https://operawire.com/obituary-mezzo-soprano-josephine-veasey-dies-at-91/
On Feb. 22, Mezzo-soprano Josephine Veasey died at the age of 91. Born in Peckham in South London, Veasey studied with Audrey Langford and became a member of the Royal Opera House chorus in 1949. In 1955 she made her debut as a soloist at the British house in “Salome” and would eventually sing Cherubino in “Le nozze di Figaro,” {…}
https://operawire.com/isabel-leonard-joins-promethean-artists/
Isabel Leonard has joined the roster of Promethean Artists for worldwide general management. The singer noted in a statement, “I am looking forward to collaborating with Promethean Artists in this next stage of my career. I’ve been a firm believer that as artists, we need to actively take responsibility for growth in our careers. Cultivating a team that shares a {…}
https://operawire.com/riccardo-minasi-appointed-the-first-artistic-director-of-orchestra-la-scintilla/
(Credit: Drew Gardner) The Opernhaus Zürich has announced that Italian conductor Riccardo Minasi has been appointed the first Artistic Director of the Orchestra La Scintilla. Orchestra La Scintilla regularly performs at the Opernhaus Zürich. Outside the opera house, La Scintilla appears regularly in the large concert halls and gives concerts with well-known soloists, instrumentalists and singers such as Cecilia Bartoli, {…}
https://operawire.com/david-john-pike-david-briggs-unite-for-from-darkness-to-light-at-the-cathedral-of-st-john-the-divine/
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City has announced “From Darkness to Light” on Dec. 12, 2021. The program, which will feature baritone David John Pike and organist David Briggs” will include James K. Wright’s “Briefe an die unsterbliche Geliebte (Letters to the immortal beloved);” Mahler’s “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of the wayfarer),” “Rückert-Lieder;” and “Des Knaben Wunderhorn {…}
https://operawire.com/george-shirley-voted-in-as-chairman-of-board-of-artsmart/
Legendary tenor George Shirley has been voted the new chairman of the board of ArtSmart. The vote was unanimous. “It is a privilege to be named Chairman of the Board to the ArtSmart Foundation. From the beginning, the mission of offering free year round musical instruction to America’s youth has deeply resonated with me as my first job as an {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-erin-morley/
(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) On Nov. 23, the Metropolitan Opera will make history premiering Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice.” Aucoin will make history as the youngest composer to have a Met premiere since 1938. But this opera will also mark the first time that soprano Erin Morley headlines a brand new production at the Metropolitan Opera. Morley {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-bass-baritone-jake-gardner-dies-at-73/
Bass-baritone Jake Gardner has died at the age of 73. Throughout his career, Gardner was sought-after at major theaters and held a position as principal baritone with Oper der Stadt Köln for a decade. From there, he went on to perform internationally with the Wiener Volksoper, Semperoper Dresden, Glyndebourne Festival, De Nederlandse Opera, and Edinburgh Festival. In the United States, {…}
https://operawire.com/teatro-alla-scala-2020-21-review-la-calisto/
(Credit: Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala) In the last few years, Teatro alla Scala has committed to reviving masterpieces of the early Italian repertoire. On Oct. 30, 2021, the company presented, for the first time in its 243-year history, Francesco Cavalli’s (1602-1676) “La Calisto” (1651). Of Cavalli’s 41 operas, “La Calisto” is the only one to have found a {…}
https://operawire.com/nicholas-braithwaite-appointed-adelaide-symphony-orchestras-conductor-laureate/
(Credit: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra official website) The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of English conductor Nicholas Braithwaite as its Conductor Laureate. Braithwaite studied at the Royal Academy of Music, the Festival masterclasses in Bayreuth, and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. He has held positions as Music Director and Chief Conductor of Gothenberg’s Stora Teater, Music Director of Glyndebourne {…}