Heartbeat Opera Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring Adaptations of Beethoven, Puccini, and Verdi

New York’s Heartbeat Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season, which includes a video premiere and the company’s Spring Festival, featuring significant adaptions of Puccini’s “Tosca” and Verdi’s “Macbeth.” The Season kicks off with a free video premiere of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” featuring over 100 incarcerated singers from six prison choirs. Ethan Heard adapted and directed this re-imagining of the opera in {…}

Mar 10, 2022

Heartbeat Opera to World Premiere ‘QUANDO’

Heartbeat Opera is set to present the world premiere of “QUANDO” on April 7, 2022. The opera film, which will be screened at The McKittrick Hotel in New York City, will be presented in co-production with Long Beach Opera. The work is created and produced by Derrell Acon and features music by Verdi and Gluck as well as “live musical {…}

Jun 22, 2021

Derrell Acon Takes on Associate Artistic Director Role at Heartbeat Opera

Heartbeat Opera has announced that as of July 1, 2021, bass-baritone Derrell Acon will be the company’s first Associate Artistic Director. Acon previously performed with the company in “Fidelio,” “Der Freischutz,” and “Breathing Free” and will serve as a Creative Producer with the company on its 2021 “Quando il Glück monta i Verdi,” a short opera film with live excerpts {…}

Oct 30, 2020

Derrell Acon, Curtis Bannister, & Kelly Griffin Headline Heartbeat Opera’s ‘Breathing Free’ Online Series

Heartbeat Opera has announced a brand new six-part series entitled “Breathing Free.” The visual album, which will premiere on YouTube between Dec. 4-12, will showcase nine interconnected music videos highlighting works by Beethoven, Harry T. Burleigh, Florence Price, Langston Hughes, Anthony Davis, Thulani Davis, and Negro spirituals. The series features three singers including Derrell Acon, Curtis Bannister, and Kelly Griffin {…}

Sep 19, 2020

Derrell Acon & Anthony Roth Costanzo Headline Long Beach Opera’s Fall 2020 Programming

Long Beach Opera has announced three programs for its fall 2020 season. All performances and events will be presented virtually. First up will be “2020 Songbook,” a fundraiser in which sponsors will commission a new piece of music by an emerging composer, who have been selected by a panel of composers including Anthony Davis, Annie Gosfield, David Lang, George Lewis, {…}

Sep 14, 2020

Juan Diego Flórez, Lawrence Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, Martina Arroyo, J’Nai Bridges Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

With opera companies returning in full force digitally, this week’s selections will highlight a mix of repertory staples with some unique and experimental new works. Before we kick off our list, don’t forget to check out important discussions taking place regarding issues of race and equality in opera with such programs as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and Mark {…}

Sep 3, 2020

Derrell Acon, Julia Bullock, Jeanine Tesori Headline Heartbeat Opera’s 2020-21 Online Season

(Credit: Christopher Ash) Heartbeat Opera has announced the works that will make up the company’s 2020–21 season. In a show of solidarity with artists during this time, 85 percent of the company’s budget will be devoted to employing more than 50 collaborators. The season will open in September with “The Secret Sauce,” described as a soiree-style reflection on Heartbeat Opera’s {…}

Sep 12, 2019

Opera Buffs Opens Season With Concert Featuring Brooke Lohman & Derrell Acon

The Opera Buffs will be showcasing a performance that features soprano Brooke Iva Lohman and bass-baritone Derrell Acon. The presentation is set for Oct. 20, 2019 at the home of Janet and Nick Ciriello in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. Lohman is a Southern California based soprano who has performed with such organizations as the Riverside Lyric Opera and Operazzi. With {…}

Jun 14, 2019

Janai Brugger, Karen Slack, Ginger Costa-Jackson Star In Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend (North America)

(Credit: Suzanne Vinnik / Dario Acosta) This weekend’s recommendations are full of variety of repertory spread across the U.S. including two essential world premieres and the performance of a rare work. All of them feature tremendous star power. Here are the five operas that we recommend for your Father’s Day celebration (in alphabetical order by company). The Marriage of Figaro {…}