Q & A: Lucas & Irina Meachem on Co-Founding Perfect Day Music Foundation & Its Inaugural Virtual Voice Competition

Grammy® Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem and his wife, pianist, Irina, saw injustice up close this past summer. While many of us watched the aftermath of George Floyd’s death on television, the Meachem’s are Minneapolis residents. As calls for racial justice grew, and opera companies began taking stock of their own diversity, equity, and inclusivity, the Meachem’s knew they had a {…}

Mar 17, 2021

John Holiday, John Riesen & Katie Van Kooten Headline Utah Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The Utah Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring four staged productions with live audiences. Here is a rundown of what the company will have on offer next season. Michael Adams stars in Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville“ alongside Sarah Coit, Matthew Grills, and Matthew Burns. Gary Thor Wedow conducts Michael Shell’s production. Performance Dates: Oct. 9-17, 2021 John Holiday, {…}

Mar 10, 2021

John Holiday, Morris Robinson, Leah Crocetto, Jamie Barton Headline The Dallas Opera’s Live Song Series

The Dallas Opera has announced live performances starting on March 31, 2021. The company will reopen with a song series featuring four major opera stars performing to socially distanced audiences. The “Welcome Back” Song Series will kick off with a performance featuring Morris Robinson as he takes on music by Verdi, Bernstein, Margaret Bonds, Mozart, and Hugo Wolf. He will {…}

Feb 4, 2021

John Holiday Headlines ‘Save the Boys’ for Opera Philadelphia

Opera Philadelphia Composer in Residence Tyshawn Sorey is set to present “Save the Boys.” The song cycle is inspired by an 1887 poem by abolitionist, writer, and Black women’s rights activist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The 20-minute piece was composed for renowned countertenor John Holiday and pianist Grant Loehnig who will perform the piece for the Opera Philadelphia Channel, launching {…}

Jan 16, 2021

John Holiday, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, & Samuel Marino to Appear in 92Y’s ‘Countertenor-Palooza’

On January 23, 92Y School of Music will host “Countertenor-Palooza,” an online discussion featuring some of opera’s leading countertenors. Host Naomi Lewin will be joined by countertenors John Holiday, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, and Samuel Marino. Making his debut with the Metropolitan Opera next fall in Matthew Aucoin’s “Eurydice,” Holiday recently received national acclaim as a finalist on this year’s season {…}

Dec 16, 2020

John Holiday Takes Fifth Place on ‘The Voice’

After competing on the world-renowned television show “The Voice,” countertenor John Holiday obtained fifth place in the competition. The countertenor was among finalists Desz, Jim Ranger, Ian Flanigan, and the ultimate winner Carter Rubin. During the season finale, Holiday performed alongside coach John Legend in Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” For his final solo rounds, he also performed {…}

Dec 11, 2020

John Holiday to Headline Tyshawn Sorey’s ‘Save the Boys’ on Opera Philadelphia Channel

Opera Philadelphia is set to present Tyshawn Sorey’s “Save the Boys” on Feb. 12, 2021. The showcase will feature countertenor John Holiday, who in addition to a heralded operatic career, has recently made major headlines by his star turn on NBC’s “The Voice.” “Save the Boys” was inspired by an 1887 poem of the same name by Frances Ellen Watkins {…}

Dec 2, 2020

Q & A: John Holiday on Auditioning for ‘The Voice’ & Working with John Legend

(Credit: Tyler Golden) In October, countertenor John Holiday surprised the opera world in a big way. The Texas native who has performed with such companies as the Glimmerglass Festival, Los Angeles Opera, Dutch National Opera, Cincinnati Opera (and will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2021), performed in the blind auditions for hit TV show “The Voice.” Performing “Misty” by {…}

Nov 18, 2020

Susanna Phillips, John Holiday Headline Boston Baroque ‘Giulio Cesare’ Stream

Boston Baroque has released its 2017 production of “Giulio Cesare” on its streaming service. The opera will be available for free over the next 30 days. The production stars Lawrence Zazzo in the title role with Susanna Phillips as Cleopatra. John Holiday stars as Tolomeo with mezzo-soprano Ann McMahon Quintero as Cornelia, Jennifer Rivera as Sesto, and music director Martin {…}

Nov 11, 2020

John Holiday Wins Battle Round on ‘The Voice’

John Holiday won the Battle Rounds on “The Voice.” During the Nov. 10 episode, Holiday went head-to-head with teammate Julia Cooper singing a duet of “Summer Soft” by Stevie Wonder. The performance amazed the mentors with Gwen Stefani noting, “I have no words for you. I don’t even understand how you’re real.” Holiday went on to beat out Cooper with {…}

Oct 19, 2020

Countertenor John Holiday Scores Major Victory on ‘The Voice’

Famed countertenor John Holiday has scored a major success on NBC’s “The Voice.” The countertenor provided a blind audition of “Misty” by Ella Fitzgerald, captivating three of the four judges. He ultimately opted for Team Legend. “Us Johns gotta stick together,” said John Legend as he attempted to win over the countertenor to his side. “I’m thrilled and honored to {…}