(Photo credit: Robert Torres) Sometimes we ought to live and let die twice in a night—or, perhaps, let die and then live twice? The Handel and Haydn Society’s (H+H) program is, in many ways, logical: Michael Haydn’s “Requiem” and then Mozart’s. There is much kinship between the pieces; however, even for the most skeptical of critics, it is hard to {…}
Let’s briefly address the elephant or rather demon in this particular review, as it were. Namely, what is it with the fascination of so many 19th century composers with this classic Romantic literature – often considered the greatest work of German literature – Goethe’s “Faust”? There is Hector Berlioz’s masterpiece, “La damnation de Faust”, which I recently reviewed in a {…}
The Berkshire Opera Festival is set to present a new production of Charles Gounod’s “Faust.” The production will star tenor Duke Kim, Raquel González, Justin Hopkins, Sun-Ly Pierce, and Abbegael Greene. In a statement, conductor and Berkshire Opera Festival Co-Founder Brian Garman said, “BOF enters the realm of French grand opera for the first time with these performances of Faust. {…}
The Irish National Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The company will open with a double bill featuring “Mary Motorhead” and “Trade.” Naomi Louisa O’Connell, Oisin O’Dalaigh, and John Molloy star in the production. Elaine Kelly conducts and Tom Creed directs. Performance Date: August 8–Oct. 23, 2024 Paula Murrihy and David Portillo lead Berlioz’s “Béatrice and Bénédict,” alongside Anna Devin, {…}
Pittsburgh Opera is set to perform Verdi’s “La Traviata” for the first time in seven years. The opera is set to be performed by Vuvu Mpofu in her Pittsburgh debut, Duke Kim, also making his Pittsburgh Opera debut and Michael Chioldi. The cast also includes Julia Swan Laird, Fran Daniel Laucerica, Brandon Bell, Evan Lazdowski, Oren Gradus, and Leah Heater. Antony Walker will {…}
The Berkshire Opera Festival has announced its 2024 season. BOF proudly presents the first workshop performance of a brand new opera from the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis. The opera in question is “The Reef” and the workshop will be held at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, New York City. The libretto is by Joan Ross Sorkin and adapted {…}
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 {…}
Seattle Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. “The 2024-25 season really offers something for everybody,” said general director Christina Scheppelmann in an official press statement. “We’re bringing in some of our audiences’ all-time favorite operas, like ‘Tosca’ and ‘The Magic Flute,’ in addition to a pair of remarkable new pieces from some of today’s most acclaimed and imaginative creators. And {…}
Seattle Opera has announced the lineup for its 60th anniversary concert “Windows from the Past, Doors to the Future.” The event, scheduled for one night only on May 11, 2023 at McCaw Hall, will feature Greer Grimsley as both co-host and singer. He is joined by Ginger Costa-Jackson, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Sarah Coburn, John Moore, Duke Kim, Amitai Pati, and {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to present Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” between Nov. 4 and 18, 2023. The new production will be directed by one of the foremost Shakespeare directors, Simon Godwin, in his opera staging debut. Principal Conductor Evan Rogister will lead the work with Italian soprano Rosa Feola as Juliette and British tenor Adam Smith as Romeo. {…}
The Irish National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Éna Brennan’s “Breathwork” will star Andrew Gavin, Michelle O’Rourke, and Kelli-Ann Masterson. John McIlduff directs. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-30, 2023 Duke Kim sings the title role of Gounod’s “Faust” alongside Nicholas Brownlee, Jennifer Davis, Gyula Nagy, Mark Nathan, and Gemma Ní Bhriain. Elaine Kelly conducts the production by Jack Furness. Performance {…}