The Oratorio Society of New York, led by Music Director Kent Tritle, has released its lineup for its 2023-24 season and special concerts for the 150th Anniversary celebrations. The season kicks off with “Bach’s Magnificat and Mozart’s Requiem.” Joining the Orchestra of the Society as soloists are soprano Laquita Mitchell, mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford, tenor Eric Carey, and bass Adam Lau. {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced its 2024 season. The season opens with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville“ conducted by Jonathan Brandani and directed by Eric Sean Fogel. The work will star Justin Austin, Hongni Wu, and Nathan Stark. Performance Dates: May 25-June 29, 2024 Joshua Blue, Katerina Burton, Thomas Glass, and Brittany Renee lead Puccini’s “La Bohème.” {…}
On May 15, 2023, the New York Festival of Song will host its annual spring gala, “Feelin’ Groovy: Songs from the 60s.” Held at the Racquet & Tennis Club on Park Avenue, the gala will support NYFOS’ 35th season. There will be a performance featuring special guest artists including Julie Benko of Broadway’s “Funny Girl,” jazz pianist Jason Yeager, tenors {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}
This week audiences will get to hear the debut of one of opera’s brightest stars and a remastered classic. Black & Blue New York Festival of Song releases “Black & Blue,” the debut solo album of British-American tenor Joshua Blue on its in-house label NYFOS Records. The album was recorded at Big Orange Sheep in November 2022, and produced by {…}
The Oratorio Society of New York will perform its 148th performance of Handel’s Messiah in time for the holiday season. The performance, which is set for Dec. 19, 2022, will be performed at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. This year’s performance includes soloists soprano Maria Brea, contralto Heather Petrie, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Jesse Blumberg, {…}
New Opera West (NOW) has announced dates for its animation, film, and opera experience. The event, featuring three short films, a live performance, and conversations with the creators, will take place at Hudson Guild Theater in Los Angeles on June 17 and 19, 2022. The films are “Pepito,” “Rain Will Come What May,” and “The Beginning of Everything: A Love {…}
Following a performance of “Rigoletto” at Opera Philadelphia, tenor Joshua Blue proposed to his girlfriend Ashley Marie Robillard. As the singers took their final bows, Blue called Roillard to the stage stating, “Ashley Robillard, to stage. Paging Ashley Robillard.” As she went to the stage, he said, “You are the most incredible, brilliant, caring, creative, utterly chaotic person I’ve ever {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced its 2022-23 season which will see the return of the season-opening Festival O. Festival O22 (Sept. 21-Oct. 2) The season will open with Rossini’s “Otello” starring Opera Philadelphia Artistic Advisor Lawrence Brownlee as Rodrigo. He is joined by fellow tenors Khanyiso Gwenxane in the title role and Alek Shrader as Iago, with mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack as Desdemona. {…}
Opera Philadelphia is set to return to the Academy of Music stage for the first time since September 2019 with a new production of “Rigoletto.” The opera, which will be performed four times from April 29-May 8, will return to the company for the first time in 15 years. The new production will see baritone Anthony Clark Evans take on the title {…}
Philadelphia-based East Passyunk Opera Project (ePOP) will team up with the Society Hill Dance Academy and Manatawny Still Works to present “Love Notes 2.0 Sour Notes.” The virtual performance, which is set for Feb. 11, 2022, will feature Ashley Marie Robillard, Joshua Blue, Katrina Thurman, Maren Montalbano, pianist Aurelien Eulert, and drag queen cabaret artist and emcee, Maria TopCatt. There {…}