OPERA America has announced the recipients of its 2026 Commissioning Grants from its Opera Grants for Women Composers program. The grants which total $135,000 will promote the development of new work by women-identifying composers and bring visibility to women composers across the field. Funds up to $50,000 support the composer’s commissioning fee for a full production of a new opera. {…}
(Photo Credit: Sarah Peet) In 1753, a 47-year-old Philadelphia writer, editor, scientist and inventor was given a new title by his London overlords. The British Crown named Benjamin Franklin “Deputy Postmaster for the Colonies,” a position he’d sought, and financially lobbied toward, for a couple of years. The gig offered a way to spread publications and patronage. Multiple family members {…}
Tonight, Pittsburgh Opera will set the stage to “Time to Act’s” world premiere. A new opera whose setting is a modern day high school and whose characters are teenagers, the opera’s slogan is “build the world you want to see.” The students’ preparation for a production of Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy, “Antigone,” quickly turns into a parallel story of {…}
Photo credit: Dallas Symphony In recognition of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Washinton National Opera announced Katherine Goforth as the first recipient of the “True Voice Award.” The new award was created specifically for transgender or nonbinary opera artists by the creators of “As One,” Kimberly Reed, Laura Kaminsky, and Mark Campbell in collaboration with Washington National Opera. The “True {…}
Town Hall is set to present the New York premiere of Laura Kaminsky and Kimberly Reed’s “Hometown to the World” on Nov. 5, 2022. The new opera stars Blythe Gaissert, Cecilia Duarte, and Michael Kelly. Tania León conducts Sybarite 5 and a chorus featuring over 100 public high school students from LaGuardia/Music & Art and Repertory Company High School for Theatre {…}
(Credit: Raftermen) Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, and Kimberly Reed’s chamber opera “As One” has brought a newness to the opera stage through the kind of story they tell and created opportunities for opera professionals in the LGBTQIA+ community. In The Atlanta Opera’s production, starring Lucia Lucas as Hannah Before and Blythe Gaissert as Hannah After, the positive impact and need {…}
Santa Fe Opera is set to present Laura Kaminsky and Kimberly Reed’s “Hometown to the World” on Dec. 17, 2021 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. The opera will be led by conductor Carmen Flórez-Mansi with stage direction by Kristina Mcintyre. The cast will feature Blythe Gaissert as Linda Larsen, Cassandra Zoe Velasco as Linda Morales, and Michael Kelly as {…}
Opera Orlando will partner with 26 Health to showcase Laura Kaminsky, Kimberly Reed, and Mark Campbell’s “As One.” In anticipation of the performances of the opera scheduled for May 21 and 23, 2021 the company will present “Together as One,” a community panel led by local activist and Opera Orland board member Chevalier Lovett with the aim of connecting audience {…}
The London Festival of American Music has announced its slate for the eighth iteration of the annual event, which is set to take place between Sept. 13-18, 2021. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. All events in the festival will take place at The Warehouse in London. Opening the festival will be {…}
(Credit: Hawai’i Opera Theatre official website) The Hawai’i Opera Theatre has announced the upcoming digital world premiere of Laura Kaminsky and Kimberly Reed’s newest opera “Hometown to the World” on May 21, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. HST. The stream will be available thereafter for purchase. The work was commissioned by the Santa Fe Opera and co-commissioned by the Hawai’i Opera {…}
The American Opera Project has announced the creation of the AOP Artistic Advisory Council, composed of artists and innovators from the world of opera and beyond. The new advisory council will contribute their time and wise counsel to advance the mission of The American Opera Project. The new council members will offer their unique ideas and personal insight to the {…}