Victory Hall Opera has released details of its 2024 season. The company’s ninth season starts off with an open casting call for the chief subjects/co-creators of YAPs, for its new documentary film “YAPs.” The film release is planned for 2025. “SOUNDFLIGHT 3” stars soprano Sarah Wolfson and tenor Victor Ryan Robertson. They are to perform a program of operatic, popular, {…}
Cincinnati Opera’s “Opera Raps” series returns for the 2024 season. “Opera Raps” aspires to pull back the curtain and reveal behind-the-scenes insights into the operas that make up the company’s 2024 Summer Festival. The series kicks off with “Hausmusik: Mozart and Friends at Home” in anticipation its upcoming production of “Don Giovanni.” Performance Date: January 25, 2024 Dame Jane Glover {…}
(Photo credit: Marie Bucoy-Calavan Webiste) The Choral Arts Society of Washington has announced its 43rd annual Holiday Concert and Gala to take place on Dec. 18 at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Marie Bucoy-Calavan leads the program, “O Night Divine!” It will feature Christmas favorites like “Sleigh Ride,” “Silent Night,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” as well as the world {…}
The Staatsoper Hannover has named Bodo Busse as its next Intendant starting 2025-26. In a statement, the opera company said, “At today’s meeting, the Supervisory Board of the Lower Saxony Staatstheater Hannover GmbH has decided that Busse will take over the intention of the State Opera Hannover starting from 2025-26. Vasco Boenisch will take over the management of the Schauspiel {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season will continue with Daniel Catán’s “Florencia en el Amazonas.” The opera will be performed on Dec. 9 and will be the first Spanish-language opera to be featured on the company’s HD series. Mexican-American soprano Ailyn Pérez leads the cast alongside soprano Gabriella Reyes, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, baritone Mattia Olivieri, tenor Mario Chang, {…}
The Welsh National Opera has announced the appointment of Christopher Barron as Interim General Director. Barron will take over the role in January 2024. He has worked in arts management and leadership and has served as General Manager of the Edinburgh International Festival as well as Chief Executive of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Chief Executive of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet, {…}
Performances of Antonín Dvořák’s opera “The Jacobin” are certainly rare events, particularly outside the Czech Republic. Whether or not its neglect can be deemed deserved, however, is less certain. Its recent production by the Brno National Theatre, directed by Martin Glaser, would suggest that it has, indeed, been treated unfairly. Sure, it is full of folk melodies, dancing peasants, stock {…}
(Photo credit: Nick Clayton) Soprano Desiree Frahn joins Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s holiday program, “Christmas Unwrapped.” Frahn, the Graduate Singers, the Elder Conservatorium Chorale, and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra are led by Guy Noble. The program features include Malcom Arnold’s “The Holly and the Ivy” (“Fantasy on Christmas Carols,”) “Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé: Troika,” Howard Blake’s “The Snowman,” “Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences will experience albums from some of the top divas in the opera world as well as Christmas albums that will be great for the holiday season. Essence Marina Rebeka releases a new album on Prima Classic. The soprano sings a selection {…}
In honor of Maria Callas’ centennial, new Spotify Singles were released. The pair of singles honor Callas‘ renowned career and legacy in partnership with her official label Warner Classics, and features GRAMMY-nominated opera singer Lawrence Brownlee, star cellist Gautier Capuçon, and pianist Anastasia Rizikov. They perform two pieces from her legendary catalog “O mio babbino caro” and “Libiamo, ne’ lieti {…}
(Credit: Met Opera Archives) Mezzo-soprano Mildred Miller has died at the age of 98. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and graduated from West High School in 1942. She then studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory. She also went on to study at the Tanglewood Music Center and {…}