It’s not often that the weather takes prominence in a review of any concert. But for this Tanglewood concert, on this Saturday night –anniversary of the moon landing! — an exception must be made. Because as much as any other element in the evening’s performances, weather — in this case, record temperatures and devastating humidity – also took center stage. {…}
Composer Kevin Puts is set to world premiere his new “The Brightness of Light” next month with the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Renée Fleming and Rod Gilfry. The new song cycle, which was co-commissioned by the BSO, is set to be based on the letters of Georgia O’Keeffe and her husband Alfred Stieglitz. The cycle will follow their relationship from when {…}
“Silent Night,” Puts’ first opera, received its premiere at Minnesota opera in 2011 and won a Pulitzer Prize the following year. According to its libretto, during a late December in World War I, French, German and Scottish troops found it possible to declare an unofficial “truce” and celebrate a common holiday in brotherhood. This story has been told in several other artistic formats including the French film “Joyeux Noël” on which Campbell based his libretto.
Opera North has announced it’s 2018 – 19 season, marking the company’s 40-year anniversary, which was established in November 1978. The season will include numerous classic works including one UK premiere of an acclaimed U.S work. Here is a look at what this season has to offer. September – December 2018 The season opens with Puccini’s classic “Tosca” in a {…}
The Chicago Opera Theater presented a stellar performance of “Elizabeth Cree” on Feb. 10, 2018, at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building. A co-production with Opera Philadelphia, this murder mystery opera based on Peter Ackroyd’s historical crime novel, “The Trial of Elizabeth Cree,” treads a knife-edge, successfully balancing horrific dramatic narrative, tongue-in-cheek vaudeville, and bittersweet pathos. Mark Campbell’s text {…}
Murder, mystery, and mayhem are on offer in “Elizabeth Cree” when it opens this Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Chicago Opera Theater. Set in 1880s Victorian London, the opera begins with the hanging of Elizabeth Cree for the murder of her husband, John. The story then circles back to the trial for that murder and Elizabeth’s own narrative of her {…}
“The only thing alive in a Crypt is the sound,” said Mark Campbell during a preview presentation of “Elizabeth Cree.” And right he was as Daniela Mack and Joseph Gaines’ voices rang through the crypt first performing selections from Britten and Poulenc and later from the new work at the Crypt Sessions. The evening was filled with good wine, food {…}
The Crypt Sessions Season 2 continues on May 31, 2017, with a preview of “Elizabeth Cree.” The new work was composed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning team of composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell and is slated to have its world premiere Sept. 14, 2017, as part of Opera Philadelphia’s inaugural fall festival. Puts will accompany mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, who will create the title role {…}
A few weeks ago, Metropolitan Opera Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin made the proclamation that he would be bringing newer and fresher composers to the Metropolitan Opera throughout his tenure. A few days later it was reported that among the new composers he would be bringing would be Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.” It’s a great start, considering Heggie, who {…}
The Chicago Opera Theater has announced its 2017-18 Season with three rare works being performed. Patricia Racette headlines opening night as she performs Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul.” The new production will be directed by Andreas Mitisek. The opera, which is rarely staged, has been hailed by the New York Times as “an opera of eloquence, momentousness, and intensity of {…}
We all know the story. The manger. The three wise men. Herod’s murder of innocent children. And of course, the birth. Jesus Christ’s origins are a well-documented story for many and the source of great inspiration for artists for centuries. Opera is no different with a plethora of works related to great story. A look back over the history of {…}