Soundstreams is set to present “Letters to God,” a concert that connects Canada and Japan’s spiritual and cultural realms. The showcase, set for Oct. 24, 2024 at Trinity-St. Paul’s Center in Toronto, Ontario, will feature the Fujii Percussion Ensemble alongside the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, and Soundreams Choir 21. The program includes Akira Miyoshi’s “Letters to God,” R. Murray Schafer’s {…}
(Photo credit: Stephanie Berger) The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) is set to launch its World Bay Arts Dialogue Project. As part of the project, the organization will tour China with youth from the Guangdong Experimental Middle School Choir, with the two ensembles performing from Oct. 4-14, 2024 at the Shenzhen, Guangdong Xinghai Music Hall, and Zhuhai {…}
Calgary Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” The performances which will be held from November 2 to 8, 2024 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, will be directed by Canadian Anna Theodosakis and conducted by Jonathan Brandani. In the new production, Theodosakis challenges the audience to confront the more unsettling aspects of the story, {…}
(Credit: Vito Lorusso) On Oct. 5, 2024, the Teatro alla Scala will stream “Cesti’s “L’Orontea” on La Scala TV. The opera will showcase a staging by Robert Carsen conducted by Giovanni Antonini. Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Mirco Palazzi, Francesca Pia Vitale, Hugh Cutting, Luca Tittoto, Sara Blanch, Marianna Pizzolato, Carlo Vistoli, and Maria Nazarova star. The Teatro alla Scala production is part {…}
(Credit: Opéra de Rouen Normandie) On Oct. 5, 2024, the Opéra de Rouen Normandie will stream Verdi’s “Aida” at 6 pm GMT. The opera will be shown on YouTube and France TV and will star Joyce El-Khoury in the title role and Adam Smith as Radames. They will be joined by Alisa Kolosova as Amneris, Adolfo Corrado as Ramfis, and {…}
(Photo Credit: Claire Shovelton /@claireshov) “Impresarios” don’t come any more entertaining than this. Simultaneously improv artists and opera singers, this young opera company direct, produce, stage manage, perform and (at least in part) promote all their work, making them a real fringe wonder. Their schtick is all about creating a full, one-hour-long opera – or, as some have called it, {…}
Chamber choir The Crossing, led by conductor Donald Nally is set to return to Carnegie Hall on Oct. 18. The concert, which will be performed at Zankel Hall, will include the New York Premiere of “Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness.” The work is inspired by James Drake’s epic drawing of the same title and the choral piece merges music, {…}
Bass-Baritone Jongwon Han has joined the roster of Opus 3 Artists for general management. Currently an Adler Fellow at the San Francisco Opera, Han made his debut there in the summer of 2023 as The Bonze in “Madama Butterfly and has since appeared as Colline in “Bohème Out of the Box,” the third and fourth Noble in “Lohengrin,” Sprecher in {…}
Finger Lakes Opera has announced its fall engagement tour. The showcase features five artists performing John Davies’ “The Billy Goats Gruff” in schools, daycare centers, elder care homes, and other venues throughout the Monroe and Ontario communities. The program runs from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1. “FLO’s hope is to break down barriers that often surround the opera artform. By {…}
On. Sept. 24, 2024, Dr. Robert Berglund died at the age of 94. Born on Feb. 17, 1930, Berglund dedicated his life to music. He studied at the University of Minnesota where he received a BS and MA and later received an Ed.D. from Colorado State College. He began his career assisting conductor Antal Dorati and he prepared choirs for {…}
(Photo credit: Bern University) Florian Ziemen, General Music Director of the Theater für Niedersachsen in Hildesheim, has announced that he will not be extending his contract. Ziemen’s contract ends in the summer of 2026. However, he remains associated with the theatre as a guest conductor. Ziemen’s reasoning for leaving is to create more space for guest engagements, research, and teaching, {…}