Lyric Opera of Chicago Joins Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Ryan Opera Ensemble for Concert Series Starring Lawrence Brownlee, Nicole Cabell, Christine Goerke & More

https://operawire.com/lyric-opera-of-chicago-joins-harris-theater-for-music-and-dance-ryan-opera-ensemble-for-concert-series-starring-lawrence-brownlee-nicole-cabell-christine-goerke-more/

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance in association with Lyric Unlimited has announced its fourth annual “Beyond the Aria” showcase for 2017-18. Per the company’s website, “this highly-acclaimed series features intimate performances by celebrated singers from Lyric Opera of Chicago paired with rising stars from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center.” This year the showcase will {…}

Special Features

Opera is a Place: Understanding Why Younger Audiences Come to the Opera House

https://operawire.com/opera-is-a-place-understanding-why-younger-audiences-come-to-the-opera-house/

(Photo Credit: Octavio Alonso Maya Castro) Visiting the Palacio de Bellas Artes made me fall in love with opera again. The open plaza welcomed groups of young people walking, laughing, and congregating. The bronze-tiled dome gleamed like a radiant sunset, hugging the luminous marble archway. Stepping inside, the grand foyer projected an entirely different regal stature. Whereas the exterior of {…}

News

Opera Industry Reacts to Timothée Chalamet’s Comments that ‘No One Cares’ About Opera

https://operawire.com/opera-industry-reacts-to-timothee-chalamets-comments-that-no-cares-about-opera/

(Credit: A24) The opera industry is responding to Timothée Chalamet’s remarks that said “no one cares” about opera or ballet. Major houses like the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, LA Opera, and Wiener Staatsoper have taken to social media posting varying messages. The Met showed a video of the many artisans in the industry with the caption “All Respect to opera {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Soprano Brittany Renee Reflects on ‘Porgy and Bess’ and the Changing Landscape of Opera

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-brittany-renee-reflects-on-porgy-and-bess-and-the-changing-landscape-of-opera/

(Photo: Daniel W) Soprano Brittany Renee is a Grammy Award-winner who has built up an impressive international career, performing at the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro Regio di Torino, Semperoper Dresden, and Teatro Petruzelli, among others. The soprano is set to {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Theater for the New City 2026 Review: Leonard Lehrman’s ‘SIMA’ and ‘E.G.: A Musical Portrait of Emma Goldman’

https://operawire.com/theater-for-the-new-city-2026-review-leonard-lehrmans-sima-and-e-g-a-musical-portrait-of-emma-goldman/

(Photo: Jonathan Slaff) Theater for the New City (TNC) presented two chamber operas by Leonard Lehrman, “SIMA” and “E.G.: A Musical Portrait of Emma Goldman,” on January 22 and 23, 2026, respectively, with each performed on alternating nights between January 8 and 25. This reviewer chose to watch the two operas back-to-back to better understand Lehrman’s range, as I had {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

A Rescue Mission – General Director Maria Todaro on Rebuilding Florida Grand Opera

https://operawire.com/a-rescue-mission-general-director-maria-todaro-on-rebuilding-florida-grand-opera/

In 2014, Florida Grand Opera accumulated a $19.4 million deficit. The company was in chaos, warning that the cancelation of its 2015-16 season in Broward County could be imminent if the organization was unable to secure $400,000. The future of the organization, which was founded in 1941, was uncertain and insecure. Fortunately an anonymous donor pitched in to erase the {…}

Business, News

Cameron Arens Named Opera & Casting Director at Theater Basel

https://operawire.com/cameron-arens-named-opera-and-casting-director-at-theater-basel/

Cameron Arens has been named Opera and Casting Director at Theater Basel. Arens will begin his tenure during the 2026-7 season. he will succeed Jean Denes, who will be moving to the Grand Théâtre de Genève following six years with the company. In his new positions Arens will work with the administrative management of the opera department, casting, and in {…}

News

Michelle Johnson Leads Opera Southwest’s ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/michelle-johnson-leads-opera-southwests-aida/

(Credit: Jonathan Collans for Opera Idaho) Opera Southwest is set to present Verdi’s “Aida” in a new production followinng a 10-year absence. Michelle Johnson will sing the title role alongside Olivia Vote as Amneris, Matt Hanscom as Amonasro, and tenor Dane Suarez as Radames. Stefano Sarzani will conduct the production which will be directed by Octavio Cardenas. Forty-five minutes before {…}