a cast change for its Nov. 14 performance. The company said, “Angel Blue has regretfully withdrawn from this week’s performance of Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Beethoven 9 on Nov. 14. We are grateful to Ellie Dehn for stepping in on short notice!” For her part, Dehn said, “I’m thrilled to join Houston {…}
Ohio’s Youngstown Symphony Orchestra has announced that Music Director and conductor Sergey Bogza has resigned from his post. In a statement by the Youngstown Symphony Society, the organization said that Bogza resigned effective Thursday due to “personal, health and family reasons.” Bogza signed a three-year contract in June following two years of auditioning guest conductors. Kelly Sullivan, artistic services manager {…}
(Photo: Joe Brondo) Guild Hall in East Hampton, New York has announced that Anthony Madonna has been promoted to the position of Theater Director and Curator of Performing Arts. Madonna, who previously held the position of Director of Learning + New Works, is a collaborative artist, educator, and creative producer with degrees in music education and vocal arts. He joined {…}
(Image Source: https://www.jasminemuhammad.com/) The String Orchestra of Brooklyn is set for a special showcase on Nov. 23, 2024. The program features soprano Jasmine Muhammad in her company debut as she takes on Heitor Villa-Lobos’ “Cantilina” from the “Bachianas Brasileira No. 5.” Muhammad is a freelance musician in New York and a full-time member of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus. Of her {…}
The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPCNYC) is set to present “A Very Merry New York ” on Dec. 8, 2024 at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. The showcase will feature a number of holiday classics featuring choreography by Jaquelyn Bird. Among the major hallmarks of the performance will be the premiere of a new arrangement of ‘Song {…}
Every six years or so, we’re gifted with an operatic gem from composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp. Their fourth and latest collaboration, “Picture a day like this,” is a revelation. This live recording, released by Nimbus Records, features the composer conducting the Mahler Chamber Orchestra at the work’s 2023 Aix-en-Provence Festival premiere. While Benajmin and Crimp’s colleagues on {…}