Sunyoung Seo, Daniela Mack, Trine Bastrup Møller & Julia Sporsén Lead Scottish Opera’s 2026-27 Season

The Scottish Opera’s 2026-27 season. Missy Mazzoli, Royce Vavrek, and Tom Morris will present “The Galloping Cure.” The cast includes Daniela Mack, Gabrielle Turgeon, Justin Austin, Susan Bullock, Catriona Hewitson, Edward Jowle, Luvo Maranti, Rosie Lavery, Lea Shaw, Donna Bateman, James Smith, Francis Church, and Ross Cumming. Stuart Stratford conducts. Performance Dates: August 9-12, 2026 Benjamin Britten’s “Les Illuminations” will {…}

May 12, 2026

Ailyn Pérez, Angela Meade, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Samantha Hankey Lead Santa Fe Opera’s 2027 Season

(Credit: Emily Doyle Moore) The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2027 season. John Fiore conducts Puccini’s “Turandot” with Paul Curran directing. Angela Meade, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Kathleen O’Mara, and Peixin Chen star. Performance Dates: July 2-August 28, 2027 Iván López Reynoso conducts Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” with Stephen Barlow directing. Sun-Ly Pierce, Jonah Hoskins, Luke Sutliff, Kevin Burdette, and William Guanbo Su {…}

May 9, 2026

San Francisco Opera to Present ‘Il Barbiere di Siviglia’ with Two Casts

The San Francisco Opera’s 2026 Summer Season opens with Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” The work opens on May 28 and run through June 21, 2026 with Benjamin Manis conducting two international casts in Emilio Sagi’s production. The title role will be performed by baritones Joshua Hopkins and Justin Austin while the role of Rosina will star Maria Kataeva and {…}

Mar 9, 2026

Washington National Opera 2025-26 Review: Treemonisha

On March 8, the Washington National Opera (WNO) presented its first opera, “Treemonisha,” after having broken ties with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For the occasion, the company returned to Lisner Auditorium, the venue where it started 70 years ago and a noticeably smaller one when compared to the opera house at the Kennedy Center. As {…}

Dec 23, 2025

San Diego Opera & La Jolla Music Society Present Damien Geter’s ‘Cotton’

San Diego Opera and La Jolla Music Society announce the co-production of Damien Geter’s song cycle, “Cotton.” Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, baritone Justin Austin, and pianist Laura Ward perform. “Cotton” features the photography of John Dowell with newly commissioned poetry set to music by composer Damien Geter. “I am so thrilled to partner with La Jolla Music Society on Cotton, an {…}

Jun 23, 2025

Juan Diego Flórez & J’Nai Bridges Star in La Jolla Music Society’s 2025–26 Winter Season

(Photo credit: Hoebermann & Acosta) La Jolla Music Society announces its 2025–26 Winter Season. J’Nai Bridges and Justin Austin, with pianist Laura Ward perform in Damien Geter’s “COTTON.” This is a co-production with San Diego Opera. Performance Date: January 16, 2026 Tenor Juan Diego Flórez presents a program of songs by Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Gounod, and Puccini. Performance Date: February 12, 2026 {…}

Apr 2, 2025

Ann Toomey, Alfred Walker, Justin Austin & Kang Wang Lead Florentine Opera’s 2025-26 Season

The Florentine Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Kate Johnson, Grace Ryan, Zach Taylor, and William Dopp lead “Scalia/Ginsberg.” Bob Mollicone conducts. Performance Dates: July 18-20, 2025 Justin Austin and Michael Banwarth perform an evening “Al Fresco.” Performance Date: August 5, 2025 Aurelia Andrews, Jamila Drecker-Waxman, Lauryn Nelson, Zach Taylor, David Drettwan, and Daniel Weber will perform An Aria Extravaganza. {…}

Oct 14, 2024

New York Festival of Song to Present ‘My Brother’s Keeper’

New York Festival of Song, led by Artistic Director Steven Blier, is set to open its mainstage season with “My Brother’s Keeper” on Nov. 19, 2024 at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. Conceived by baritone Justin Austin, the program tells a story of brotherly love, caretaking, and community among Black men in America through art song, soul, gospel, and {…}

Jul 3, 2024

Opera Theatre Saint Louis 2024 Review: The Barber of Seville

(Photo credit: Eric Woolsey) “The Barber of Seville” can be tough to sit through. Opera Theatre Saint Louis (OTSL) swam upstream furiously against the libretto’s banalities to produce an entertaining show, with standout performances from Justin Austin in the title role, and Hongni Wu as Rosina. In youth, I received as a gift the London/Decca recording featuring Leo Nucci as {…}

Apr 29, 2024

Des Moines Metro Opera to Present ‘American Apollo’

Des Moines Metro Opera is set to present the world premiere of “American Apollo.” The new opera by composer Damien Geter and librettist Lila Palmer, which was originally conceived as a 20-minute chamber opera in 2021 as part of Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative, was expanded and transformed into a full-length work. The cast will include baritone Justin Austin {…}

Mar 4, 2024

Strathmore & Washington Performing Arts Present ‘Fire Shut Up In My Bones’ Opera Suite in Concert

(Photo credit: Bucklesweet) Two-time Oscar nominee and six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning composer and trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” Opera Suite in Concert will be presented by Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts. Blanchard and his E-Collective have teamed up with David Balakrishnan and the double GRAMMY®-winning Turtle Island Quartet, visual artist Andrew F. Scott, and guest vocalists soprano {…}