Florence Price was a truly important Black composer in her day. She composed the first piece by a Black woman to be performed by a major orchestra and was championed by many of the great Black artists of her day. Unfortunately, after her passing, many of her works disappeared only to be rediscovered again decades later. For this edition of {…}
The Greek National Opera is set to perform two opera galas at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on July 26 and 28, 2020. The first gala performance will feature Krassimira Stoyanova, Riccardo Massi, Dmitri Platanias, and the Greek National Opera Orchestra under the musical direction of Pier Giorgio Morandi. The gala will feature arias and duets from Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” “Il {…}
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced that, due to the ongoing coronavirus, its famous Tanglewood Festival will be held online. In order to best deliver the experience of the festival to audiences at home, the BSO has partnered up with Brightcove Inc., one of the world’s leading video technology platforms. This year’s performances will be streamed from Tanglewood’s Linde Center, {…}
The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival has announced that dramatic soprano Christine Goerke has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Goerke’s newest role will place her in charge of strategic planning, development, and community engagement. “I am absolutely delighted that Christine Goerke has graciously agreed to join the board of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival,” Festival Artistic Director {…}
The Macerata Opera Festival at the Sferisterio has announced the operas for the 2021 season. The Italian festival will celebrate its centennial with Verdi’s “Aida” and “La Traviata” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The season will open with Verdi’s “Aida,” in a new production by Valentina Carrasco. Francesco Lanzillotta conducts the production. Performance Dates: July 23, August 1, 7 & {…}
The Hampstead Garden Opera has announced the first opera production in London post-COVID. The company will present an open-air, socially-distanced production of Gustav Holst’s “Sāvitri” complying with government regulations. The one-act opera will take place in the gardens of Lauderdale House, Highgate, with two performances per evening on August 13, 15, 20, and 22. The production will be staged by {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Roderick Cox will conduct “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” during the 2020-21 season. In a statement, the conductor said, “I am thrilled to announce my debut with The Metropolitan Opera in Rossini’s ‘Il Barbiere di Siviglia,’ March 2021. I adore this opera, and I am indeed honored and humbled to be able to perform it {…}
Soprano Jessica Fishenfeld is set to launch a new art song video “Mother to Song” on July 4, 2020. The video, which was conceived and sung by baritone Matthew Gamble, was directed and edited by Fishenfeld. The art song was composed by Scott Joiner and includes a poem by Langston Hughes of the same title. Also on the video are {…}
(Credit: Tristram Kenton) The Royal Opera House has announced that it will stream its production of Gounod’s “Faust” on July 17, 2020. The performance, which dates back to the 2018-19 season, stars Michael Fabiano in the title role with Erwin Schrott as Méphistophélès and Irina Lungu as Marguerite. The performance was conducted by Dan Ettinger. The opera can be streamed {…}
The Berlin Philharmonic has canceled its planned US tour. The orchestra announced that it has been forced to cancel due to the ongoing restrictions on international travel caused by the corona pandemic and the closure of some concert halls in the USA. The tour, which was expected to take place in November, was supposed to feature the orchestra in 10 {…}
The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet have launched an emergency Young Artist Relief Fund to support dancers and singers struggling during the times of COVID-19. The non-for-profit organization, which was created in 1984, is distributing grants to young students from the Boston Ballet School, Miami Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School and School {…}