Piedmont Opera has announced that Joseph Mechavich will join the company as its Interim Artistic Director, effective immediately. Mechavich, a renowned conductor with a distinguished career in opera, will lead Piedmont Opera into an exciting new chapter, overseeing the artistic direction, production, and development of the company’s 2025-2026 season. In a statement, Board Chair Jessica Good said, “We are thrilled {…}
(Photo credit: Daniel Azoulay) Florida Grand Opera’s final production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” on May 4 was merely spectacular. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL was alive with the spirit of opera. The nearly 3,000-seat theatre was packed with culture, diversity, and love for the arts. Illuminating Authenticity The curtain rose revealing the familiar scene, {…}
Credit: Ben VanHouten The grass was pristine. The houses lined up along manicured lawns. The street signs sparkled, and the paths swept to perfection. Around each corner and through the trees, the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge stood. Inside the Presidio Theater, a performance titled “Music of Remembrance (MOR)” featured the works “Another Sunrise” and “For a Look or a Touch” {…}
North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}
(Credit: Tim Trumble) On February 29, 2020, Arizona Opera presented Craig Bohmler and Stephen Mark Kohn’s opera “Riders of the Purple Sage,” a revival of the production seen and much appreciated there in 2017. In 2020, the stage picture was updated with powerful new projections by Greg Emetaz that add to the gorgeous desert colorations gracing the mountains and rocks {…}
Minnesota-native conductor Joseph Mechavich is a truly versatile maestro. He’s known for his commitment to contemporary American opera. The conductor is a champion of Jake Heggie’s work, has led productions of John Adam’s “Nixon in China,” and Floyd’s “Susannah,” among many others. As of this writing, Mechavich just finished a run of “Dead Man Walking,” with the Atlanta Opera, and {…}