Minnesota Opera has announced that it will extend Principal Conductor Christopher Franklin’s contract for an additional three seasons. Franklin will remain through the 2028-2029 season. In a statement, President and General Director Ryan Taylor said, “When we appointed Christopher in 2023, our goal was to deepen our commitment to a dynamic, sustainable, and inclusive future for the art of opera,” {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Kylie Kreucher, Kara Morgan, Ángel Vargas, David Wolfe, John Mburu, and Lindsay Ohse star in Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.” Christopher Franklin conducts the production by Doug Scholz-Carlson. Performance Dates: Nov. 1-9, 2026 B.E. Boykin and Harrison David Rivers’ “My Name is Florence” is set to make its world premiere starring Renée Richardson, {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Monét X Change, Jasmine Habersham, Ellie Dehn, Symone Harcum, Adriana Zabala, and Catherine Martin star “Glam Jam: A Star-Studded Benefit Concert.” Christopher Franklin conducts. Performance Date: Sept. 28, 2024 Christopher Franklin conducts Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” with Evan Leroy Johnson, Jasmine Habersham, Adam Lau, Charles H. Eaton, John Mburu, Ángel Vargas, Kara Morgan, Victoria Vargas, and David Wolfe. Performance Dates: Nov. 2-10, 2024 {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced the appointment of Christopher Franklin as its new Principal Conductor. Franklin will be responsible for guiding the MN Opera Orchestra in its artistic growth, developing the musical standard in its performance of inherited repertoire, and contributing to the development of new work. He will also contribute to season planning as a member of the company’s {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. David Radamés Toro directs “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna” with a cast that includes Octavio Moreno, Cecilia Duarte, Vanessa Alonzo, Efraín Solís, Zulimar López-Hernández, Efraín Corralejo, and Daniel Montenegro. Performance Dates: Nov. 4–12, 2023 Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” is set to star Vanessa Becerra, Andrew Stenson, Joseph Lattanzi and Stefano de Peppo. Daniel Ellis directs. Performance Dates: Jan. 27–Feb. 4, {…}
Musicians in the Minnesota Opera Orchestra have authorized a strike after members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 30-73 voted unanimously. According to the Union statement, the musicians have been working without a contract for six months. According to MP News, “the players say management has cut their work by more than 40 percent and has not given guarantees of their {…}
Paola Prestini’s first grand opera, “Edward Tulane,” makes its world premiere on October 8th as the first work by a woman to be commissioned by Minnesota Opera as part of the company’s New Works Initiative. Based on the novel, “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” by Minnesota author and two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo, Paola Prestini collaborates with librettist Mark Campbell to honor {…}
The Minnesota Opera is set to showcase the world premiere of “Edward Tulane,” a new opera by composer Paola Prestini and librettist Mark Campbell. The work will receive its premiere after a two-year postponement at the Music Theater at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and represents the first work by a woman to be commissioned by Minnesota Opera {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced the Cohort of Creators for the next phase of its New Works Initiative for the next few seasons. The New Works Initiative creative cohor will be comprised of three composers including B.E. Boykin, David Hanlon and Kamala Sankaram; and three librettists Minita Gandhi, Harrison David Rivers, and John de los Santos. The six artists in {…}
Minnesota Opera has announced its 2022–2023 Season marking the company’s 60th season. The season will feature five operas including two world premieres Performances will also be at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Luminary Arts Center. Ordway Series The company will present the world premiere of “Edward Tulane” by Paola Prestini and Mark Campbell. The cast is {…}
Minnesota Opera has announced the expansion of its campus with the purchase of the Luminary Arts Center (previously the Lab Theater). The 8,000 square foot space sits beside Minnesota Opera Center and is currently being renovated. The renovation includes front-of-house updates, acoustic treatments, advancements for the backstage mechanics, and new flooring for a variety of performances. In September of this {…}
