The National Symphony Orchestra is set to present Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa” on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, 2025. The opera, which will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and will star Nicole Heaston in the title role, replacing Sondra Radvanovsky, who withdrew for personal reasons. Heaston will be joined by tenor Matthew Polenzani, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, and baritone Thomas Hampson. These performances of Barber’s “Vanessa” {…}
FringeArts has announced the lineup for the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. For the purposes of this article only opera performances are included . Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “The Listeners” makes American premiere with Nicole Heaston and Kevin Burdette. This premiere is co-presented with Opera Philadelphia. Performance Dates: September 25-29, 2024 “We Have Gone As Far As We Can Together” {…}
On August 23, the Black Leadership Arts Collective (B.L.A.C.) will present an Inaugural Gala. The evening will feature musical favorites at Manhattan School of Music, featuring members of B.L.A.C. and Grammy-nominated pianist Kevin Miller hosted by Terrance McKnight. Soloists will include Russell Thomas, Morris Robinson, Laquita Mitchell, J’Nai Bridges, Kenneth Kellogg, Kenneth Overton, Nicole Heaston, and Lawrence Brownlee. The proceeds {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the productions. Verdi’s “Rigoletto” is set to star Igor Golovatenko, Soloman Howard, Javier Camarena, and Mané Galoyan. Enrique Mazzola conducts the production by Director Mary Birnbaum. Performance Dates: Sept. 14-Oct. 6 2024 Elza van den Heever, Russell Thomas, Mika Kares, and Brian Mulligan star in {…}
(Photo credit: Andy Staples) The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale (PBO) has announced its 2023-24 season. PBO’s season focuses on the concept of “classical music in an encouraging and explorative environment.” While sticking to its roots, audiences will hear plenty of Baroque works along with other historically informed performances. The season opens with a reprise performance of “Garden of Good {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}
The Utah Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. Robert Tweten conducts Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Garnett Bruce directing. Performance Dates: Oct. 7-15, 2023 Benjamin Manis conducts Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright’s “The Little Prince” with Tara Faircloth directing. Performance Dates: Jan. 20-28, 2024 Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” will be conducted by Conner Gray Covington and directed by Tara Faircloth. {…}
Spoleto Festival USA has announced its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on vocal and operatic performances. The company will present “Vanessa” at the Charleston Gaillard Center. The Barber opera will star Nicole Heaston, Zoie Reams, Edward Graves, Rosalind Plowright, and Malcolm MacKenzie. The opera is conducted by Timothy Myers and directed by Rodula {…}
San Francisco Opera outdid itself with Christoph Willibald Gluck’s 18th century masterpiece, “Orpheo ed Euridice.” An absolute gem, the opera was the piece de resistance of the season. The cast, the set, the music, all in a new production by director Matthew Ozawa and conducted by acclaimed early music interpreter Peter Whelan in his American opera stage debut. Rena Butler made {…}
(Credit: Jiyang Chen) San Francisco Opera is set to open a new production of Gluck’s “Orpheus and Eurydice” on Nov. 15, 2022. The opera will feature countertenor Jakub Jósef Orlinski in his company debut alongside Meigui Zhang and Nicole Heaston. Peter Whelan, in his American debut, will conduct the opera, which will be directed by Matthew Ozawa and choreographed by {…}
The Norwegian National Opera is set to present the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “The Listeners” starting on Sept. 24, 2022. The opera, which runs through Oct. 9, will be directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater. Ilan Volkov will conduct a cast starring Nicole Heaston, Simon Neal, Eirik Grøvedt, and Frøy Hovland. {…}