American Modern Opera Company & The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine 2024 Review: El Niño – Nativity Reconsidered

Composer John Adams’ and librettist Peter Sellars’ opera, “El Niño,” debuted at Metropolitan Opera earlier this year, making this their fourth work to be produced at the Met, including “Doctor Atomic” (2008), “Nixon in China” (2011), and “The Death of Klinghoffer” (2014). OperaWire reviewed the production in addition to attending and documenting Guggenheim Museum’s “Works & Process” presentation by the {…}

Dec 16, 2024

Best of 2024: OperaWire’s Team on the Best Performances of the Year

There’s been a lot of opera in 2024. And quite frankly, there’s been a lot of good opera. So as has become our tradition, here is a look at some of OperaWire’s editorial team’s picks for their personal favorite performances of 2024. Matt Costello: Act three of “Götterdämmerung” – Tanglewood It’s always a tricky thing to think about one’s “Performance {…}

Apr 25, 2024

Metropolitan Opera 2023-24 Review: El Niño

(Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) Metropolitan Opera debuted John Adams’s “El Niño,” with libretto based on original sources by Peter Sellars and John Adams, to a sold out house of past, present, and future opera goers on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024. “El Niño” is unlike anything John Adams has done before and the historical timing of this debut is {…}

Mar 7, 2024

Works & Process to Spotlight Metropolitan Opera’s ‘El Niño’

Works & Process is set to present “The Metropolitan Opera: El Niño by John Adams” on Monday, April 1, 2024 at 7 p..m. at the Peter B. Lewis theater in New York. The event will feature a discussion with members of the creative team and cast members who will perform highlights from Adams‘ score. Met Opera general manager Peter Gelb {…}

Feb 27, 2024

National Sawdust & The Met Opera Present ‘Opera Evolved: Genre Fluidity’

(Photo: Jill Steinberg) National Sawdust and The Met Opera presented “Opera Evolved: Genre Fluidity” on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024. This was the second installment of this three-part series that, according to the program, celebrates artistic convergence by investigating the intersection of innovation and tradition at National Sawdust. The evening included composer and co-founder of National Sawdust, Paola Prestini, and theater {…}

Nov 9, 2023

American Modern Opera Company Announces ‘El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered’ U.S. Tour

American Modern Opera Company has announced a U.S. tour for “El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered” this December. From Dec. 11-21, 2023, the organization will tour the famed John Adams work in a new chamber-music arrangement. Audiences will hear the work in Omaha, Stanford, New Haven, and then at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The work {…}

Dec 22, 2020

Opera Profile: ‘El Niño,’ John Adams’ Nativity Opera

Though more famous for works such as “Doctor Atomic” and “Nixon in China,” John Adams also composed the memorable Christmas-themed opera, “El Niño” or “The Baby,” which tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christmas. The opera-oratorio premiered on December 15, 2000 in Paris and has been performed many times since as holiday entertainment. The first performance featured soloists {…}

Dec 21, 2016

The Holy Night: Surveying Trends in Christmas Operas Throughout History

We all know the story. The manger. The three wise men. Herod’s murder of innocent children. And of course, the birth. Jesus Christ’s origins are a well-documented story for many and the source of great inspiration for artists for centuries. Opera is no different with a plethora of works related to great story. A look back over the history of {…}

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