The Oratorio Society of New York is set to perform Handel’s “Messiah” for the 149th time on Dec. 18, 2023 at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The Society continues its tradition of performing the work. The society first performed the Messiah on Christmas Day 1874 in Carnegie Hall under the baton of founding director Leopold Damrosch. For {…}
(Photo credit: Seattle Opera © Philip Newton) Why build an elaborate faux-underwater set for the Rhine scenes in Wagner’s “Ring” when you have an orchestra pit that can make a perfectly plausible stage river? It’s an idea so obvious, you think surely, it must have been tried already. This is the solution found by Brian Staufenbiel, tasked with staging “Das {…}
The Harlem Chamber Players will celebrate its 15th anniversary with “Harlem SongFest II,” a summer concert to be presented on June 9, 2023, at Columbia University’s Miller Theater. The event features music by Black composers—women included—and a lineup of accomplished singers. Dedicated to bringing exceptional classical music to Harlem, the Ensemble will feature sopranos Janinah Burnett and Jasmine Muhammad, baritone {…}
Tenor Martin Bakari, soprano Ellaina Lewis, and pianist Joe Williams are set to present a concert at Seattle Opera. The versatile program titled “From His Heart’s Deep Core” includes opera arias, art song, and jazz, with music by Richard Thompson and other composers. There will be a special set of songs that are based on the poetry of Paul Laurence {…}
Full disclaimer – this week’s recommendations, with the exception of two works that you can watch right now, all take place between Friday and Sunday (with an emphasis on Friday when half of the recommendations are set to take place). So yes, in many ways this is more of a weekend edition of streams. In any case, here are the {…}
Pittsburgh Opera will present the first-ever Pittsburgh performances of “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird.” The work will be presented at the Strip District from April 10 through 22 with a live, socially-distant audience at all six performances. Pittsburgh Opera is maintaining its successful COVID-19 safety protocols, including reduced seating capacity, mandatory mask-wearing, health screenings and temperature checks for all people entering the building, {…}
Portland Opera has announced a reimagined 2020-21 season, which will feature a series of virtual showcases presented on the company’s new digital channel “Portland Opera Onscreen.” “The global pandemic has challenged us: to be problem-solvers, to adapt to new technologies, and to deepen the ways that serve the community,” said General Director Sue Dixon in a press release. “Our newly reimagined {…}