Boston Lyric Opera is set to the world premiere of “The Seasons,” a groundbreaking new opera that marries Antonio Vivaldi’s music to a fresh and timely new story. A BLO co-production with AMOC and SCENE, and co-presented with ArtsEmerson, the work features a libretto by Sarah Ruhl, and imagines artists seeking inspiration in a world where the weather has been {…}
(Photo credit: Robert Torres) Sometimes we ought to live and let die twice in a night—or, perhaps, let die and then live twice? The Handel and Haydn Society’s (H+H) program is, in many ways, logical: Michael Haydn’s “Requiem” and then Mozart’s. There is much kinship between the pieces; however, even for the most skeptical of critics, it is hard to {…}
(Photos: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera presented the tenth performance of composer Kevin Puts’s “The Hours,” with libretto by Greg Pierce, on Friday, May 10th 2024. In November 2022, OperaWire reviewed “The Hours” debut with great attention towards how the opera came to the Met, including Kevin Puts’s score, Greg Pierce’s libretto, and the undeniable beauty of the {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced casting updates and an additional performance for the company’s 2024 Festival Season. The company noted that due to strong early ticket sales, there will be an additional performance of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s world premiere opera, “American Apollo.” The added performance will occur on Friday, July 19 at the Blank Performing Arts {…}
St. Louis Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of its vocal performances. Stéphane Denève conducts Mozart’s Requiem with Dashon Burton, Kelly O’Connor, Joélle Harvey, and Ben Bliss. The program will also includes Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546 and Detlev Glanert’s Four Preludes and Serious Songs. Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2024 Take 6 {…}
Photo credit: Nile Scott Studios Never mind the simplistically staged goals. Forget that the libretto, by Jacopo Ferretti, makes very little sense especially in Act two. Boston Lyric Opera’s production of “La Cenerentola” works — and works quite well! With a very talented cast, an inspiring conductor, and a good orchestra, Rossini and Ferretti’s opera invites everyone to enjoy a {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera is set to present a city-centric take on Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” The interpretation will bring the familiar story of a mistreated young woman and a handsome prince into the hearts of two familiar Boston neighborhoods. Boston resident Dawn M. Simmons will make her opera debut directing a cast that includes Cecelia Hall, Levy Sekgapane, Dana Varga, {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera has announced casting updates for its productions of “Cinderella” and “Madama Butterfly.” For “Cinderella” the company said that Cecelia Hall will make her BLO debut as Angelina in a new production by Dawn M. Simmons. Hall will be joined by Dana Varga in her BLO debut as Clorinda, Alexis Peart as Tisbe, Levy Sekgapane in his {…}
(Photo credits: Chris Sorensen, Victoria Cadisch, Andrew Staples) The English Concert has announced its 2023-24 season. This article features vocal works only. Countertenor Iestyn Davies returns to the BBC Proms to perform “Late Night Bach.” Davies will perform two of Bach’s solo cantatas, “Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” and “Geist und Seele wird verdwirret” at the Royal Albert Hall. Performance Date: {…}
Photo: © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton Normally, ‘heritage’ productions make me nervous. The established stagings summon to mind lumbering Zeffirelli-esque spectacles and unwieldy, moth-eaten costumes. Opera houses resting on their artistic laurels, unwilling take artistic risks. The ingrained conservatism in the opera business that could even prove fatal for the art form. But, Peter Hall’s production of Benjamin {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. The Boston Lyric Opera opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” featuring Karen Chia-Ling Ho, Alice Chung, Dominick Chenes, and Troy Cook. David Angus conducts the opera in a production by Phil Chan. Performance Dates: Sept. 14-24, 2023 David Angus conducts Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” in a production by Dawn M. Simmons. {…}