National Sawdust to Showcase World Premiere of Anthony Roth Costanzo’s ‘COUNTERTENOR’

National Sawdust will present the world premiere of “COUNTERTENOR,” featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo. The showcase, set for April 17-18, 2025 at the National Sawdust, will feature an exploration of the famed voice from a historical perspective with music by John Dowland, The Four Seasons, Philip Glass, Osvaldo Golijov, Claudio Monteverdi, Thomas Morley, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Klaus Nomi, and Antonio Vivaldi, among others, all arranged by Dan Schlosberg for {…}

Jan 29, 2025

Fourth Wall Ensemble Sets National Sawdust Debut

Fourth Wall Ensemble is set to make its National Sawdust debut on Feb. 12, 2025. The event in question will feature the organization under Artistic Director Christopher Allen in a performance of works by Kaija Saariaho, Caroline Shaw, Philip Glass, John Glover, and Andrew Yee. The event will also feature soprano Susanna Phillips, among others, and will be hosted by {…}

Jan 20, 2025

Sparks & Wiry Cries Unveil Upcoming February 2025 Events at National Sawdust.

Sparks & Wiry Cries will present two events this February at the National Sawdust. On the 7th, the organization will showcase its ninth annual “songSLAM” which showcases the talents of 15 composers, singers, and pianists premiering songs. The event will also spotlight the work of 2024 songSLAM winner Jonathan Wyatt. Here is a breakdown of the teams. The first team {…}

Dec 16, 2024

Experiments in Opera to Present Two World Premieres in its Winter/Spring 2025 Season

Experiments in Opera announces its 2025 Winter/Spring season. Soprano Anchal Dhir and mezzo-soprano Rocky Duval give the workshop performance of Kamala Sankaram and Paul Muldoon’s “Custom of the Coast.” They are accompanied by the Flux Quartet. “Custom of the Coast” is co-presented by Works & Process and National Sawdust, and is slated for premiere at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August 2025. {…}

Dec 2, 2024

National Sawdust Gives NY Premiere of Michael Hersch’s ‘and we, each’

(Photo credit: James Matthew Daniel) Michael Hersch’s latest opera, “and we, each,” created in collaboration with poet Shane McCrae, makes its New York premiere at National Sawdust on Feb. 6. Soprano Ah Young Hong and baritone Jesse Blumberg perform the two singing roles. Tito Muñoz will conduct a five-piece ensemble comprised of New York players. James Daniel, who previously staged Hersch’s {…}

Nov 18, 2024

National Sawdust Adds New Commissions to 10th Anniversary Season

National Sawdust has announced the second half of its 10th anniversary season will include 15 new works commissioned by the organization. For the purposes of this article only new operatic additions are included. Vivian Fung’s “Girl From the 905” is a work-in-process song cycle conceived and performed by soprano Andrea Núñez. Performance Dates: January 21–26, 2025 Sawdust teams with Sparks {…}

Oct 6, 2024

National Sawdust 2024 Review: Silent Light

(Photo credit: Jill Steinberg at National Sawdust) National Sawdust’s 10th Anniversary opening season kicked off with Artistic Director/Co-Founder & composer Paola Prestini and librettist Royce Vavrek‘s foley chamber opera world premiere “Silent Light,” featuring director & scenic designer Thaddeus Strassberger and conductor Christopher Rountree. The cast includes powerhouse soprano Brittany Renee as Esther, bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch as Johan, soprano Julia {…}

Sep 18, 2024

Measha Brueggergosman-Lee to Present ‘Zombie Blizzard’ at National Sawdust

Soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee is set to headline Aaron Davis’ “Zombie Blizzard” at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn on Oct. 28, 2024. The soprano will be joined by the composer himself, who will accompany her during the performance. “Zombie Blizzard” is described as “a song cycle written by Aaron Davis of seven concert arias for voice, jazz trio and brass ensemble, {…}

Jul 14, 2024

National Sawdust Announces Plans For 10th Anniversary Season

(Photo credit: Stephanie Sedlebauer) National Sawdust, the women-led, Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based non-profit has released the details of its 10th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, only classical vocal works are included. Co-founder and artistic director Paola Prestini, and Royce Vavrek’s opera “Silent Light,” which is based on the 2007 film by Carlos Reygadas, opens the season. Performance Date: September {…}

Jul 13, 2024

National Sawdust to World Premiere Paola Prestini & Royce Vavrek’s ‘Silent Light’

National Sawdust is set to present the world premiere of “Silent Light” this September. The opera by Paola Prestini and Royce Vavrek is an adaptation of Carlos Reygada’s film of the same name. Per the official summary, “The opera follows a pious husband and father whose strongly held spiritual obligation to his wife, their family, and community is put to {…}

Apr 30, 2024

National Sawdust 2024 Review: Emruz Festival’s ‘Whispers of the Flesh’

(Photo credit: Kaveh Kowsari) National Sawdust presented Emruz Festival’s “Whispers of the Flesh” on Friday, April 26th, 2024, directed by Shadi Ghaheri and assistant director/stage manager Lilia Houshmand, as part of a three performance series of works written by Iranian women residing within Iran. “Whispers of the Flesh” brings to light the works of women facing their own bodies and {…}