Patricia Racette, Leona Mitchell, Kenneth Overton, Wayne Tigges, Rachel Blaustein Headline Tulsa Opera’s 2021-22 Season

Tulsa Opera has announced its 2021-22 season which includes two Oklahoma premieres and three new productions. First up, the company will present “Gianni Schicchi” and Verdi’s “Greatest Hits” at ONEOK Field. The production will star Rachel Blaustein, Emily Pulley, Julius Ahn, and Danielle Pastin. Conductor Oriol Sans will conduct while James Robinson will direct. Performance Date: Oct. 15, 2021 Next {…}

Karen Slack, Kenneth Overton & Alyson Cambridge Highlight Opera Carolina’s 2021-22 Season

Opera Carolina has announced its 2021-22 season featuring four productions. Here is a look: The season opens with “I Dream” by Douglas Tappin and will star Derrick Davis, Victor Ryan Robertson, Alyson Cambridge, Lucia Bradford, Kenneth Overton, and Avalon Cutts-Jones. James Meena conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 16-19, 2021 Richard Ollarsaba sings the title role in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni“ with Melinda Whittington, Johnathan White, Gerardo de la Torre, Alex {…}

Karen Slack, Nicole Heaston, Kenneth Overton, Latonia Moore, Jorell Williams Headline Fort Worth Opera’s ‘A Night of Black Excellence: Past, Present, and Future’

Fort Worth Opera (FWO) has announced “A Night of Black Excellence: Past, Present, and Future,” a virtual benefit concert to celebrate Black History Month, on Sunday, February 21. Hosted by Tashara Parker, the showcase will feature internationally renowned artists including Patrice P. Eaton, Nicole Heaston, Cameo Humes, Keron Jackson, Latonia Moore, NaGuanda Nobles, Kenneth Overton, Chivonne Perkins, Adam Richarson, Audra {…}

Christine Goerke, Karen Slack, Lawrence Brownlee, Jamie Barton Among Opera Stars Calling On Fans to Vote for 2020 Presidential Election

With election day in full swing, opera singers have also added their voices advocating for Americans to vote. Many have been vocal about their support for the Democratic candidates, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, including Christine Goerke, Jamie Barton, Lawrence Brownlee, Leonardo Capalbo, Zachary James, Greer Grimsley, Karen Slack, Breanna Sinclaire, Jennifer Rowley, Elizabeth Deshong, and Kenneth Overton, among many {…}

Q & A: Baritone Kenneth Overton on Returning to Live Performance & Spotlighting the Lives of the Black Opera Greats

Baritone Kenneth Overton recently performed for the first time in front of a live audience at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. The performance, entitled “To America,” celebrated the poetry of the civil rights activist, James Weldon Johnson, an early leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and who is buried at Green-Wood. “To America” {…}

Black Opera – How Jonathan Estabrooks, Miranda Plant & Kenneth Overton Are Telling the Story of a Generation of Legendary Black Artists

Back in 2018, baritone Jonathan Estabrooks received a call from Lynne Block, the daughter of pre-eminent bass-baritone Simon Estes. She wanted to see if Estabrooks would work with her on a short documentary about her father’s life. Estabrooks, an internationally renowned performer, was also actively involved in the recording industry, creating music-related documentaries, hybrid music videos, and directing a TV {…}

Juan Diego Flórez, Leontyne Price, June Anderson, Leo Nucci, Sondra Radvanovsky Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

In keeping with last week’s themes of dialogue regarding racial equality in the opera world, we highly recommend checking out the several online shows such as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and The Sitdown with LB,” hosted by Lawrence Brownlee. There is also a new conversation from Long Beach Opera regarding “Equity & Diversity in the Arts” that is {…}