Janai Brugger, Juan Diego Flórez, Nadine Sierra, Gabriella Reyes, John Holiday Lead LA Opera’s 2025-26 Season

LA Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the program. Opera Gabriella Reyes and Duke Kim star in the company premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” James Conlon conducts the production by Francesca Zambello. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 8, 2025 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will return Janai Brugger, Oreste Cosimo, Erica Petrocelli, Gihoon Kim, Emmett O’Hanlon, and {…}

Jan 30, 2025

Artist of the Week: Nicole Heaston

(Credit: © WILLIAM STRUHS/Spoleto Festival USA) Barber’s “Vanessa” is a work rarely heard. That is why when the occasion to hear the work comes, audiences run to see it. It doesn’t hurt if it has a great cast. This week the National Symphony Orchestra is bringing the work to audiences with a stellar cast that includes Nicole Heaston in the {…}

Jan 29, 2025

Q & A: Gianandrea Noseda & Nicole Heaston on Performing Barber’s ‘Vanessa’ With the National Symphony Orchestra & Aspects of Live Recordings

(Photo credit: Tony Hitchcock) Despite winning a Pulitzer Prize and receiving great acclaim following its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1958, Barber and Menotti’s “Vanessa” is not regularly programmed as a full work. Arias such as “Must the winter come so soon?” and “Do not utter a word” are frequently heard in recitals, but this does not do justice to this {…}

Dec 13, 2024

Nicole Heaston Leads National Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Vanessa’

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” {…}

Jul 31, 2024

FringeArts Announces Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2024

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” {…}

Jul 9, 2024

Black Leadership Arts Collective To Present Inaugural Gala

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 {…}

Mar 12, 2024

Ailyn Pérez, Sondra Radvanovsky, Kenneth Kellogg, & Javier Camarena Lead Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2024-25 Season

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 {…}

Mar 28, 2023

Tim Mead, Reginald Mobley, & Nicole Heaston Headline Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale’s 2023-24 Season

(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 {…}

Mar 21, 2023

J’Nai Bridges, Ailyn Pérez, Russell Thomas & Luca Pisaroni Lead Houston Grand Opera’s 2023-24 Season

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 {…}

Mar 16, 2023

Utah Opera Announces 2023-24 Season

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. {…}

Jan 27, 2023

Nicole Heaston, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Jamez McCorkle Headline Spoleto Festival USA 2023

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 {…}