(Photo credit: Chuck Gilmore) Southern Appalachia is typically acknowledged as the heart of traditional American folk music, from old-time string bands to bluegrass, and haunting ballads, but there are more connections to opera and classical singing than one might realize. Pioneers like Cecil Sharp, Maud Karpeles, and John Jacob Niles collected folk songs throughout southern Appalachia, such as “The Lover’s {…}
Sarasota Opera will celebrate its apprentice and studio artists in the “Salute the Stars” event on March 25. This year’s class of apprentice and studio artists will be presented with awards by Sarasota and Manatee Opera Guild alumni, among others. Also during the event guests will enjoy a gourmet lunch and performances by the awardees. Sarasota Opera’s winter 2025 apprentice {…}
The Brevard Music Center’s third and final opera production for the 2024 Summer Festival, Weill’s “The Threepenny Opera,” emphasized the company’s versatility and devotion to training top-notch young artists. A myriad of musical skill, dedication, and artistry was displayed by the members of the Janiec Opera Company in the three mainstage operas the team produced over the last month. While {…}
(Photo credit: Charles Gilmore) Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center’s 2024 Summer Festival production of Puccini’s “La bohème” embodied the brilliance of the opera company tucked away in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Vocal Highlights The charming nature of this production was evident from the start as Emesh Wijewardena who sang Rodolfo, and Charles Daniel as Marcello {…}