“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 {…}
Composer Astor Piazzolla and librettist Horacio Ferrer premiered the Spanish language tango opera “Maria de Buenos Aires” in that city in 1968. Arizona Opera presented it at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson on October 6, 2018. The opera tells of life in the demi-monde found on the wrong side of the tracks. Its characters are prostitutes, wife {…}
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 {…}
This weekend is all about variety with some companies showcasing perennial classics and three others showing modern works with tremendous socio-political relevance. Das Rheingold – Arizona Opera Opera Arizona will showcase the first installment in Wagner’s famed tetralogy with Mark Delavan as Wotan, Rodell Rosel as Loge, Richard Paul Fink as Alberich, Daveda Karanas as Fricka, and Dana Beth Miller {…}
Arizona Opera has announced that it will be entering a meaningful new chapter of artistic vibrancy and community engagement that will excite both longtime opera lovers and newcomers alike. In a press release the company announced that beginning in the 2018-19 Season, it will expand its programming to curate a more inclusive opera season – one that continues to deliver {…}
Another operatic weekend. Another set of opening performances around North America. The big one on the radar is “Samson et Dalila” at the Dallas Opera, which is set to star Olga Borodina. The opera opens on Friday with another performance set for Sunday. Houston Grand Opera opens its production of “La Traviata” on Saturday. Additionally, the Florentine Opera opens its {…}
As we get deeper and deeper into the fall season, opera lovers are finding themselves with more and more options around the United States. Here is a look at the offerings for this second weekend of the month. First off, let’s kick off with the major openings. On Saturday, Los Angeles Opera opens its production of “Nabucco (the company also {…}
Arizona Opera has just gotten a massive gift in the form of $1 million, one of the largest in its history. According to Tuscon.com, the donation is coming from Scott Stallard and his wife Marlu Allan, who were thrilled earlier this season when they experienced the company’s world premiere of “Riders of the Purple Sage.” “It was stunning,” Stallard said {…}
It is going to be a busy opera weekend around the US with a plethora of companies, both large and small, giving new productions and old. Opera Memphis will showcase three works throughout the weekend including Peter Hilliard’s “Blue Viola” on Friday and Saturday, Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers” on Saturday,” and John Musto’s “Later the Same Evening” on Saturday. Palm {…}
A number of major operas premiere new productions this weekend. Here are the major highlights of the weekend. The New York City Opera is back in action this weekend with a rare performance of Resphigi’s “La Campana Sommersa.” The rarely performed opera stars Fabio Armiliato and will be showcased on March 31 and April 1 with subsequent performances during the {…}
A French classic returns to the Met stage this weekend as the other major companies around the states continue business as usual. Audiences will get a chance to relive Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” at the Met with a new cast starring Pretty Yende and Stephen Costello. The following day, Massenet’s “Werther,” which was widely praised (including by OperaWire) makes its {…}
