Q&A: Librettist/Director Crystal Manich & Composer Laura Kaminsky on Pittsburgh Opera’s World Premiere, Telling Audiences It’s “Time to Act” With School Gun Violence

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 {…}

Apr 2, 2023

Katherine Goforth Awarded the First “True Voice Award” on International Transgender Day of Visibility

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 {…}

Oct 6, 2022

Town Hall to Host NY Premiere of ‘Hometown to the World’

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 {…}

Jun 14, 2022

The Atlanta Opera 2021-22 Review: As One

(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 {…}

Oct 30, 2021

Santa Fe Opera to Present ‘Hometown to the World’

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 {…}

May 12, 2021

Opera Orlando Announces ‘Together As One’ Panel

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 {…}

May 6, 2021

Simone Ibbett-Brown, Carolyn Dobbin, Simon Wallfisch Headline 8th London Festival of American Music

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 {…}

Apr 23, 2021

Hawai’i Opera Theatre To Present Digital World Premiere of Laura Kaminsky & Kimberly Reed’s ‘Hometown To The World’

(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 {…}

Feb 2, 2021

The American Opera Project Announces AOP Artistic Advisory Council

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 {…}

Sep 9, 2020

Phillip Addis Steps into Cast of ‘As One’ in Montreal

(Credit: Yasuko Kageyama / Opera di Roma) The Orchestre Classique de Montréal has announced that baritone Phillip Addis will replace Dominique Côté in the presentation of Kaminsky, Reed and Campbell’s opera “As One.” Addis will be joined onstage by the mezzo-soprano Sarah Bissonnette. Performances will take place on November 20 & 21, 2020, at the Cirque Éloize in Montreal. “We {…}

Aug 20, 2020

Teatro Español Announces the European Premiere of ‘As One’

(Credit: Esmeralda Martin) The Teatro Español has announced that it will present the European premiere of Campbell, Reed, and Kaminsky’s “As One” on September 24, 2020 in a co-production with the Teatro Arriaga. The opera will spotlight mezzo-soprano Inés Olabarria-Smith and baritone Enrique Sánchez-Ramos. The Bauhaus String Quartet will accompany the two singers. Carlos Calvo Tapia will conduct the production {…}

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