Obituary: Finnish Conductor & Composer Leif Segerstam Dies at 80

https://operawire.com/obituary-finnish-conductor-composer-leif-segerstam-dies-at-80/

(Credit: © Photo by Anna Flegontova) On Oct. 9, Finnish conductor Leif Selim Segerstam died at the age of 80. The conductor, composer, violinist, violist, and pianist was known for having composed 371 symphonies, among many other works. Born on March 2, 1944, Segerstam was part of a musical family whose parents were Selim Segerstam and Viola Maria Kronqvist. In {…}

News

Rhiannon Giddens & Silkroad’s ‘American Railroad’ Announces November 2024 Tour

https://operawire.com/rhiannon-giddens-silkroads-american-railroad-announces-november-2024-tour/

(Photo credit: David Bazemore) Silkroad announces dates for the second tour of its multi-year American Railroad initiative, conceived by Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens. Stops on the tour will include concerts, pre-performance talks, community and educational activities, masterclasses, and a Q&A. In addition to the tour, Silkroad’s American Railroad will include releases of an album and a podcast in 2024. The {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Teatro Grattacielo 2024 Review: Beyond the Horizon

https://operawire.com/teatro-grattacielo-2024-review-beyond-the-horizon/

For all of its existence, Teatro Grattacielo’s sole focus has been on reviving lost gems of the Italian opera repertory such as Zandonai’s “Giulietta e Romeo,” Mascagni’s “L’Amico Fritz,” and Giordano’s “Fedora,” mixed in with more recognized classics of the canon. But on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, the company charted a new course – new American opera. It’s not a {…}

News

Music of Remembrance’s 2024-25 Season to Feature Works by Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, & Rhiannon Giddens

https://operawire.com/music-of-remembrances-2024-25-season-to-feature-works-by-carlos-simon-jessie-montgomery-rhiannon-giddens/

(Photo credits: Bessent, Cheng, & Yildiz) Music of Remembrance has announced its 2024-25 season. This season aims to champion those who use their art to stand up against injustice and inspire action. Concerts will feature works by prominent Black American composers that confront the residual trauma of slavery, a 10th-anniversary production of an opera that addresses the responsibility of artists to {…}

News

Obituary: Mezzo-Soprano Ruth Hesse Dies at 87

https://operawire.com/obituary-mezzo-soprano-ruth-hesse-dies-at-87/

On July 13, 2024, German mezzo-soprano Ruth Hesse died at the age of 87, Born on Sept. 18, 1936, in Wuppertal, Hesse studied with Peter Offermanns in Wuppertal and later in Hamburg. She also studied in Milan and debuted in 1958 at the Theater Lübeck as Orpheus in Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice.” She would continue with the company for two {…}

News

Baltimore Chamber Orchestra Names Robert Moody Music Director

https://operawire.com/baltimore-chamber-orchestra-names-robert-moody-music-director/

The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra has announced Robert Moody as its new Music Director starting the 2024-25 season. Moody has been the Music Director for both the Portland Symphony and the Winston-Salem Symphony and earlier in his career, he held conducting positions with the Phoenix Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Santa Fe Opera, Brevard Music Center, Interschool Orchestras of New York City, and {…}

Business, News

Conductor Jordan de Souza Signs with Étude Arts

https://operawire.com/conductor-jordan-de-souza-signs-with-etude-arts/

(Credit: Neda Navaee) Étude Arts has announced that conductor Jordan de Souza has joined its artist roster for general management. Last year, the Canadian maestro was appointed to be the General Music Director of the Theater Dortmund and the Chief Conductor of the Dortmund Philharmoniker for five years. “A varied and dynamic schedule with many of the world’s great opera {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: James Robinson on His New Production of ‘Galileo Galilei’ & Philip Glass

https://operawire.com/q-a-james-robinson-on-his-new-production-of-galileo-galilei-philip-glass/

Since 2008, James Robinson has served as the Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL). He has emphasized a great deal on bringing modern works to the company and has directed such operas as Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” and “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” John Adams’ “The Death of Klinghoffer,” Marc Blitzstein’s “Regina,” Jack Perla’s “Shalimar the {…}

News

Obituary: Tenor Paul Sperry Dies

https://operawire.com/obituary-tenor-paul-sperry-dies/

American tenor Paul Sperry has died. Born in Chicago, Sperry graduated from Harvard College and continued his studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. Throughout his career, Sperry was recognized as one of the great interpreters of American music as well as baroque music by the likes of Monteverdi and Bach. Sperry became known for his interpretation of art song and {…}

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Obituary: Finnish Conductor & Composer Leif Segerstam Dies at 80

Rhiannon Giddens & Silkroad’s ‘American Railroad’ Announces November 2024 Tour

Teatro Grattacielo 2024 Review: Beyond the Horizon

Music of Remembrance’s 2024-25 Season to Feature Works by Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, & Rhiannon Giddens

Obituary: Mezzo-Soprano Ruth Hesse Dies at 87

Baltimore Chamber Orchestra Names Robert Moody Music Director

Conductor Jordan de Souza Signs with Étude Arts

Q & A: James Robinson on His New Production of ‘Galileo Galilei’ & Philip Glass

Obituary: Tenor Paul Sperry Dies