Since 1988, the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Institute has been a major proponent of lifting up the next generation. Since its inauguration the institute has provided coaching, master classes, and performing opportunities for over 1,700 musicians. This year, the program will host 15 classical vocalists, who will get the spotlight for two weeks with a series of masterclasses with such notable {…}
Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade spent decades among the most celebrated singers of her generation, performing on the world’s leading stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera. Though she stepped back from full time performing in 2010, retirement {…}
(Photo credit: Lieberman Photography) The Ravinia Festival announces it 2026 programming. This article only features classical vocal concerts. James Conlon leads a semi-stages version of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” starring Kathryn Lewek and Miles Mykkanen. Performance Dates: July 16 & 18, 2026 Chanticleer perform as part of their 2026 tour. Performance Date: July 26, 2026 Carlos Simon’s “Good {…}
Photo Credit: IMG Artists/Frederica von Stade/Robert Millard (2005) This year was exciting for many reasons but one of them stands out. On Monday, March 10, 2025, the documentary about Frederica von Stade, “Flicka: A Love Letter,” first created in 2023, was screened at the National Opera Center in New York City. Combining archival footage of performance clips, Brian Staufenbiel’s “Flicka” gave {…}
The Colburn School will host its Art of Song Festival on Oct. 18–19, 2025. The event is curated by LA Opera Music Director James Conlon. It will open on Oct. 18 with a masterclass featuring Frederica von Stade at 10 a.m. and another masterclass by Rod Gilfry and James Conlon on that same day at 1:30 p.m. Then on the {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. It’s about the holidays so this week there is a new Christmas album as well as a final recording by one of the great mezzos of her time, a re-release of a classic recording, a new recording of Massenet’s work, and many baroque {…}
Frederica von Stade has announced her final album. The legendary mezzo-soprano will join Musica Viva NY in an album entitled “Crimson Roses: Contemporary American Choral Music” for Naxos. The album showcases the choir alongside artistic director/conductor, Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez performing music by Joseph Turrin, Richard Einhorn, and Gilda Lyons. The first piece is “And Crimson Roses Once Again Be Fair” by Joseph Turrin {…}
New York City’s leading chamber choir, Musica Viva NY, known for its commitment to premiering new compositions, will present a performance of the works of Joseph Turrin, Gilda Lyons, and Richard Einhorn on Dec. 3, 2023. The event will feature the renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who will make Musica Viva NY debut. Von Stade is slated for induction into {…}
OPERA America has announced the inductees of its Opera Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The inductees include Arts Administrator and producer Michael Bronson, Arts Leader and Administrator Wayne S. Brown, composer and teacher Anthony Davis, arts funder and advocate Susan Feder, trustee and philanthropist Frayda B. Lindemann, baritone Sherrill Milnes, and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. “The contributions to the {…}
Mezzo-soprano Frederica Von Stade will headline a performance at Music at Kohl Mansion’s 2022-23 season, the 40th in the company’s history. The season, which will be replete with chamber music ensembles, will also feature a performance with the legendary mezzo as she joins forces with the Fauré Piano Quartet (comprised of pianist Dirk Mommertz, violinist Erika Geldsetzer, violist Sascha Frömbling, {…}
The Savannah VOICE Festival has announced its lineup for its highly anticipated 2022 10th Anniversary Season. The season opens with “Swinging Into the Season” featuring the Elite Party Band and selected Artists of Season 10. There will also be an opening night reception. Performance Date: August 7, 2022 VOICES in Song will feature its tradition of a night that celebrates {…}