Beverly Sills, Jessye Norman Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Week 16 of Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Streams

The Metropolitan Opera has announced week 16 of its Nightly Streams. This coming week’s streams feature a wide range of options including a showcase starring Beverly Sills, Shostakovich opera, a classic Ring performance, some Bel Canto magic, and a historic performance from the 2018-19 season. Monday, June 29 – Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment Conducted by Enrique Mazzola; starring Pretty Yende, Stephanie {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Opéra de Dijon Shuts Down Concerts After Musician is Diagnosed with COVID-19

(Credit: François de Dijon) The Opéra de Dijon has announced that one of its musicians has been diagnosed with COVID-19. As a result, the organization has canceled all concerts through June 28, 2020. The French company had started presenting concerts starting on June 17. The organization had taken all precautions to avoid potential health hazards. Only 150 audience members were {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Opera Meets Film: Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Ponyo’ Is an Adaptation of Wagner’s Magnus Opus

(Credit: Studio Ghibli / Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) “Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Composer Profile: Gustave Charpentier, Socialist Composer

Charpentier is known as somewhat of a “one-hit-wonder” in the opera world, perhaps best known for his opera “Louise,” which features the gorgeous aria “Depuis le jour.” In his time, however, he was a renowned composer, best-known for provoking the rigid social standards of French opera. Born June 25, 1860, in Dieuze, France, Charpentier moved to Paris in the 1880s. {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Russell Thomas, Jakub Jósef Orlinski, Eun Sun Kim Headline San Francisco Opera’s ‘Celebrating the Summer’ Virtual Gala

San Francisco Opera is set to showcase a virtual event entitled “Celebrating the Summer Season” on Friday, July 10, 2020. The 90-minute program will be headlined by the artists and operas that were programmed during the originally scheduled summer season, which was canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Such artists as Michelle Bradley, Louise Alder, Sasha Cooke, Jakub Jósef {…}

Jun 25, 2020

The Athenians Opera Group Launches ‘The Paris Salon’ Concert Online

The Athenians Opera Group has released a recording of a recent performance at Columbia University. The showcase features Michael Fennelly and soprano Megan Weston as they take on music by such composers Chopin, Liszt, Gounod, and Verdi while discussing Nineteenth-Century Paris Salons. The video was recorded on June 18, 2020. Weston has performed with such organizations as the Phoenicia International {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Eugene Brancoveanu Headlines Opera San Jose’s Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio

(Credit: Opera San José) In their effort to bring high-quality performances to audiences at home, Opera San Jose has announced the creation of the Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio. This new performance space will allow the company to stage and stream full productions of operas, as well as concerts, recitals, master classes, artist meet-and-greets, and more. Opera San Jose will {…}

Jun 25, 2020

White Snake Projects to Present ‘Alice in the Pandemic’

With the coronavirus forcing companies worldwide to revise their fall programming, creator and librettist Cerise Jacobs of the White Snake Projects opera company will be presenting a new online opera, titled “Alice in the Pandemic.” The upcoming work follows a young nurse as tries to find her sick mother in a world that has changed drastically. For this work, Jacobs {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Washington Concert Opera Launches ‘Operatic Insights with Maestro Walker’ Podcast Series

Washington Concert Opera has announced the launch of a new, monthly podcast series, titled “Operatic Insights with Maestro Walker.” Hosted by company Artistic Director and conductor Antony Walker, the series will explore the history and world of opera through varying perspectives, supported by listening examples and discussions. The first episode, “Messages of hope and unification in opera,” has launched as {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Obituary: Central City Opera Board Chair Judy Grant Dies

The Central City Opera has announced the passing of board chair Judy Grant at 76 on June 15, 2020, in Colorado. Born in Temple, Texas, Grant spent her youth in various places, including the Netherlands due to her father’s career in the oil business. Grant went on to earn a degree in English from Sweet Briar College and became a {…}

Jun 24, 2020

On Site Opera Adds 60 Performances of Telephone Opera

On Site Opera has announced an additional 60 performances of its telephone-based opera ‘To My Distant Love.” The first run of the new work was such a hit that the company sold out 100 scheduled performances. With continued demand for the experience, the company has added performances between July 16-August 9, 2020. “Our goal with ‘To My Distant Love’ was to create a {…}