(Credit: Gerard Collett / Catherine Ashmore) The Music Section of the Critics’ Circle has announced the winners of its 2019 Annual Awards. Taking home the award for Young Talent (Voice) was soprano Louise Alder. As far as Best Opera Production, the Royal Opera House’s “Billy Budd” took home the high mark. Regarding Alder’s win, the Critics’ Circle noted that the {…}
The Instituto Nacional para las Artes Escenicas y la Música has announced that it will stream performances for 10 hours on June 20 to celebrate European Music Day. There will be a wide range of musical choices throughout the day with some select classical music and vocal performances. The main event for opera lovers will feature a number of major {…}
Pittsburgh Opera has announced that the organization has appointed Sri Palanisamy to its board of directors. Currently, the Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Highmark Health, Palanisamy brings with him over 20 years in the healthcare field, where he lowered costs and improved overall consumer experience. Prior to his work with Highmark Health, Palanisamy worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield. {…}
The Teatro Auditorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial has announced its 2020 summer festival. The festival will take place starting on July 23 and ending on August 6, 2020. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal performances. The first vocal performance will be from Ainhoa Arteta performing works by Turina, Toldrà, and Guridi. She will {…}
(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 {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver / Terrence McCarthy / San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera has announced its upcoming slate of operas on its “Opera is ON” streaming service. First up, the company will present “Salome” in a production starring Nadja Michael, Greer Grimsley, Kim Begley, Irina Mishura, and Garrett Sorenson. Nicola Luisotti conducts the Strauss opera. Streaming Date: June 20, {…}
(Credit: Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced that it will celebrate Juneteenth with a broadcast of “La Forza del Destino” starring Leontyne Price. The Verdi opera, featuring the famed soprano, was already scheduled to stream on June 18 as part of the company’s nightly streaming service. But now audiences will be able to check it out through June 19th. {…}
The Oper Köln has announced its 2020-21 season featuring nine new productions and several revivals. Premieres The first new production of the season will be Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte“ with Michael Hampe directing. Christoph Gedschold, Alfred Eschwé, and Rainer Mühlbach alternate at the pit with Julien Behr as Tamino, Antonina Vesenina, and Emily Hindrichs as the Queen of the Night, Kathrin Zukowski {…}
(Credit: Patrick Allen) The Birmingham Opera Company has named Alpesh Chauhan its new Music Director effective July 1, 2020. Chauhan will work alongside Artistic Director Graham Vick leading the Company on its mission to “make great opera.” Chauhan was Principal Cello with the CBSO Youth Orchestra and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. He went on to perform alongside {…}
Norwegian actress and opera singer Edith Thallaug has passed away on June 7, 2020. Born on June 16, 1929, Thallaug began her career with the Studioteatret, one of the first arts organizations to open in Norway after World War II. In 1948, she joined the Nationaltheateret, staying with them for the next 12 years. After marking her singing debut in {…}
The Oregon Bach Festival has announced a radio festival set to take place between June 26-July 10, 2020. The event will be broadcast live on KWAX-FM with Peter van de Graaff hosting. The showcase will feature a number of historical recordings with such renowned artists as Thomas Quasthoff (who will be featured in five recordings throughout the festival) and Tamara {…}