The American Lyric Theater has announced a free Opera Writers Symposium scheduled between Feb. 27- April 24, 2021. The course aims to offer artists an opportunity to check out the American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program. The Symposium is open to all artists in all genres of music and literature. Artists with no previous experience in opera are encouraged {…}
Broadway and opera star Zachary James is set to host a new, online talk show. Titled “What Happened Was…” the program will feature leading figures in the world of Broadway, opera, dance, film, television, and more. Inspired by shows such as “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” the series comes as part of The Dallas Opera Network, and will air {…}
Alternative Classical has announced “Humans of Classical Music.” This new video series will feature musicians, actors, comedians, and podcasters from around the world recommending their favorite pieces of classical music in one minute. A new episode will go live weekly, beginning on February 4, joined by a link to the piece on YouTube or Spotify. Among the artists engaged with {…}
The Los Angeles Opera has announced the release of three digital opera shorts directed by James Darrah that will stream on its On Now platform. First up is Darrah’s vision for Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “The West is a Land of Infinite Beginnings,” beased on Karen Russell’s surreal short story about a farming family attempting to fulfill the requirements {…}
Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek have released a new music video for their opera “Proving Up.” The video features John Moore singing the prologue to the opera and was shot by the creative team late this summer at a historic sod house on location in Nebraska and South Dakota. “Proving Up” tells the story of a pioneer family’s failed plight to {…}
Star opera and Broadway performer, Zachary James, announced the December release of his debut visual album, “CALL OUT.” The album showcases the new compositions of 11 female composers with text ranging from Twitter to Edgar Allan Poe. The visual album takes its cue from innovative predecessors such as The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and “Hard Days Night,” Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” {…}
(Credits: Opéra National de Paris official website / Chen Reiss official website / Harlequin Agency official website) The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has announced its fall program schedule. For the purposes of this article, we will focus only on vocal works. “4/4” is an evening of opera that has been curated by Director of Opera Oliver Mears and features {…}
This week, three world premiere recordings are being released while two classic operas are being made accessible on the market. Here is a look at the three albums you can stream this week and two DVDs that not to be missed. Voire Dire RedHouse Music will release the North American release of the original-cast album of composer Matthew Peterson and {…}
Pentatone has announced that it will be releasing the debut recording of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “Proving Up.” The release, which is set for August 21, 2020, will feature the original cast recording from Opera Omaha. Those cast members include Michael Slatter, John Moore, Talise Trevigne, Abigail Nims, Cree Carrico, and Andrew Harris. The opera was co-commissioned by the {…}
OPERA America has announced the nine companies that will be awarded $100,000 in grants for commissioning operas by female composers. The recipients include Beth Morrison Projects for Du Yun’s “In Our Daughter’s Eyes,” which is written by Michael Joseph McQuilken; Boston Lyric Opera for Ellen Reid and librettist Christopher Oscar Peña’s “The Desert Inn;” Guerilla Opera for “HER: alive / {…}
The Guggenheim will be presenting two new virtual commissions in their “Works & Process” series, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera. “Let Me Freeze Again to Death,” by Missy Mazzoli, is an electronically- composed work which includes samples from Henry Purcell’s “What Power Art Thou,” also known as “The Cold Song,” from “King Arthur.” Vocals for this work are done {…}