Askonas Holt Ltd. has announced that is it creating a new position on its leadership team, which will be that of Director, Global Head of Strategy & Innovation. Moreover, the first person to occupy the spot will be Sean Michael Gross. Gross, who arrived from London in December, will become the first external hire immediately to join the Askonas Holt Board {…}
Pinchgut Opera and Vivica Genaux are teaming up for two major productions in Sydney and Melbourne. Per a press release, the mezzo will appear in Sydney to perform in the first-ever Australian production of Hasse’s “Artaserse,” before heading to Melbourne for a recital of baroque composers for one night only. The mezzo will be joined by countertenors David Hansel and {…}
Bryan Hymel has canceled his upcoming performances of Meyerbeer’s “Les Huguenots.” The Opéra National de Paris announced that due to illness, Bryan Hymel would be replaced by Yosep Kang in the role of Raoul de Nangis. The announcement comes a week before the opening of the highly anticipated production, which is slated to be one of the season’s highlights and also {…}
The San Diego Opera has announced that bass-baritone Evan Hughes, will replace Nicholas Brownlee in the company’s upcoming production of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Per a press release, Brownlee, who was set to interpret the title role of the Mozart classic, was released due to a scheduling conflict. This will mark Evans’ debut with the company and he will be {…}
Operantics has announced its event “Opera in the Gallery,” a Frundraiser gala to help raise support for its 2019 mainstage production. The event is slated for Oct. 15, 2018 and will feature performances from a number of young artists and famed Australian singer Taryn Fiebig. The event is slated to take place at the Mosman Art Gallery. In addition to {…}
Camile Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” is not among the most popular operas in the standard repertoire. In fact, at the Met, it has been performed a total of 226 times since is Met premiere back on Feb. 8, 1895. And yet the opera has garnered three opening nights to date, a number that will increase by one on Sept. 24, {…}
The Florida Grand Opera has announced that Susan T. Danis will remain with the company as its General Director and CEO. Danis had reportedly accepted to join La Jolla Music Society as President and CEO, but has since rescinded the offer. Per a press release, “This decision was reached following the disclosure that a letter defaming her and FGO had {…}
BASE Hologram has revealed the program for “Callas in Concert,” which will begin its tour on Sept. 23, 2018 in Sacramento. The set list was passed along to OperaWire and will feature a hologram of the diva performing original recordings that have been digitally remastered. She will be accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra. Callas is set to sing a total {…}
The holiday season is gearing up and two new recordings have been announced by major artists. First. Belvedere is set to release “Orfée et Euridice” from the Teatro alla Scala with Juan Diego Flórez and Christiane Karg. The production from this past season was conducted by Michelle Mariotti and will mark Flórez’s second recording of the opera. Decca first released a CD version in 2010 {…}
Oklahoma City’s Painted Sky Opera opened its third season with a run of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and if the matinee I saw is any indication, the company is undoubtedly a vital addition to the regional opera scene. A group of talented young singers did Verdi’s chestnut justice and brought an eager audience to its feet. This production takes place in an {…}
Heartbeat Opera has announced the launch of its fifth season with the company’s annual Halloween Drag Extravaganza. This year’s show is titled “Dragus Maximus, a homersexual opera odyssey,” and will see three performances, the first taking place on Friday, October 26, at 8:00 pm. That will be followed up with showcases on Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 pm and 10:00 {…}