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 {…}
Last week was rife with modern opera in our top five works to see during the weekend. And this weekend will be no different with a number of companies experimenting and promoting new music. Cruzar la Cara de la Luna – New York City Opera The New York City Opera brings the world’s first-ever mariachi opera to its stage this {…}
OPERA America has announced the grant awards for 11 opera companies through the Repertoire Development Grants program, supported by The Opera Fund. A total of $225,000 was awarded to 11 opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera’s upcoming opera “Eurydice” by composer Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl. The work will be based on the play by Sarah Ruhl and tells the Orpheus story from the perspective of {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced a newly commissioned work. The company announced that “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” a young adult novel by Minneapolis author Kate DiCamillo, will be adapted into an opera as part of the company’s “New Works Initiatives” program which was established in 2008. The opera, which tells the story of an aloof toy rabbit owned {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced that artistic director Dale Johnson will step down at the end of the season after 23 years in the job and 33 with the company. In a press statement Johnson said, “We have great stability in the organization with our President and General Director Ryan Taylor now in his second season at the helm of {…}
The busy weekend in the US continues throughout with a number of companies continuing previously unveiled productions. Before we look at continued runs, let’s look at some of the first-timers this weekend. Among those is LA Opera’s production of “The Pearl Fishers,” which opens on Saturday with a cast that includes Nino Machaidze, Javier Camarena, and Alfredo Daza. Over in {…}
Opera America has awarded $100,000 to six opera companies for their support for female composers. The six companies include the Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Parallèle, Sarasota Opera, Seattle Opera and Washington National Opera. The Houston Grand has commission Nkeiru Okoye’s “Home of My Ancestors” while Minnesota Opera’s grant is for Paola Prestini’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.” {…}
The Metropolitan Opera season may be over, but a lot of other opera companies remain open for business. Sadly this weekend represents a great number of goodbyes for the time being. If you want opera, here are the companies to look up during the weekend. The Canadian Opera Company is finishing up its run of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Friday and {…}
It is yet another busy opera weekend across North America, with the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season, the longest running in the country, coming to a close. Here is a rundown of the companies and works they will be presenting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As with last weekend’s edition, we will list the companies and corresponding productions. For more information {…}
