(Photo: Dmitry Lyapustin) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. The way you enter the New Year sets the tone for the whole year ahead, the old superstition said. And I wonder whether we should {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced this week’s streaming series. The week begins with Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” from 2018 starring Isabel Leonard, Maxim Mironov, Alessio Arduini, and Luca Pisaroni. Streaming Date: Jan. 5, 2021 Dvořák’s “Rusalka” follows with Tomáš Hanus conducting the production from 2020. The opera stars Piotr Beczała, Olga Bezsmertna, Jongmin Park, Elena Zhidkova, and Monika Bohinec. Streaming Date: Jan. {…}
Austin Opera is set to present an All-Star Concert which will be presented in mid-February via the company’s official channels. The gala will eventually make its way to PBS in the Spring of 2021. The showcase will feature mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, tenor Chad Shelton, and soprano Sara Gartland. Timothy Myers, in his first performance as the {…}
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, {…}
Sing for Hope has announced the launch of its new holiday initiative of gifts that give back featuring unique and entertaining live online arts. The events will feature Broadway and opera stars such as world-renowned soprano and arts advocate Renée Fleming, Tony winner Lea Salonga, who has voiced Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan, and five-time Emmy Award nominee Tituss Burgess. Headlining {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 2020-21 season encore radio broadcast. The company will broadcast encore recordings starting Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. with Mary Jo Heath hosting and Ira Siff as a commentator for the broadcasts. The broadcasts will also include dynamic intermission features, live backstage interviews with artists, and the ever-popular Opera Quiz. The broadcasts begin with Prokofiev’s “War {…}
Opera Hispánica has announced that Jorge Parodi will be its new General and Artist Director. Parodi has conducted opera around the world and is the Artistic Director of the Tokyo International Vocal Arts Academy, the Music Director of Senior Opera Theater at the Manhattan School of Music, of Opera in Williamsburg, and of the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia. {…}
Palm Beach Opera has announced its star-studded, outdoor 2021 Festival which will take place at the South Florida Fairgrounds’ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre. The festival will kick off with Puccini’s “La Bohème” starring Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo, Latonia Moore as Mimì, Isabel Leonard as Musetta, Quinn Kelsey as Marcello, Ryan Speedo Green as Colline, and Samuel Ramey as Benoit / Alcindoro. {…}
Vincerò Academy has announced its inaugural season which will feature training opportunities for artists on three major repertory staples. Over the course of three months, participants will engage in weekly group classes, masterclasses, workshops, seminars, and individual coachings with a vast array of major artists including Ailyn Pérez, Brian Jagde, Carlos Conde, David Lomelí, Isabel Leonard, Javier Camarena, Jennifer Rowley, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the next five weeks of its streaming slate which will focus on Baroque to the present, followed by a week of productions conducted by Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, a Family Drama Week, and a Stars in Signature Roles week All Nightly Met Opera Streams begin at 7:30pm and remain available via metopera.org for 23 {…}
This week climaxes in World Opera Day on Oct. 25. So in leading up to that momentous celebration (which will feature half of the entries on this list), our recommendations will spotlight diversity in the opera world, offering up audiences a chance to check out works by and featuring BIPOC composers and performers as well as unique performance experiences that {…}