J’Nai Bridges Headlines The Unsung Collective & NY Philharmonic’s ‘An Unsung Symphony: Simon and Brahms’

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” {…}

Sasha Cooke, Heidi Stober, David Portillo, J’Nai Bridges & Jarrett Ott Lead Seattle Opera’s 2025-26 Season

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, {…}

Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Jamie Barton, Susan Graham, Kang Wang, Brandon Jovanovich & Levy Sekgapane Lead San Francisco Opera’s 2025-26 Season

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 {…}

Q & A: Gianandrea Noseda & Nicole Heaston on Performing Barber’s ‘Vanessa’ With the National Symphony Orchestra & Aspects of Live Recordings

 (Photo credit: Tony Hitchcock) Despite winning a Pulitzer Prize and receiving great acclaim following its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1958, Barber and Menotti’s “Vanessa” is not regularly programmed as a full work. Arias such as “Must the winter come so soon?” and “Do not utter a word” are frequently heard in recitals, but this does not do justice to this {…}

Sonya Headlam, Angela Meade, J’Nai Bridges, & Won Whi Choi Star in Trinity Church’s 2025 Spring Season

(Photo credits: Rosenberg, IMG Artists, & UIA Talent) Trinity Church has unveiled its 2025 spring season. For the purposes of this article only classical vocal concerts are included. Soprano Sonya Headlam opens the season in “Sunday Afternoon Music,” featuring works by Ignatius Sancho, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Trevor Weston, Peter Ashbourne, and others. Performance Date: February 2, 2025 (St Paul’s {…}

Grant Park Music Festival to Premiere Jake Runestad’s ‘Earth Symphony’

(Photo credit: Norman Timonera) The Grant Park Music Festival has announced its 2025 season. For the purposes of this article only classical vocal concerts are included. The Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra and Chorus give the Illinois premiere of Jake Runestad’s “Earth Symphony.” Also programmed on this concert is Gustav Holst’s “The Planets, and Lili Boulanger’s “Psalm 24.” Christopher Bell {…}

J’Nai Bridges, Ana Vieira Leite, Juliette Mey, Rebecca Leggett Headline 2024-25 Season of ‘Carnegie Hall Live’

(Credit: Dario Acosta) Carnegie Hall and WQXR have announced the 14th season of “Carnegie Hall Live.” The showcase will feature numerous live concert radio broadcasts hosted by Jeff Spurgeon of WQXR and John Schaefer of WNYC. For the purposes of this article, only vocal performances will be spotlighted. William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants in a concert featuring the works {…}

Xabier Anduaga, Michael Spyres, Jamie Barton, J’Nai Bridges, Rachel Willis-Sørensen Headline 2024 Richard Tucker Gala

(Image courtesy of Richard Tucker Foundation) The Richard Tucker Foundation has announced its 2024 gala, scheduled for Oct. 27, 2024. This year’s event will feature the talents of Xabier Anduaga and Michael Spyres, who are presented as a special guest. He is joined by past winners including Jamie Barton (Richard Tucker Award 2015), Stephanie Blythe (1999 Richard Tucker Award), J’Nai {…}

Black Leadership Arts Collective To Present Inaugural Gala

On August 23, the Black Leadership Arts Collective (B.L.A.C.) will present an Inaugural Gala. The evening will feature musical favorites at Manhattan School of Music, featuring members of B.L.A.C. and Grammy-nominated pianist Kevin Miller hosted by Terrance McKnight. Soloists will include Russell Thomas, Morris Robinson, Laquita Mitchell, J’Nai Bridges, Kenneth Kellogg, Kenneth Overton, Nicole Heaston, and Lawrence Brownlee. The proceeds {…}