Toledo Opera is set to perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” The work will be presented on Feb. 14 and Feb. 16, 2025, at the Valentine Theatre. “South Pacific” will be presented at the Toledo Opera for the first time in its 66 years and will star soprano Claire Leyden in her Toledo Opera debut as Nellie Forbush. She will {…}
Toledo Opera will present Gioachino Rossini’s “Cinderella” on Oct. 6 and 8, 2023 at the Valentine Theatre. “Cinderella” stars mezzo-soprano Sarah Coit as Angelina, tenor David Walton as Prince Ramiro, and Keith Phares as Count Dandini. Michelle Rofrano conducts the production by Marc Verzatt. In a statement, Toledo Opera Executive Director Suzanne Rorick said, “We are pleased to begin our {…}
Ohio’s Toledo Opera has announced its lineup for the 2023-24 season. For its 65th season, the company will present three much-loved operatic works. First up is Gioachino Rossini’s “Cinderella.” The classic fairytale stars mezzo-soprano Sarah Coit as Angelina (Cinderella) and tenor David Walton as Prince Ramiro. Also among the cast are Adelmo Guidarelli, Keith Phares, Sara Mortensen, Imara Miles, and Jason {…}
Baritone Keith Phares stars in the new operatic monodrama “Inbox Zero.” Presented by UrbanArias, “Inbox Zero” follows Jackie, a man who falls for an internet get-rich-quick scheme as he tries to provide for his family. Phares is joined by the Inscape Orchestra conducted by UrbanArias Artistic Director Robert Wood. Dennis Whitehead Darling directs. “Inbox Zero” is the most recent UrbanArias {…}
The Charlottesville Opera has announced the casts and operas for its 2023 season. The season will include Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca,” two works never performed by the company. “We are excited to present these classic productions for our audience here in Charlottesville. Both shows exemplify what we all love about musical storytelling, great characters, and {…}
The Toledo Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season. The company will return to Valentine Theatre and will celebrate its 64th season. The season opens with Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Maestro Geoffrey McDonald conducts the double bill with stage director Keturah Stickann helming. “Suor Angelica” stars soprano Jill Gardner as Angelica and contralto Lauren Decker as the Principessa while {…}
Des Moines Metro Opera in Iowa has announced its 50th anniversary season. It kicks off with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in a production directed by Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky. The work will star Aaron Blake, Audrey Luna, Andrew Wilkowske, and John Robert Lindsey. Performance Dates: March 5 & 6, 2022 Next up is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in a {…}
Baritone Keith Phares, renowned as a master of a wide repertoire ranging from Mozart through to today’s most prominent composers, has been recognised as “an authentic contemporary-American-opera divo” in the media. Recently, in this year’s Grammy Awards, he shined as nominee for Best Opera Recording for his soloist role in Carlisle Floyd’s “Prince of Players.” This was a recording of {…}
Opera Maine has announced that it will showcase a new production of “Le Nozze di Figaro” in July. The production will open on July 25 with an additional showcase on July 27. All performances will be presented at the Merrill Auditorium. The famed Mozart opera will directed by Stephen Lord with a cast that includes Keith Phares, Maeve Höglundas, Robert Brubaker, {…}
Seasoned operagoers are very familiar with Gaetano Donizetti, although most have only seen a paltry number of his works including the likes of “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Anna Bolena” and “La Fille du Régiment.” Donizetti is known as opera’s most prolific popular composer with over 70 operas to his name with many providing fertile unexplored territory. The innovative Chicago Opera Theater has forged {…}