In addition to announcing its 2025 season, Des Moines Metro Opera announced some major contract extensions and partnerships. First up, the organization extended Music Director and Principal Conductor David Neely through 2028. “David has served as the Marshall and Judy Flapan Music Director and Principal Conductor since 2012. In this role he has overseen and built one of the finest {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2025 Festival Season. “The 2025 Festival Season builds on the company’s reputation for curating a daring collection of works. These three fascinating pieces—legends, myths and parables—are drawn from far-flung corners of the operatic repertory and each elevates the intrinsic appeal of the other in beautiful ways,” said Linda Koehn General and Artistic {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced an director change for its production of “Salome.” The company revelaed that Alison Pogorelc will direct the Strauss opera in lieu of Nathan Troup who withdrew from the production for personal reasons. “I’m thrilled that Alison will make her debut with us this season for our new production of ‘Salome,’” Michael Egel, the Linda {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced a cast change for Debussy’s “Pelléas & Mélisande.” The company said that baritone Edward Nelson will perform the role of Pelléas in all four performances, replacing John Moore who has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons. In a statement, Michael Egel, the Linda Koehn General & Artistic Director of Des Moines Metro {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced casting updates and an additional performance for the company’s 2024 Festival Season. The company noted that due to strong early ticket sales, there will be an additional performance of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s world premiere opera, “American Apollo.” The added performance will occur on Friday, July 19 at the Blank Performing Arts {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera Announces its lineup for its 2024 festival. All productions will be performed in rotating repertory at the Pote Theatre at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola, Iowa. Each opera features English supertitles. The Des Moines Metro Opera Festival Orchestra will accompany all four productions. Starting things off is Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” starring baritone {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2023 Festival season. The season opens with “Carmen.” Taylor Raven stars in the title role alongside tenor Matthew Cairns. Kelly Kuo conducts. Performance Dates: June 30 – July 23, 2023 Christian Van Horn and Sara Gartland star in “Bluebeard’s Castle.” Kristine McIntyre direct with David Neely conducting. Performance Dates: July 1 – 22, {…}
The Stage Managers of the Des Moines Metro Opera have unionized and joined the American Guild of Musical Artists. Per an official press statement from AGMA, the Des Moines Metro Opera agreed to recognize the union following an official card check on June 3 conducted by a neutral third party over Zoom. AGMA will now be the exclusive bargaining representative {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has named Dr. Naomi André as its Fellow-in-Residence. The Fellow-in-Residence will create, participate in, and lead podcasts, conversations, and events centered around her research on opera, gender, voice, and race. André, who received her B.A. in Music from Barnard College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Musicology from Harvard University, is the author of “Black {…}
(Credit: Karli Cadel Photography) Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) has announced that Allen Perriello has been named to the position of Director of Artistic Administration for the company beginning Feb. 16, 2022. Most recently, Perriello was the Head of Music at Minnesota Opera. Simultaneously, he was the Director of the Young Artists Program at The Glimmerglass Festival, overseeing the auditioning, {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera in Iowa has announced its 50th anniversary season. It kicks off with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in a production directed by Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky. The work will star Aaron Blake, Audrey Luna, Andrew Wilkowske, and John Robert Lindsey. Performance Dates: March 5 & 6, 2022 Next up is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in a {…}