Staging a new production of a Ring cycle is always daunting because of history; no other opera is held up in comparison to previous productions more than Wagner’s grand gesamtkunstwerk. How David Pountney’s new production, now halfway complete at Lyric Opera of Chicago, holds up to history remains to be seen after his “Die Walküre” opened Wednesday night in front {…}
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance in association with Lyric Unlimited has announced its fourth annual “Beyond the Aria” showcase for 2017-18. Per the company’s website, “this highly-acclaimed series features intimate performances by celebrated singers from Lyric Opera of Chicago paired with rising stars from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center.” This year the showcase will {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced the roster of emerging artists engaged for the 16th season of its Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, which begins in September. In sum, there are 11 singers and two pianists/coaches. The 2017–2018 Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists including baritone Michael Adams, tenor Frederick Ballentine, mezzo Eliza Bonet, bass Timothy J. Bruno, mezzo Allegra De Vita, tenor Arnold {…}
Eric Owens will be replacing Thomas Hampson as Oreste in the Verbier Festival 2017’s performance of “Elektra” on July 27, 2017. Hampson was originally slated to perform the role when the cast was originally announced but has since been replaced by Owens, who has sung the role prominently around the world. He was widely praised for his portrayal at the {…}
The Operalia Competition is just days away and in anticipation of the famed event, we will take a look back down memory lane at the opera singers who became stars after big performances at the competition. For this week’s installment, we will look at the early years of the competition and the 90s. Here are the winners of that decade {…}
The Glimmerglass Festival has announced its 2018 festival which will explore themes of home and country. The company will celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday opening the season with “West Side Story” featuring the original Jerome Robbins choreography. Francesca Zambello will direct the musical, with associate direction by Eric Sean Fogel and performances will take place July 7 through August 24, {…}
This Sunday, the Metropolitan Opera’s recent production of “Rusalka” will hit TVs around the country as part of PBS’s Great Performances series. The performance will air on June 18 at 12 p.m. EDT. The opera stars Kristine Opolais in the title role, Jamie Barton as the witch Jezibaba, Eric Owens as the Water Sprite, and Brandon Jovanovich as the Prince. The {…}
Alan Gilbert is saying goodbye to the New York Philharmonic as music director. It ends a tenure that brought significant new works and experimented with the standard repertoire alongside one of the finest orchestras in the world. But Gilbert has made sure to make opera a mainstay for the New York Philharmonic so it is no surprise that he ends his {…}
The Celebrity Series of Boston has announced its 2017-18 season with a number of opera singers scheduled to perform. On Dec. 13, 2017, Jamie Barton gives a recital. Barton is one of the most acclaimed mezzos in the industry as she has won the Beverly Sills Artist Award and the 2015 Richard Tucker Award. She is also a winner of {…}
Eric Owens has been appointed the Artistic Advisor for the Glimmerglass Festival. The famed bass-baritone will be consulting closely with the festival’s Artistic and General Director Francesca Zambello and Music Director Joseph Colaneri regarding the repertoire and casting. He will also be performing roles on the mainstage in the 2018 and 2019 season. “I believe passionately in artists continuing their {…}
Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” is set for a major Met Opera return during the 2019-20 season. According to an article by the New York Times, the new production will be directed by Bartlett Sher and feature Eric Owens. Owens performed a duet from the opera at the recent Metropolitan Opera 50th anniversary gala celebration and program notes indicated that he {…}