(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” for the first time since 2019 in James Robinson’s production. The opera will open on Dec. 2 and be performed 13 times. The production will feature conductor Kwamé Ryan in his company debut, leading a cast that includes bass-baritone Alfred Walker and soprano {…}
The George and Nora London Foundation for Singers concludes its season of events with a recital by baritone Benjamin Taylor. The recital will also include pianist Katelan Terrell and will be performed on April 16, 2023, at The Morgan Library & Museum. Taylor is a 2018 George London Award winner who has won critical praise and has performed at the {…}
The Berkshire Opera Festival has announced its 2023 season. The season includes Puccini’s “La Bohème” at Colonial Theater. The cast will include Whitney Morrison, Yongzhao Yu, Benjamin Taylor, Veronique Filloux, Evan Lazdowski, Ethan Vincent, and James Demler. Brian Garman conducts the production by Jonathon Loy. In a statement, Loy said, “This will be a production with a fresh take that {…}
The George London Foundation for Singers has announced its 2022-23 season. The season kicks off with a recital starring 2018 George London Award winner and mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis and pianist Jeanne-Minette Cilliers. The program will be announced at a future date. Bryce-Davis is coming off her Metropolitan Opera debut in “The Rake’s Progress” and has appeared with such companies as {…}
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith and composer Gregory Spears will hold a discussion and present a preview concert featuring excerpts from their new opera, “Castor and Patience,” at Library of Congress’s Coolidge Auditorium on May 12, 2022. The work is set to have its world premiere at Cincinnati Opera beginning on July 21, 2022, and running through July {…}
(Credit: Columbia Artists) Baltimore Concert Opera is set to present “Adriana Lecouvreur” starting on April 22, 2022. Leah Hawkins, Melody Wilson, Matthew Vickers, Benjamin Taylor, Brian Wallin, and Jesús Vicente Murillo star with Joy Schrier at the piano. Laurie Rogers conducts. There will also be a host of pre-opera class series on April 7, 14, 21, and 28. There will {…}
The Spoleto Festival has announced full details for the upcoming 2022 season. Operas As previously announced “Omar” will make its world premiere. The new opera by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels will be directed by Kaneza Schaal and conducted by John Kennedy. The production will star Jamez McCorkle in the title role, Laquita Mitchell, Malcom MacKenzie, Cheryse McLeod Lewis, Catherine Anne {…}
The Pittsburgh Opera is set to return to the Benedum Center, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The opera, which will be directed by Dan Rigazzi, will star David Portillo as Tamino, Kathryn Bowden as Queen of the Night, Adelaide Boedecker as Pamina, Véronique Filloux as Papagena, Benjamin Taylor as Papageno, Tom McNichols as Sarastro, {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2021 summer festival which will run between July 2 and 25. The company announced that its new season was developed in conjunction with the Medical Advisory Panel and that all 225 company members completed a COVID-19 vaccination series prior to their arrival for the festival. Additionally, all audience members will be required {…}
(Credit: – Dan Norman/Dominic M. Mercie/David Bachman) The Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring three main stage production and three modern operas. Here is a look at the ambitious season. Main Stage – Benedum Center Productions The season opens with Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” the first time the opera will be preformed with the company. The opera is set to {…}