Nashville Symphony is set to present a special world premiere starring mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges on Oct. 24 and 25, 2025. The showcase includes the first-ever performance of “Everything Hurts” by Brian Field. The work is a musical setting of Amanda Gorman’s “Hymn for the Hurting.” “It is an honor to see ‘Hymn for the Hurting’ as a call to mobilize {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Verdi’s “Otello,” starring Brian Jadge, Jorge de León, and Angelo Villari in the title role. The cast includes Igor Golovatenko, Artur Ruciński, Gabriele Viviani, Airam Hernández, Asmik Grigorian, and Maria Agresta. Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Mentuccia conduct the production by David Alden. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) San Francisco Performances has unveiled its 2025-26 season. “This season truly embodies SFP’s mission to give the world’s great artists a platform for their best, most personal work,” said SFP President Melanie Smith per an official press release. “It’s about making space for audiences and artists to come together for a transcendent shared experience, making each performance {…}
On May 1 and 2, Trinity Church will present Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem in collaboration with The Dessoff Choirs, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary season. These performances will celebrate the legacy as well as the musical innovation of the organizations and will include the world premiere of a new choral work by Pulitzer Prize- winning composer Tania León, commissioned by {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Mainstage Productions The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” in Francesca Zambello’s production. Kwamé Ryan conducts with Jennifer Rowley starring in the leading role. She is joined by Adam Smith, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Agnieszka Rehlis, Shenyang, and Morris Robinson. Amber R. Monroe and Robert Watson also star in the lead roles. Performance Dates: {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Gateways Music Festival returns to New York City with a celebration of the transformative power of Black classical artistry. For the purposes of this article only vocal events are included. Soprano Amber Rogers performs vocal selections in “Celebrating William Levi Dawson’s legacy with word, song, and conversation.” Dr. Louise Toppin lectures and leads the panel and {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) There are many things to mention about this important performance under review. Let’s start by acknowledging the dramatic and historic setting of the venue – the amazing Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where world-renowned Black leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela have talked and sermonized. Then, there were the arrayed forces. {…}
The Baltimore Symphony has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Music Director Jonathon Heyward conducts Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and Scriabin’s “Prometheus: Poem of Fire,” alongside Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé: Suite No. 2” and Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain.” The concert features George Li and the University of Maryland Concert Choir. Performance Dates: Nov. 6-9, 2025 Patrick Quigley conducts {…}
The Unsung Collective will join forces with The New York Philharmonic at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church on Feb. 28, 2025. The showcase, titled “An Unsung Symphony: Simon and Brahms” will feature mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges performing Carlos Simon’s “Songs of Separation.” The work features text by Persian poet Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. Also on the program is Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” {…}
The Seattle Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.” The cast includes Reginald Smith, Jr. as the Pirate King, Thomas Glass as Major-General Stanley, David Portillo as Frederic, Vanessa Becerra as Mabel, and Katharine Goeldner as Ruth. David Charles Abell will conduct Sean Curran’s production. Performance Dates: Oct. 18-Nov. 1, {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The company is set to present its “Opera Ball,” co-presented with the San Francisco Opera Guild. Performance Date: Sept. 5, 2025 The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with Eun Sun Kim conducting the work. Amartuvshin Enkhbat leads the cast in the title role alongside Adela Zaharia, Giovanni Sala, J’Nai Bridges, and {…}