Author Lisa Winkler has announced the forthcoming publication of “Gershwin’s Bess.” The historical novel chronicles the collaboration between George Gershwin and soprano Anne Brown, the young Juilliard-trained singer who created the role of Bess in the 1935 world premiere of “Porgy and Bess.” Set in the late 1920s through the mid-1930s, the book draws on Brown’s largely unrecognized contributions to {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of Bowman Media) On April 20, 2023, Grammy Award-winning baritone John Brancy will give a recital of works at Café Carlysle. Joined by pianist Peter Dugan, the program will feature selections from Weill, Ravel, Porter, Brel, Hahn, Gershwin, and Rachmaninoff, among others. The duo has recently taken their journey to reinvent the recital to venues such as Carnegie {…}
North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has announced that it will present “Fridays on the Farm: American Masters” on July 2, 2021. The performance, which will take place at The Venue at Goebberts in Pinegree Grove, Illinois will feature soprano Joelle Harvey as she takes on Barber’s iconic “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.” Harvey is an internationally renowned soprano who has performed at {…}
New York City’s classical music station WQXR has announced the launch of a second season of “New York in Concert.” A guide to the city’s classical scene will consist of a 10-part weekly series and will be hosted by WNYC and WQXR’s radio host John Schaefer. Organizations highlighted include Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Harlem Chamber Players, Metropolitan Museum of Art, {…}
A former chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and former music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson has served in numerous artistic leadership positions. To this day he occupies some of the most prominent platforms of the international music scene and has been named an “American musical visionary.” His work in opera has reached new heights {…}
***Editorial Note: This article has been modified from its original version. (Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) “Porgy and Bess” is arguably America’s most celebrated and beloved opera. Following its premiere in 1935, the opera by George Gershwin about an African-American community in Charleston, South Carolina has become a mainstay of opera houses across the world, receiving major productions at {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) The Met Opera’s Live in HD series for the 2019-20 season continues this Saturday, Feb. 1, 2019 with a transmission of the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess.” The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time and is set to end before 5 p.m. local time. It will star Angel Blue and Eric Owens in {…}
While the environment outside the Met Opera on opening night was rather subdued in comparison to previous years, there could be no denying the environment inside of the sold-out house. Everywhere you turned, the opera on hand was a major topic of conversation with great excitement over what it might bring. The Gershwin classic, “Porgy and Bess,” hasn’t been at {…}
This review is for the 7:00 pm performance on October 6, 2018. Broadway stars Laura Osnes and Tony Yazbeck reunited at Feinstein’s/54 Below for a week-long run of performances that drew upon their passion for singing and dancing, as well as their mutual love of the works of George and Ira Gershwin among other composers. Accompanied by pianist and music {…}
Now in its third season, “The Crypt Sessions,” continues to bring world-class talent to Harlem’s Church of the Intercession for a night of music produced by Unison Media. July 24’s concert saw leading operatic tenor Lawrence Brownlee, joined by pianists Myra Huang and Damien Sneed, letting loose with a variety of songs from Classical, Jazz, Gospel, and more. Brownlee began {…}