During my 40 years of being obsessed with opera, and five years singing in major choral works, I realize it’s a bit odd that Verdi’s Requiem never entered my sphere. I have never experienced it live, nor even owned a recording. Please do not shame me. I am somewhat familiar with a couple of the most famous sections: the driving {…}
The Seattle Symphony Orchestra is set to present a series of concerts featuring two renowned Requiems performed by some of the world’s greatest opera stars. First up, the ensemble will present a program of music by Brahms and Stravinsky. Audiences will hear Brahm’s famed German Requiem with Soraya Malfi and Alexander Dobson as the soloists. The program will also include {…}
Opera Colorado is set to close its 2021-22 season with Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production will star mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich in her signature role alongside soprano Susannah Biller as Micaëla, tenor Bruce Sledge as Don José making his role debut, and Grammy Award-winning baritone Nmon Ford as Escamillo, returning to Opera Colorado after our digital program, “The Promise of Living.” Ari {…}
Opera Colorado has announced its 2021-22 season featuring three productions and a number of international stars. Puccini’s “Tosca” opens the season with Melissa Citro, Rafael Davila, and Luis Ledesma. Ari Pelto conducts the masterwork. Performance Dates: Nov. 6-14, 2021 Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s “The Shining” will be directed by Eric Simonson. Edward Parks, Kelly Kaduce, Kevin Deas, Vale Rideout, {…}
(Credit: met Opera Archives) The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 70th straight week of nightly streams. In keeping with its theme-based programming, the company has announced that this coming week will be dominated by the operas of Giacomo Puccini, including the first-ever stream of “La Fanciulla del West” starring Barbara Daniels. Here’s a full rundown of the week ahead. Monday, {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2021-22 season celebrating its 35th anniversary. Rossini’s “Maometto II” opens the season starring Ashraf Sewailam in the title role, Leah Crocetto as Anna Erisso, Bruce Sledge as Paolo Erisso, and Elizabeth DeShong as Calbo. Performance Date: Nov. 21, 2021 “Orphée” will be led by Kate Lindsey in the title role alongside Jacquelyn Stucker {…}
Athlone Artists has announced that tenor Bruce Sledge has joined its roster of performers. A regular performer at the Metropolitan Opera, Sledge made his debut with the company in 2003 as Almaviva in “Barber of Seville,” and was most recently Pinkerton for their 2019 production of “Madama Butterfly.” He has sung with companies such as Welsh National Opera , Swedish {…}
Columbia Artists Management Inc. has announced it will shut down due to the prolonged pandemic. In a statement that was emailed Saturday to CAMI artists the agency said it would be closing its doors on Monday, August 31. “Columbia Artists has engaged with a fiduciary to enter into an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a form of insolvency proceeding {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 17th week of its nightly streams. This week’s streams include such opera stars as Anna Netrebko, Luciano Pavarotti, Ben Heppner, and Eva Marton. Monday, July 6 – Puccini’s La Bohème Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Susanna Phillips, Michael Fabiano, Lucas Meachem, Alexey Lavrov, Matthew Rose, and Paul Plishka, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From February 24, 2018. Tuesday, {…}
Credit: Jiyang Chen/Dario Acosta The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring three operas. The season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra,” which was originally scheduled for May 2020. Artists to be announced. Performance Date: Sept. 13, 2020 Gioachino Rossini’s rarely performed “Maometto II” will get a concert performance featuring Luca Pisaroni in the title role, Leah Crocetto, {…}
Opera Colorado has announced its 2020-21 season featuring three productions and a number of international stars. Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s “The Shining” opens the season in a production by Eric Simonson. Edward Parks, Kelly Kaduce, Arthur Woodley, Vale Rideout, Joseph Gaines, and Troy Cook lead the cast with Ari Pelto conducting. Performance Dates: Nov. 7-15, 2020 Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” {…}