Jennifer Rowley, Rosa Feola, J’Nai Bridges, John Holiday & Ryan McKinny Lead Washington National Opera’s 2025-26 Season

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: {…}

Fleur Barron, Nicholas Phan, Golda Schultz & Barbara Hannigan Lead New York Philharmonic 2025-26 Season

(Credit: Chris Lee) The New York Philharmonic has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. Jeannette Sorrell conducts soloists Sonya Headlam and Anthony McGill in a program that includes Mozart and Bologne.  Performance Dates: Oct. 15-21, 2025 Jane Glover conducts Händel’s “Messiah” with Amanda Forsythe, John Holiday, Nicholas Phan, and Kevin Deas. Performance Dates: Dec. 10-13, 2025 Thomas Adès conducts {…}

Janai Brugger, Juan Diego Flórez, Nadine Sierra, Gabriella Reyes, John Holiday Lead LA Opera’s 2025-26 Season

LA Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the program. Opera Gabriella Reyes and Duke Kim star in the company premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” James Conlon conducts the production by Francesca Zambello.  Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 8, 2025 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will return Janai Brugger, Oreste Cosimo, Erica Petrocelli, Gihoon Kim, Emmett O’Hanlon, and {…}

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 {…}

John Holiday Featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts

Famed countertenor John Holiday has been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The 20-minute long program features Reynaldo Hah’s À Chloris,” Händel’s “Ombra Mai fù,” Abel Meerool’s “Strange Fruit,” James Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the traditional song “I’m Going to Tell God All My Troubles.” Per NPR’s official report, “Holiday dedicates ‘Lift Every {…}

Denyce Graves Foundation Presents Classical Vocal Arts Symposium ‘Shared Voices’

The Denyce Graves Foundation announced the 2024 Classical Vocal Arts Symposium “Shared Voices.” This year’s symposium features collaborations with 14 music schools, conservatories, and HBCUs. Participants are offered an immersive experience to engage with classical vocal arts, gain an understanding of the industry, and receive foundational music training including aspects of vocal health, mental health, and physical fitness. In the {…}