(Photo: Catherine Ashmore) Such has been the success of Margret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” that, since its publication in 1985, it now finds itself positioned alongside other major 20th century dystopian novels, drawing comparisons with Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World.” Like them, it has entered the cultural mainstream, spawning plays, films, a ballet, a major television series, {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring eight productions and seven operas. Leo Hussain conducts Puccini’s “Tosca” in a new production by Christof Loy. The cast will include Sinéad Campbell-Wallace, Adam Smith, and Noel Bouley. Performance Dates: Sept. 30–Nov. 4 2022 Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard” will include Anthony Gregory, Neal Davies, Alexandra Oomens, Heather {…}
(Credit: Jens Fauth) Washington National Opera has announced that tenor Frederick Ballentine has been named as the recipient of the 2021 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, in recognition of his artistic accomplishments and great promise of an illustrious career. A Virginia native and a 2018 alumnus of WNO’s Cafritz Young Artist Program, Ballentine made his Metropolitan Opera debut in their acclaimed {…}
(Credit: Evan Zimmerman) On October 31, 2021, the Metropolitan Opera opened this season’s run of the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess.” This revival of James Robinson’s acclaimed, 2019 production saw nearly the entire cast return to Catfish Row for a truly powerful opening night, led by conductor David Robertson. The set featured a rotating, framework of the boarding house which struck {…}
The Cincinnati Opera has announced the world premiere of “Castor and Patience” by Gregory Spears in July 2022. The opera, written by librettist Tracy K. Smith, centers on two cousins from an African American family who find themselves at odds over the fate of a historic parcel of land they have inherited in the American South. Deeply relevant to ongoing {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of nightly streams. The first week will center on operas featured in the “Aria Code” podcast. The second week will focus on reimagined settings of classic operas. Week 64 – Aria Code: The Operas Behind the Podcast Monday, May 31 – Puccini’s Turandot Starring Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, Yusif Eyvazov, and James Morris, {…}
The Florentine Opera in Wisconsin has announced that its 2021-22 season will be a ReSeason which will include some of the originally planned 2020-21 season performances. The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring Todd Thomas in the title role, Jessica Jones, Scott Quinn, Alan Higgs, and Olivia Vote. Omer Ben Seadia directs the production with Francesco Milioto conducting. Performance Dates: {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2021–2022 season featuring four world premiere commissions celebrating the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary and several debuts from acclaimed and rising opera stars. The season opens with “Come Home: A Celebration of Return,” a concert performance of opera excerpts highlighting liberty and artistic idealism, themes embraced by John F. Kennedy and featuring a musical tribute {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2021-22 Season featuring new productions of classic and modern masterpieces. Natalya Romaniw, David Junghoon Kim, Roland Wood, and William Thomas star in Puccini’s “Tosca” in a semi-staged production conducted by Richard Farnes. Performance Dates: August 27 & 29, 2021 Carolyn Kuan conducts Glass’ “Satyagraha” with Sean Panikkar, Musa Ngqungwana, William Thomas, Sarah Pring, Felicity Buckland, Gabriella Cassidy, James Cleverton, and Ross Ramgobin. {…}
Houston Grand Opera has announced the return of “Giving Voice: Lawrence Brownlee and Friends Sing Opera, Gospel, and Standards” on Jan. 22, 2021. The original concert sold out during its initial showcase back in 2020 at Wortham, and this latest installment will feature the return of Lawrence Brownlee as co-host alongside soprano Nicole Heaston. The free digital stream will feature {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the next month of nightly streams which focus on a number of unique themes including operas in English, holiday works, and even an entire work dedicated to one of the most iconic artists of all time. Week 39– In Plain English Monday, December 7 – Thomas Adès’s The Tempest Starring Audrey Luna, Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, Alek Shrader, {…}