In Less Than Five Minutes, Get To Know Irish Soprano Ami Hewitt
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britten
Festival Aix-en-Provence 2025 Review: The Story of Billy Budd, Sailor
It is official: Britten is in now. It is not as if the Master of Snape was ever ‘out,’ but Aix’s adaptation of “Billy Budd” — along with Deborah Warner’s “Peter Grimes” from a couple of years ago — reiterates the timeliness of his work and theater. Watching Britten today, it feels like his works have just been waiting for {…}
The Royal Ballet & Royal Opera to Present ‘Phaedra + Minotaur’
The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera are teaming up to present “Phaedra + Minotaur” on Feb. 6-11, 2024 at Linbury Theatre. The production will feature Deborah Warner’s production of Britten’s cantata “Phaedra” alongside a ballet by Kim Brandstrup that reworks the Ariadne and Theseus myth. Headlining the production will be mezzo-soprano Christine Rice, who sings the title role of “Phaedra.” {…}
Theater Erfurt Unveils 2023-24 Season, ‘Uferlos’
The Theater Erfurt has unveiled its 2023-24 season. In sum, the season will feature five opera productions with the season focusing on themes of the sea and ocean. First up will be a new production of “Peter Grimes” which will be conducted by Clemens Fieguth and directed by Marin Blalazevic. The opera will star Brett Sprague in the title role. {…}
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Announces 2023-24 Season
Kazuki Yamada/courtesy of CBSO The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has unveiled its 2023-24 season, and it’s full to the brim with opportunities to hear some of the world’s finest music and musicians. With over 12 months of programming, the Orchestra has something for everyone. The Orchestra will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the City of Birmingham Symphony {…}
Chicago Opera Theater to Present ‘Albert Herring’
The Chicago Opera Theater is set to present the comic opera “Albert Herring” on Jan. 26 – 29, 2023 at the Athenaeum Center. The Britten opera will be presented under the direction of Dame Jane Glover, and stars Miles Mykkanen, in his company debut as Albert Herring. Other cast members include Whitney Morrison as Lady Billows, Leah Dexter as Mrs. Herring, Justin Berkowitz as {…}
Opéra National de Paris Announces Académie de Palais Garnier Concerts
The Opéra National de Paris is set to present a series of concerts featuring artists from the Académie au Palais Garnier. First up will be an aria and ensembles concert. That showcase will feature music by Rossini, Thomas, Poulenc, Britten, Gounod, Massenet, and Donizetti from such operas as “Guillaume Tell,” “Semiramide,” “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” “Hamlet,” “Dialogues des Carmélites,” “Gloriana,” {…}
Tenor Daniel McGrew to Debut at Merkin Hall This December
Tenor Daniel McGrew and pianist Sophia Zhou will present a recital at the Merkin Hall at Kaufmann Music Center in New York City on Dec. 8, 2022. The showcase will feature a performance of Brahms’ “Deutsche Volkslieder” WoO33, Debussy’s “Trois mélodies de Verlaine,” Christopher Berg’s “Songs to poems by Frank O’Hara,” Britten’s “The Holy Sonnets of John Donne,” songs by {…}
Q & A: Jacques Imbrailo on ‘Don Giovanni,’ Oviedo & Wide-Ranging Repertoire
This week, baritone Jacques Imbrailo returns to the title role of “Don Giovanni” for his big debut at Ópera de Oviedo. The South African singer has performed the iconic role throughout his career with such companies the Perm Opera and Scottish Opera, among others. But his “Don Giovanni” isn’t the only thing he has in store for this coming season. {…}
The Royal Opera House Announces Cast for ‘The Rape of Lucretia’
The Royal Opera House has announced the full casting for Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia.” The opera, which opens on Oct. 29 at Britten Pears Arts, Snape Maltings before heading to the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House on Nov. 13, will star Anne Marie Stanley in the title role. She will be joined by Carolyn Holt, Sarah Dufresne, Jolyon Loy, {…}
Opera Quiz: Whose Works is this Opera Adapted From?
(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) A lot of modern opera is based on original and new stories. But it wasn’t always like that. For hundreds of years, operas in the standard repertory, regardless of their style (baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic) were based on some other story or event. So in honor of that unique aspect of opera (other art forms are also {…}