You have an opera about baseball. Two Spanish operas, including one about Mexico’s greatest artist. Then there’s a timely Britten work followed by a singer making her way back onstage after a grueling battle with cancer. These are the top five operas to see this weekend (in alphabetical order by company). The Rape of Lucretia – Boston Lyric Opera Britten’s {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2019-20 season with five main stage productions and a number of rising stars. Here is a look at what audiences can expect. Melody Moore and Alexandra Loutsion headline a production of Strauss’ “Elektra” with Brian Straufenbiel directing. Jill Grove and Mary Stonikas round out the cast with Elias Grady conducting. Performance Dates: Oct. 5-13, {…}
On Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, audiences around the U.S. will get a chance to check out Minnesota Opera’s production of “Doubt.” The showcase, which kicks off at 9 p.m. EDT, will feature the production of Douglas J. Cuomo and John Patrick Shanley’s adaptation of the 2005 Broadway play (which was also the basis for the 2008 film). The production was {…}
November means a lot of opera. And a lot of opera means almost endless choices. So in picking this week’s major selections, we recommended a mix of new and old works across the States and Canada. Otello – Austin Opera Verdi’s great masterpiece gets a concert production at the Austin Opera with Marina Costa-Jackson headlining the cast as Desdemona. She {…}
As we dig deeper into the summer, we see many companies close their doors and other festivals open them. This weekend’s offerings are a mix of this very trend. Here are our top five picks in North America, in alphabetical order by company. La Traviata – Cincinnati Opera On Saturday night, audiences in Cincinnati can enjoy Verdi’s masterwork with Norah {…}
For this week’s top five picks we are sticking close to the East Coast with a number of revivals of popular operas and new productions. We also take a look at a Bernstein work that rarely gets a look. Trouble in Tahiti – Boston Lyric Opera As the Leonard Bernstein centennial continues, the BLO will showcase a production of his {…}
Minnesota Opera has announced the hiring of Priti Gandhi in the newly created position of chief artistic officer. The position, which will be effective on July 2, 2018, will see Gandhi come to Minnesota Opera from San Diego Opera, where she is currently the artistic administrator. “On behalf of the entire team at Minnesota Opera, I am thrilled to welcome Priti {…}
The 2017-18 season comes to an end. Now what do you do? Or more like where do you go? Opera lovers know that there are a plethora of festivals to check out, but many are distant from their own traditional opera companies and it can turn into a challenge trying to figure out where to fly out to in the {…}
Easter weekend in the US is a time when opera houses remain relatively quiet. So you’ll notice that one house gets major prominence in this weekend’s recommendations. Così fan tutte – Metropolitan Opera We recommended this showcase a few weeks ago and will recommend it once again. “ At its core, the opera is one big joke that all the characters {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2018-19 season featuring five productions including one world premiere and two modern masterpieces. The season opens with Puccini’s rarely performed “La Rondine,” which tells the tale of Magda a lively courtesan in Paris. Celine Byrne makes her debut in the title role with Leonardo Capalbo as Ruggero. Octavio Cardenas directs the new production which is {…}
Music Director Michael Christie concludes his tenure at the Minnesota Opera with Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The performances, which are scheduled from March 17 through March 31, 2018, will be his final production with the company as Music Director. Throughout his tenure, Christie led 26 productions over eight seasons, six as Music Director at the Minnesota Opera including “La Traviata,” “Nabucco,” “Macbeth,” “La Boheme,” “La {…}