Vancouver Opera is set to close its 2023-2024 season with Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.” The opera has not been performed at the company in 10 years and will be performed five times this season. In a statement, Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera said, “Bizet’s masterful score, multi-level sets that straddle the spectacular and the seedy, and the promise of captivating {…}
The Canadian Opera Company’s Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is set to return for the first time in three seasons on Sept. 20, 2022. The company’s 15th season as Toronto’s go-to venue for diverse cultural programming will feature 70 concerts, from September to June, that showcase global and local artists across a variety of genres and disciplines. {…}
Photo: Bernd Uhlig Ingo Metzmacher, the conductor for this year’s Aix-en-Provence festival’s production of Strauss’ “Salome” stressed time and again throughout his program notes the need for a cool head, for orchestral restraint and calm, for sobriety and balance. His stated aim was to ensure the orchestra does not predominate, does not get carried away, is not too loud, but {…}
(Credit: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) Italy’s Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced the 2021-22 season featuring world premieres, rarely staged works, and star singers. Here is a look at the operatic performances of the season. Pre-Opening Before opening night, the fall season will see Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco.” The work will be presented for the first time in Rome since 1972 {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2021-22 season, which will feature six productions. It all starts with Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Carolyn Sproule, Richard Trey Smagur, Christian Pursell, and Heidi Stober. Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts a production directed by Rob Ashford. Performance Dates: Oct. 22 – Nov. 7, 2021 Next up is the world premiere of “The Snowy Day.” The new {…}
(Credit: Fay Fox) Opera Naples has announced the cast to its upcoming production of “West Side Story.” The production will star Isabel Leonard as Maria, Alex McKissick as Tony, Carolyn Sproule as Anita, and Darren Drone as Riff. The cast will also include Eric Viñas as Bernardo and Alex Mansoori as Action. Mark Danni is set to direct the semi-staged {…}
The San Diego Opera has announced the 2020-21 season featuring six productions. Main Stage The season opens with Keturah Stickann’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Angel Joy Blue stars in the title role with Joshua Guerrero as Rodolfo, Andrea Carroll as Musetta, Alexander Birch Elliot as Marcello, and Scott Sikon as Beniôt/Alcindoro. Valerio Galli conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 24-Nov. 1, {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of established as well as rising stars. Here is a detailed look at the upcoming productions: The season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen” with a cast that includes Isabel Leonard and Carolyn Sproule alternating in the role of Carmen, Andrea Caré and Frederick Ballentine alternating as Don José, Anita {…}
Saturday, December 7, 2019, saw the finals concert of Premiere Opera Foundation and NYIOP’s International Vocal Competition. The 20 finalists gathered in the resonant First Christian Science Church to share their artistic gifts before a live audience and a panel of distinguished judges, including Paul Hopper of the Metropolitan Opera, Gerald Martin Moore of the Glyndebourne Festival, Pamela Walsh of {…}