(Credit Sunny Martini) Right from the start of Seattle Opera’s “Rigoletto,” stage director Lindy Hume signaled not to expect the evening to adhere too closely to operatic convention. The curtain went up suddenly with the house lights still on, showing us, in silence, a man dressed as a waiter or Maitre D’ sitting on a deluxe leather sofa in a {…}
Florentine Opera has announced its 2019-20 season, which will include three operas and an artist showcase. The first opera of the season will be Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” featuring the debuts of Calvin Griffin in the title role, Abigail Levis as Cherubino, and Alisa Calvin as the Countess, Ariana Douglas as Susanna, and Alexander Dobson as the Count. Shawna Lucey directs {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring two operatic performances, which are set to be performed at Lisner Auditorium. The season opens with Thomas’ rarely performed work “Hamlet” featuring acclaimed soprano Lisette Oropesa, Jacques Imbrailo, Eve Gigliotti, and Jonas Hacker. Performance Date: Nov. 24, 2019. The second opera of the season is set to be Verdi’s “Simon {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced its 2019-20 season with Yannick Nézet-Séguin celebrating his eighth season as music director. Here is a look at the vocal highlights for the orchestra next season. Nézet-Séguin and the Fabulous Philadelphians launch the 120th season with an Opening Night Concert and Gala featuring legendary opera singer Plácido Domingo. The evening, which marks the start of Nézet-Séguin’s {…}
The Seattle Opera is the first major opera company to announce its 2019-20 season, which will feature five operas and a special concert. Productions Verdi’s “Rigoletto” will open the season in August with a cast that features Lester Lynch and Giuseppe Altomare in the title role. Madison Leonard and Soraya Mafi take on Gilda while tenors Yongzhao Yu and Liparit {…}
The English National Opera has announced its 2018-19 season with five new Productions including a World Premiere, four revivals, and two collaborations. The season will include contemporary pieces and bold new takes on seminal works to audience-favorite classic stagings. The season kicks off with a new production of Strauss’ “Salome” by Adena Jacobs. Conductor Martyn Brabbins leads the production with Allison {…}
The Seattle Opera has announced its 2018-19 season featuring five fully staged works. The season opens on August 11, 2018, with George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” Angel Blue stars as Bess alternating with Elizabeth Llewellyn while Alfred Walker and Kevin Short will alternate the role of Porgy. Lester Lynch and May Elizabeth Williams round out the cast. Francesca Zambello directs the {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2017-18 season with two Bel Canto rarities. The season begins with a performance of Bellini’s “La Straniera” on November 19th. It will feature three rising stars in their WCO debuts, soprano Amanda Woodbury as Alaide, tenor Gerard Schneider as Arturo, and mezzo-soprano Corrie Stallings as Isoletta. Also joining them is WCO favorite, baritone {…}
American history will forever be marked by its atrocities committed during the era of slavery. That wound remains at the forefront of our world today, even as the nation has made “progress.” Today we continue to see acts of racist violence in both outrageous and more subtle ways. Given this context, the need for conversation is at its utmost and {…}
In our first article on black history month we took a look at the opera stars making their mark in the biggest of ways, the singing actors taking headlines at the biggest houses in the world. As we continue to celebrate black history month OperaWire will recognize other black singers making waves in the opera world, many of them rising {…}