Photo: Roger Mastroianni The Cleveland Orchestra has announced its 2022 Blossom Music Festival, presented by The J.M. Smucker Company. The Festival, which features 10 weeks of concerts from Fourth of July through Labor Day, comprises nineteen concerts, with programs ranging from Beethoven to film scores to Broadway. All concerts will take place at Blossom Music Center and attendance is free {…}
The New Century Chamber Orchestra has canceled its “Hope Leads Appalachian Spring” performances. The orchestra noted that due to rising COVID-19 cases, it has made the decision to cancel the four concerts which were scheduled to be performed in Berkeley, Rohnert Park, Stanford, and San Francisco. The concerts were expected to take place on Jan. 20, 21, 22, and 23, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced plans to perform Anthony Davis and Thulani Davis’ “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” during the 2023-24 season. The opera will feature the directing debut of Robert O’Hara, making him the second Black director in Met history. Audiences will see Will Liverman in the title role alongside Leah Hawkins as Louise and Malcolm’s {…}
Credit: (Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) August 8, 2021, saw the return of the Metropolitan Opera’s SummerStage Recital for a single evening of operatic favorites from acclaimed artists. Opera lovers new and old gathered in Central Park amid the fog and rain with their spirits mostly undamped. The artistic lineup was comprised of tenor Paul Appleby, soprano Leah Hawkins, and {…}
(Credit: Columbia Artists) Maryland’s Mid-Altanic Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2021-22 season which will feature a return to full orchestral works. For the purposes of this article we will only focus on the vocal and operatic performances. The orchestra will celebrate the holiday season with Norah Amsellem in annual Holiday Joy concert. The concert will feature festival holiday music. Julien {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a summer recital set for August 8, 2021 at the SummerStage in Central Park. The showcase, which will start at 7 p.m., will feature soprano Leah Hawkins, tenor Paul Appleby, baritone Will Liverman, and pianist Bryan Wagorn. The soloists will perform a program featuring arias and duets. Doors open at 5 p.m. but audiences will {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2021 season which will include both live opera and digital offerings, as well as a major directorial debut of an iconic artist. The season kicks off with “Opera in the Outfield” as the company presents operatic favorites at CHS Field. David Radamés Toro directs with Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducting. Performance Date: Sept. 24, 2021 The {…}
(Credits: Jiyang Chen / Dario Acosta / Shervin Lainez / Simon Fowler) Elbphilharmonie has announced that it will restart concerts for live audiences in June 2021. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal performances. Baritone Thomas Hampson, sopranos Louise Toppin and Leah Hawkins, and tenor Lawrence Brownlee will perform music by Henry Thacker Burleigh, Wilhelm Grosz, {…}
(Photo Credits: Emma Birski / OnP) Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is the full slate. Operas “The Seven Deaths of Maria Callas” by Marina Abramovic will open the season. The showcase stars Nadezhda Karyazina, Selene Zanetti, Leah Hawkins, Adela Zaharia, Lauren Fagan, Gabriella Reyes, and Hera Hyesang Park. Yoel Gamzou conducts. Performance dates: Sep. 1 {…}
This is a developing story. It has been updated since its publication with additional statements from the Tulsa Opera, co-curator Howard Watkins, and Daniel Roumain. Composer Daniel Roumain has revealed that Tulsa Opera has fired him its upcoming “Greenwood Overcomes” due to creative differences. Roumain made the announcement on Sunday via social media. In a follow-up statement he made to OperaWire, {…}
Tulsa Opera is set to commemorate the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 1, 2021. The showcase, which is entitled “Greenwood Overcomes,” will feature songs and arias by living Black composers, performed by Black opera artists. The concert will feature four Tulsa Opera-commissioned world premieres by such composers as David Bontemps, Anthony Davis, Stewart Goodyear, Nkeiru Okoye, and {…}