Detroit Opera has announced a new transformational$3 million grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation in Birmingham. According to Detroit Business, “the grant will support general operations and a new initiative that expands the range of performances, artists, and experiences for audiences.” In a statement, Patty Isacson Sabee, president and CEO of Detroit Opera said, “On behalf of Detroit {…}
Artistic Director Yuval Sharon is exiting the Detroit Opera. According to reports, both parties have mutually agreed to end his contract as Artistic Director at the end of the 2025-6 season, rather than letting it run until 2028. As a result, the company’s Music Director Roberto Kalb will take on an expanded role in planning. The news comes after the {…}
Detroit Opera is undergoing some major financial trouble. Per the Detroit Free Press, the company was forced to cancel the opener of its 2025-26 season, “The Girl of the Golden West,” due to financial reasons. The report notes that, per tax documents, the Detroit Opera has suffered more than $3 million in losses from 2023 to 2024 due to a {…}
Detroit Opera President and CEO Patty Isacson Sabee, the Detroit Opera Board of Directors, and Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director Yuval Sharon have agreed to extend Sharon’s current contract through the 2027-28 season. Sharon became the company’s artistic director in 2020 through an appointment made possible by a generous gift from Gary L. Wasserman. The contract extension sets the stage {…}
(Photo credit: Austin Richey) Applications are now open for Detroit Opera’s 2025–26 Resident Artist Program. This newly designed program is for early-career professional opera singers. It offers individualized study to cater to the unique needs of each artist and aligns with the country’s top training programs. The program is led by opera coach and pianist Nathalie Doucet, Detroit Opera’s Head {…}
Christine Goerke is stepping down from her position as Associate Artistic Director at the Detroit Opera. The soprano took to social media and said, “As I take my final bow as Associate Artistic Director, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. There have been so many beautiful moments- bringing in my dear friend, the late Sir Andrew Davis for my final {…}
Yuval Sharon deemed “the most imaginative director in the US” by the New York Times, has announced the publication of his book “A New Philosophy of Opera.” In “A New Philosophy of Opera,” Sharon draws on experiences throughout his career from Berlin to Los Angeles. He discusses re-envisioning opera as a powerhouse cultural phenomenon and his vision for an “anti-elite {…}
Detroit Opera has announced the five singers who will train in Detroit Opera’s Resident Artist Program during the 2024–25 season. The company’s new Resident Artists are Soprano Brianna J. Robinson, mezzo-soprano Kendra Faith Beasley, tenor River Guard for a second year, and baritones Cole Bellamy and Cameron J. Rolling. The five were chosen from more than 830 artists who applied {…}
Detroit Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. First up is “La Traviata” in a new production by Francesca Zambello, conducted by Roberto Kalb. The work stars Emily Pogorelc, Galeano Salas, and Rod Gilfry. The new production moves the action to the 1920s. Performance Dates: Oct. 19 – 27, 2024 Next up is Louisa Proske’s production of “Rinaldo” starring Anthony Roth Costanzo, {…}
Detroit Opera has announced the cast for its “Europeras 3 & 4” this March. The John Cage work will star Davóne Tines and Susan Graham. They will be joined by sopranos Jennifer Cresswell, Kisma Jordan, and Melanie Spector; tenor River Guard; baritones Rolfe Dauz and Robert Wesley Mason; pianists John Etsell and Marina Stojanovska; and actors Biba Bell, Shannon White, {…}
(Photo credit: Adrien Coquet) Dr. Caitlin Vincent (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Amanda Coles (Deakin University) have published their findings on the gender inequality and the impacts of non-standard work in the US opera industry. The team tracked women’s representation as conductors, directors, and designers at the 11 largest opera companies in the United States – the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe {…}