The Opera Next Door is set to present Bach’s “St. John’s Passion” on April 9 and 15, 2022. The showcase, which will take place at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn, New York, will feature an outdoor performance on the 9th (weather permitting), followed by another indoors on the 15th. The famed piece will be semi-staged by director A. {…}
Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques will pay homage to Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig on June 11, 2022. This showcase will be a restaging of the 1786 charity event originally organized by Johann Sebastian’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, in support of a medical institute for the poor; that concert featured the {…}
The Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Connecticut Lyric Opera have announced the Spring Bach Festival. There will be two performances starting with a Cantatas showcase featuring soprano Kelly Whitesell, mezzo Rebeca Almeida, tenor Daniel Juarez, and bass Steven Fasano. The quaret will perform such works as BWV 8: “Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?” and BWV 170: “Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte {…}
The Los Angeles Opera is set to present Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” in a new staging by John Neumeier. The showcase will be conducted by James Conlon and will star tenor Joshua Blue, baritone Michael Sumuel, soprano Tamara Wilson, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, tenor Ben Bliss, and bass Kristinn Sigmundsson. They will be joined by the Hamburg Ballet. “John Neumeier has {…}
On March 3, 2022, Academy Award-nominated composer Marco Beltrami will present his newest project “Bach by Beltrami.” Known for his scores for films such as “The Hurt Locker,” “A Quiet Place,” and Wes Craven’s “Scream” series, this new work will deconstruct and reimagine Bach’s “Preludes,” to be performed by violinist Sandy Cameron, Lucia Micarelli, cellist Eric Byers, and L.A.’s Delirium {…}
(Credit: English Touring Opera official website) The English Touring Opera has announced its 2022 spring performances. Here is a full slate. Puccini’s “La bohème” features Francesca Chiejina and Paula Sides as Mimì; Jenny Stafford and April Koyejo-Audiger in the role of Musetta; and Luciano Botelho and Thomas Elwin as Rodolfo. The cast is rounded out by Michel de Souza, Jerome {…}
(Credit: Teatro Arriaga de Bilbao official website) The Teatro Arriaga de Bilbao has announced an upcoming fully staged performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” BWV 248 on Dec. 22, 2021. The showcase will feature Cantatas I, II and III and will star soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea, alto Nerea Berraondo, tenor Toby Spence, and baritone Jonathan McGovern. Diego Martín-Etxebarria conducts a {…}
(Credits: San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Community has announced new “Opera Aficionado” online discussions in November 2021 on the topic of composers who did not compose an opera. San Francisco Opera Dramaturg Emeritus Kip Cranna will talk about German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, analyzing possible reasons why the famed German did not compose {…}
The Staatstheater Kassel has announced its upcoming premiere of Johan Sebastian Bach’s “Weihnachtsoratorium.” The Bach work will star soprano Lin Lin Fan, alto Ulrike Schneider, tenor Andrés Felipe Agudelo, and bass Sam Taskinen. Kiril Stankow conducts a production by Jochen Biganzoli with dramaturgy by Sarah Schnoor. Katharina Weissenborn will be responsible for costume design. The oratorio is set to open {…}
The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary this fall. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be mainly on vocal and operatic performances. The ensemble will present “Die Zauberflöte” and “Die Schauspiedirekotrin,” conducted by Kenneth Montgomery. The showcase will present a unique take on the two Mozart works, with Roberta Alexander taking {…}
(Credit: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale official website) Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Soprano Amanda Forsythe, mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, tenor Brenden Gunnell, and bass Joshua Bloom present Schumann’s “Requiem” alongside conductor Richard Egarr and violinist Shunske Sato. Performance dates: Oct. 14 – 17, 2021 Performances {…}