LA Opera & Beth Morrison Projects Give West Coast Premiere of Mary Kouyoumdjian’s ‘Adoration’

(Photo Credit: Maria Baranova) Armenian-American composer and documentarian Mary Kouyoumdjian’s opera, “Adoration,” is set to makes its west coast premiere in a co-presentation by LA Opera and Beth Morrison Projects. Kouyoumdjian was awarded an OPERA America commissioning grant to create an opera adaptation of Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s “Adoration.” Written in collaboration with librettist Royce Vavrek, the operatic version touches {…}

Aug 4, 2024

Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Opera Project Documentary to Premiere on Georgia Public Broadcasting

The Atlanta Opera Film Studio has announced the premiere of its 96-Hour Opera Project documentary. The film will show the journey of five creative teams as they compete for the Antinori Grand Prize at The Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Opera Project. The project is designed as a talent incubator and competition for composers and librettists who self-identify as under-represented to create {…}

Jan 16, 2024

Prototype Festival 2024 Review: Adoration

Photo: Maria Baranova Prototype Festival presented “Adoration” at New York City’s The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture on January 12th, 2024. It was an innovative opera, featuring both voices, an amplified string quartet, and technical sound engineering, composed by Mary Kouyoumdjian with a libretto by Royce Vavrek. This world premiere, shockingly timely, challenged audience members to examine bias while {…}

Dec 28, 2023

Boston Lyric Opera to Present ‘The Anonymous Lover’

Boston Lyric Opera is set to present a new production of “The Anonymous Lover” by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The premiere includes a new adaptation by Obie Award-winning Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge that mixes English dialogue with the original French singing. Told in two acts over 90 minutes with no intermission, the opera will star Nardus Williams as Léontine, Omar {…}

Apr 27, 2023

Karen Chia-Ling Ho, Levy Sekgapane & Sydney Mancasola Lead Boston Lyric Opera’s 2023-24 Season

The Boston Lyric Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring four productions. The Boston Lyric Opera opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” featuring Karen Chia-Ling Ho, Alice Chung, Dominick Chenes, and Troy Cook. David Angus conducts the opera in a production by Phil Chan. Performance Dates: Sept. 14-24, 2023 David Angus conducts Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” in a production by Dawn M. Simmons. {…}

May 14, 2022

Jessica Pratt, Kevin Thompson & Lucile Richardot Lead CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will get a chance to hear three complete recordings of three very diverse operas. Here is a look at this week’s releases. Hamlet Navona Records presents “Hamlet” by Joseph Summer. In this installment of the Shakespeare Concert Series, composer Joseph Summer’s adaptation of the famous play is performed by Bulgaria’s State Opera Ruse orchestra, choir, and selected {…}

Apr 29, 2022

MassOpera to Present ‘The Mirror Cabaret’

This article has been updated from its original version to inclulde a new date, new programming, and a new cast member. MassOpera is set to present “The Mirror Cabaret” on May 6, 2022. The showcase, which will be presented at City Winery in Boston, will feature both opera and musical theater hits that are parallels to one another. For example, {…}

Aug 13, 2019

Boston Lyric Opera To Pair ‘Pagliacci’ With Immersive Roadshow Circus

Boston Lyric Opera will open its 2019-20 season this September with the company’s first production of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” David Lefkowich will direct the opera “and its pre-show experience – an immersive roadshow circus that mirrors the opera’s play-within-a-play story of a traveling troupe whose onstage drama pales in comparison to its backstage love triangle.” Guests can enjoy circus performances, live {…}

Dec 28, 2018

Talents of the World International Music 2018 Festival Review: Three Tenors From Around the World

Dec. 22, 2018, saw the second concert of Talents of the World’s International Music Festival. Following their tribute concert to the legendary Maria Callas, Saturday’s performance was given in celebration of legendary tenor Enrico Caruso’s 145th anniversary. The evening’s program was comprised of not only operatic favorites, but a number of Neapolitan Songs as well. What followed was a highly-charged {…}

Omar Najmi