The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2020 season. The 48th season will showcase three main stage operas and two-second stage series. Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” will open the festival followed by Rameau’s “Platée.” The third and final opera will be Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades.” In the second stage series Poulenc’s “La Voix Humaine” will open the series followed {…}
Festival season is in full swing and this weekend’s major offerings come from some of the most exciting summer festivals in North America. Here are our top five offerings (in alphabetical order by company). Madama Butterfly – Central City Opera The famed Puccini masterpiece opens on Saturday with Raquel González, Annie Rosen, Cody Austin, Troy Cook, and Joseph Gaines. Adam {…}
The assortment of works on offer this weekend features a look at the United State’s most important document, a classic Shakespeare tale, a classic Bernstein work, a unique zarzuela, and a fascinating take on “The Greatest Opera of All Time.” Figaro 90210! – Chautauqua Opera Eric Einhorn directs this iconic adaptation of the famed opera. Jorge Parodi conducts a production {…}
As we get ready for Thanksgiving, we can look around and be thankful for all the opera options in North America. Here’s a look at what you can check out before you start to think about your Thanksgiving feast. Poppea – Bare Opera It might be a reduced version of Monteverdi’s masterpiece, but it remains a vital piece of work {…}
Iowa Public Television’s broadcast of “Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Billy Budd” has won the 2018 Upper Midwest Emmy in the Arts/Entertainment Program division. The 2018 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Gala and awards ceremony was held on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, with the team of creators Judy Blank, Andrea Coyle, Chad Aubrey, Jim Leasure, David Feingold, Kevin Rivers, Neal Kyer, Rick {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera is set to collaborate with the Iowa National Guard and Camp Dodge for a series of performances of “Glory Denied.” The production, which takes place on Nov. 16, 17, and 18, will be fully produced at Camp Dodge with the Iowa National Guard providing consulting to the creative teams needs. “The Iowa National Guard is {…}
While the summer is in full swing, there aren’t all that many companies in production at the present moment. That said, there are still a plethora of solid offerings. Here’s a look at our top picks, in alphabetical order by company. Rocking Horse Winner / Vinkensport or The Finch Opera – Opera Saratoga This unique double bill features music by {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced its 2019 Festival featuring three mainstage productions and two second stage series operas. Michael Egel, General and Artistic Director of the DMMO noted, “Our 2019 season features a bold and exciting combination of titles both familiar and new. Building upon the power of sung stories as they can only be told in Des Moines {…}
The 2017-18 season comes to an end. Now what do you do? Or more like where do you go? Opera lovers know that there are a plethora of festivals to check out, but many are distant from their own traditional opera companies and it can turn into a challenge trying to figure out where to fly out to in the {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced a concert and reception featuring internationally acclaimed countertenor John Holiday. The concert, which is set for Sunday, April 8, will feature an eclectic mix of opera, jazz, and gospel selections and will be held at the sanctuary at Plymouth Church in Des Moines. Holiday will be joined by Scott Arens, DMMO’s director of marketing {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera’s Words and Music at the Carnegie Capital Campaign has successfully completed its fundraiser. The company announced that it was able to raise over $4 million, exceeding its original $3.5 million goal. General and Artistic Director Michael Egel announced the news at a donor recognition event to celebrate the campaign’s success. In total the campaign had over 175 donors, {…}