Seattle Opera to Present Soprano Jasmine Habersham in Recital

https://operawire.com/seattle-opera-to-present-soprano-jasmine-habersham-in-recital/

On Feb.19, 2021, Seattle Opera will present American soprano, Jasmine Habersham, making her debut with the company in a free, virtual recital. Praised by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her “expansive, clarion voice,” Habersham will also perform the role of Zerlina in SO’s upcoming production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Accompanied by pianist David McDade the program will feature selections from Douglas {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

The Meaning of Life & Death – How John Young & Alan Olejniczak Reconnected to Create ‘Death of Ivan Ilych’ for Opera Orlando

https://operawire.com/the-meaning-of-life-death-how-john-young-alan-olejniczak-reconnected-to-create-death-of-ivan-ilych-for-opera-orlando/

(Photo Courtesy of Opera Orlando) The canon of operas based on Russian literature is expanding with a new entrant that will receive its world premiere by Opera Orlando this week: the one-act chamber opera “Death of Ivan Ilych,” based on Leo Tolstoy’s novella. Composed by John Young, with the English libretto by his former singing colleague Alan Olejniczak (oh-leh-NEE-check), it {…}

News, Streaming

Jessye Norman, Régine Crespin, Jamie Barton, Florence Quivar, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

https://operawire.com/jessye-norman-regine-crespin-jamie-barton-florence-quivar-juan-diego-florez-headline-top-10-operas-to-stream-this-week/

Those who want some operatic classics will not be disappointed this week as we recommend six works from the canon from some of the best opera companies around the world. But we also have four other recommendations that are remarkable in their own right and present unique experiences for viewers around the world. We even have a voice competition final. {…}

News

West Edge Opera Announces Finalists for Aperture Online Residency

https://operawire.com/west-edge-opera-announces-finalists-for-aperture-online-residency/

West Edge Opera has announced the finalists for its Aperture Online Residency. Out of a total of 22 semi-finalists, a total of eight proposals by composer/librettist teams were selected to move on to the final round. This final round includes two “Sprints,” in which four creative teams will develop their projects and submit weekly videos to update subscribers on their {…}

Special Features

Best of 2020: OperaWire’s Top 11 Industry-Defining Moments of the Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2020-operawires-top-11-operatic-moments-of-the-year/

This calendar year has been a difficult one for the world and for the music industry. It tested artists in ways they never thought they would. And yet it also showed resilience, love, and humility. It was a year where generosity was predominant and where artists united for a better cause. Usually, at this point in time, OperaWire has a {…}

News

Updates on 2020-21 Opera & Concert Seasons in North America Canceled Or Changed Due to Coronavirus

https://operawire.com/updates-on-2020-21-opera-concert-seasons-in-north-america-due-to-coronavirus/

-We will update this article as more additional Information becomes available- After the coronavirus forced theaters to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 season and all summer festivals in North America, audiences are awaiting information on how the upcoming 2020-21 seasons will be affected. Here is a breakdown of schedule changes in North America (You can find European updates here): {…}

Special Features

Are Online Concerts the Future of Opera?

https://operawire.com/are-online-concerts-the-future-of-opera/

The world has been shifting more and more towards digital forms of entertainment due to the global pandemic. This has resulted in countless online-only events, gigs, and concerts that have taken the place of live, in-person events. In the world of live musical performances, this translates to not just new challenges, but also fresh and exciting possibilities as well. And {…}

Opera Wiki

Opera Profile: Charlie Parker’s Yardbird

https://operawire.com/opera-profile-charlie-parkers-yardbird/

(Credit: Dominic Mercier/Opera Philadelphia) Few American operas have garnered the same level of popularity over the past few years as “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird.” The opera, written by composer Daniel Schnyder and librettist Bridgette A. Wimberly had its world premiere at Opera Philadelphia on June 5, 2015 in a production directed by Ron Daniels. Eventually, the opera would garner performances throughout {…}