(Photo credit: Raftermen Photography) Of late, The Atlanta Opera (TAO) makes possible the nearly-impossible. In March, your reviewer summarized the robust health this company enjoys despite the current fiscal climate that shrinks arts organizations. With each gut punch to classical music lovers in the United States—the Metropolitan Opera Guild evaporating and Opera News taking the form of a brief supplement {…}
The Atlanta Opera is set to close its mainstage 2023-24 season with the second of the “Der Ring des Nibelungen” operas by Richard Wagner. General and Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun directs a production of “Die Walküre,” which will be presented between April 27 and May 5 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. The opera will star Greer Grimsley, Viktor {…}
(Credit: Gillian Riesen) Houston Grand Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Salome.” The company said that Laura Wilde will now sing the title role, replacing Amanda Majeski. Wilde is currently in a production of “Tosca” at Arizona Opera and will reprise the role at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer. She recently made her Met {…}
(Credit: Gillian Riesen) The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Peter Grimes” on Oct. 29. The company said that the role of Ellen Orford will be sung by Laura Wilde, making her Metropolitan Opera debut. She will replace Nicole Car. Wilde has performed at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Scottish Opera, Washington National Opera, Seattle {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced its 2023 season. The season opens with “Treemonisha,” Scott Joplin’s landmark opera. The work will see an expanded version, reimagined for the modern day with an added prologue and epilogue by composer Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton. Charlotte Brathwaite directs the opera with George Manahan conducting. The cast includes Justin Austin, {…}
(Credit: Sacharov) The Washington National Opera is set to present a new production of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.” The opera, which will run from March 12 to 26, 2022 at the Eisenhower Theater, will mark the first fully-staged production for the company since March 2020. The Mozart masterwork will star legendary Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as Don Alfonso in his {…}
(Credit: Fabrizio Sansoni-Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) On Jan. 18, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma will make history presenting its first production of Janáček’s “Káťa Kabanová.” The work, which is considered Janáček’s masterpiece, will be conducted by David Robertson and will be directed in a new production by Richard Jones. The production will star Charles Workman as Boris Grigorijevič, Julian Hubbard as Tichon {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2021–2022 season featuring four world premiere commissions celebrating the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary and several debuts from acclaimed and rising opera stars. The season opens with “Come Home: A Celebration of Return,” a concert performance of opera excerpts highlighting liberty and artistic idealism, themes embraced by John F. Kennedy and featuring a musical tribute {…}
Four characters across generations come to terms with their identities as a major coming-out story was playing out on television. That is at the core of “The Puppy Episode,” a new work set to be showcased by Chicago Opera Theater as part of its Vanguard Emerging Opera Composer Residency. The work was composed by Matthew Recio in collaboration with librettist {…}
The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced a Virtual Festival. After the company announced it was canceling the 2020 edition due to the coronavirus pandemic, Des Moines Metro Opera revealed that it would show performances from previous festivals. The virtual festival kicks off with Massenet’s “Manon” starring Sydney Mancasola in the title role, Joseph Dennis, and Michael Adams. David Neely {…}
(Credit: Gillian Riesen) ***Editorial Note – This interview was conducted as part of series of interviews dedicated to previewing the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ring Cycle. Unfortunately, that performance was canceled, but out of respect to the time put into this project by the artists and organizations, we will endeavor to publish the over coming days and weeks.(Given the context, {…}