Jill Gardner, Lauren Decker & Alyson Cambridge Lead Toledo Opera’s 2022-23 Season

The Toledo Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season. The company will return to Valentine Theatre and will celebrate its 64th season. The season opens with Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Maestro Geoffrey McDonald conducts the double bill with stage director Keturah Stickann helming. “Suor Angelica” stars soprano Jill Gardner as Angelica and contralto Lauren Decker as the Principessa while {…}

Jun 2, 2021

Brian Cheney & Cathy Venable to Present Concert Dedicated to Music of Fauré

Tenor Brian Cheney is set to continue his weekly recital series with a concert dedicated to the music of Gabriel Fauré. The showcase, scheduled for Friday, June 3, 2021, will feature Cheney alongside long-time collaborator Cathy Venable. The program represents the sixth in the duo’s composer series. The duo has dedicated concert performances to the music of Leonard Bernstein, John {…}

Apr 23, 2021

Joyce DiDonato, Anna Netrebko, & Louise Alder Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week three of today’s biggest divas release new albums or DVDs. There are also a number of solo projects including a debut album by one of the most exciting baritones of his generation. Here is a look. Winterreise Joyce DiDonato releases her acclaimed version of Schubert’s “Winterreise.” The mezzo noted that the piece is one of “the masterpieces: those {…}

Apr 21, 2021

Brian Cheney and Cathy Venable Continue ‘Composer Series’ with Mozart Concert

On April 22, 2021, artists Brian Cheney and Cathy Venable will continue their “Composer Series” on Stageit with a concert devoted to the works of Mozart. The program will be comprised of selections from works such as “Idomeneo,” “Così fan tutte,” “Don Giovanni,” and “Die Zauberflöte.” Cheney will also perform a solo version of “Ave Verum,” and Venable will play {…}

Mar 2, 2021

Brian Cheney to Present Recital Dedicated to ‘Leonard Bernstein’

Tenor Brian Cheney will continue his online concert series on March 4, 2021 with a showcase dedicated to the music of American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Cheney will perform alongside pianist Cathy Venable, who has accompanied the tenor over the last 10 months. This will be the 19th concert the duo does together since April 2020 and the 29th {…}

Jan 27, 2021

Brian Cheney to Celebrate Mario Lanza’s 100th Birthday With ‘Because You’re Mine’ Concert

American tenor Bryan Cheney will join forces with West End Composer/Lyricist/Producer duo Daniel Curtis and Laura Coyne to present “Because You’re Mine” on Sunday, January 31, 2021. The showcase will celebrate iconic tenor Mario Lanza’s 100th birthday and is a very special event for Cheney, who has always admired the great American tenor. “Ever since I discovered the great Mario {…}

Jan 20, 2021

Brian Cheney & Cathy Venable to Present ’24 Italian Art Songs & Arias’ Concert Series

Bryan Cheney and Cathy Venable will kick off a three-part concert series starting this Thursday, January 21, 2021. The duo will perform the famed “24 Italian Art Songs and Arias anthology,” a volume of songs that any aspiring singer will take on at some point in his or her career. “My mentor and dear friend, Jerry Hadley, always told me {…}

Dec 16, 2020

Tenor Brian Cheney to Present ‘Let It Snow’

(Credit: Leslie Hassler) Tenor Brian Cheney and pianist Cathy Venable will present the holiday show “Let It Snow” on Dec. 17, 2020, via Stageit. The duo will perform such hits as “O Holy Night,” “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve,” among many others. The program is set to last for one hour. Cheney {…}

Nov 19, 2020

Brian Cheney, Jennifer Zetlan to Appear in ‘Remembering RGB’

Live with Carnegie Hall is set to celebrate late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in performance live on Nov. 19, 2020. The performance, entitled “Remember RBG,” is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on Live with Carnegie Hall, Facebook, or YouTube for free. Audiences will see duet “We Are Different, We are One” from {…}

Aug 5, 2020

Composer Oliver Ostermann & Tenor Brian Cheney Release New Album

(Credit: Oliver Ostermann/Brian Cheney) Austrian Composer Oliver Ostermann and American Tenor Brian Cheney have teamed up during the COVID-19 pandemic to create the album “ I Sang My Heart to the Moon.” The album features eight pieces in total with lyricist and acclaimed poet Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely offering up poetry suited for this time. “Love Apart,” “I Sang My Heart {…}

Jul 1, 2020

Brian Cheney to Present ‘Viennese Operetta – Tenor Hits’

Tenor Brian Cheney has announced his 13th weekly performance on Stageit. The showcase, which is set for Thursday, July 2, 2020, will center on music from Vienna. Entitled “Viennese Operetta – Tenor Hits,” the concert will see Cheney perform alongside pianist Cathy Venable in a split-screen performance. Cheney has been at the forefront of online performances since the start of {…}