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Behind the Scenes, Interviews, Special Features, Stage Spotlight

The Xen of Opera: Exploring The Creation of ‘Nahasdzáán In The Glittering World’

https://operawire.com/the-xen-of-opera-exploring-the-creation-of-nahasdzaan-in-the-glittering-world/

Opera, Song and Music Theater is quivering, twisting, and turning. Could it be that we are in an  renaissance? There is a new blood pulsing through its veins. Opera and theater makers are pulling at its heart, resuscitating our interest and taking us to diverse locations with as yet unclassifiable languages and forms. The Xen of Opera looks at the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Arizona Opera 2018-19 Review: Le Nozze di Figaro

https://operawire.com/arizona-opera-2018-19-review-le-nozze-di-figaro/

With an excellent cast and fine playing from the orchestra under Conductor Dean Williamson, Arizona Opera presented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at Phoenix Symphony Hall on April 5, 2019. Moral High Ground Stage Director Tara Faircloth chose to expand upon the amusing situations in Lorenzo da Ponte’s libretto, so that cast members were often running around the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Arizona Opera 2018-19 Review: La Traviata

https://operawire.com/arizona-opera-2018-19-review-la-traviata/

On January 25, 2019, Arizona Opera presented Giuseppe Verdi’s opera of love and death, “La Traviata” at the Phoenix Symphony Hall—a perfect vehicle for the debut of 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Winner Vanessa Vasquez. Currently a recent graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Vasquez gave each note a beginning, a middle and a well planned {…}

News

Ellie Dehn, Jennifer Johnson Cano, 21st Century Opera Dominate Arizona Opera’s 2019-20 Season

https://operawire.com/ellie-dehn-jennifer-johnson-cano-21st-century-opera-dominate-arizona-operas-2019-20-season/

Arizona Opera has announced its 2019-20 season, which will feature a number of modern works and two major classics. The season opens in September with the world premiere of the Taliesin West version of “Shining Brow” by librettist Paul Muldoon and composer Daron Hagen. The work will be conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya with Chas Rader-Shieber directing the production. Among the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Arizona Opera 2018-19 Review: Charlie Parker’s Yardbird

https://operawire.com/arizona-opera-2018-19-review-charlie-parkers-yardbird/

“Charlie Parker’s Yardbird” features music by saxophone virtuoso Daniel Schnyder and a libretto by playwright Bridgette A. Wimberly. Since it premiered in 2015 at Opera Philadelphia, several the work has premiered with a number of companies, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the English National Opera. Perhaps the most interesting locale for “Yardbird” was its presentation at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre {…}

News

Ailyn Pérez, Luca Pisaroni & Ramón Vargas Among OPERA NEWS Winners

https://operawire.com/ailyn-perez-luca-pisaroni-ramon-vargas-among-opera-news-winners/

OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll has announced the recipients of the 14th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. This year, the magazine will honor mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias, stage director and designer Laurent Pelly, soprano Ailyn Pérez, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, and tenor Ramón Vargas. In a press statement Driscoll said, “Since the Awards’ inception in 2005, OPERA NEWS looks forward to {…}

News

Houston Grand Opera Launches First Children’s Book

https://operawire.com/houston-grand-opera-launches-first-childrens-book/

The Houston Grand Opera has announced that it will launch the children’s book, “The Armadillo’s Dream” in collaboration with HGOco. This is the company’s first-ever commissioned storybook. It was authored by HGOco Touring Programs Manager Dennis Arrowsmith, in his first book. Per a press release, the book “tells the story of Sandy, an armadillo whose fondest wish is to sing {…}

News

Top 6 Operas To See This Weekend – North America (9/28-30)

https://operawire.com/top-6-operas-to-see-this-weekend-north-america-9-28-30/

The opera season is up and running. Don’t believe me? Well just take a look at the over one-dozen companies that are putting on productions this weekend. Here are our major picks for this busy weekend, which marries new works with classic repertoire (in alphabetical order by company). Maria de Buenos Aires – Arizona Opera Piazzolla’s opera has arguably never {…}

News

Plácido Domingo To Return To Houston Grand Opera

https://operawire.com/placido-domingo-to-return-to-houston-grand-opera/

Plácido Domingo will return to the Houston Grand Opera to celebrate the reopening of the Wortham Theater Center The gala entitled “Coming Home: A concert celebrating the return to the Wortham Theater Center” will see Domingo return to Houston where 30 years ago, he celebrated the opening of the Wortham Theater Center with Verdi’s masterpiece “Aida,” starring as Radames. This time {…}