(Image Courtesy of Opera Philadelphia) Opera Philadelphia has elected Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, as its new Chair. He will begin a three-year term starting on June 1, 2022, succeeding Peter Leone, who served as Chair from 2017 through 2022. Dr. Klasko was named a Distinguished Fellow for the Digital Economy by the World Economic Forum in 2020 and retired {…}
Opera Philadelphia, in association with Music: Not Impossible and Art-Reach, will present “Resonant Philly” on May 21, 2022 at FringeArts in Philadelphia. This presentation is designed to create a welcoming and comfortable artistic experience for people with autism and other disabilities, incorporating audio description by Nicole Sardella and American Sign Language by Hands Up Productions. The event features operatic performances, {…}
Opera Philadelphia is set to return to the Academy of Music stage for the first time since September 2019 with a new production of “Rigoletto.” The opera, which will be performed four times from April 29-May 8, will return to the company for the first time in 15 years. The new production will see baritone Anthony Clark Evans take on the title {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced that it will live stream its performance of Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” and Walker’s “Lilacs” scheduled for Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. The showcase will take place at the Broad Street on both Jan. 21 and 23. The Stravinsky opera will star tenor William Burden, bass-baritone Mark. S. Doss, mezzo-soprano Rehanna Thelwell, bass Jonathan Lemalu, and tenor Matthew {…}
(Credit: Olivia Moon Photography-halfasianlens) The Opera Philadelphia has announced the upcoming online premiere of Ana Sokolović’s cinematic opera “Svadba.” The work will premiere on Jan. 28, 2022, on both Boston Lyric Opera’s operabox.tv and the Opera Philadelphia Channel. The film is a co-production by Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia, and stars Chabrelle D. Williams singing the role of Milica {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced the appointment of award-winning activist, arts administrator, and bass-baritone Dr. Derrell Acon to the position of Vice President of People Operations & Inclusion. Dr. Acon will join the senior management team at Opera Philadelphia on Jan. 10, 2022, and will also continue to serve as associate Artistic Director and creative producer for the New York-based Heartbeat {…}
On Jan. 21 and 23, Opera Philadelphia will present a concert at the Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center featuring Igor Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” and George Walker’s “Lilacs.” The evening will feature a distinguished group of soloists and will spotlight the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus. Each concert opens with “Lilacs,” a 15-minute work scored for a soprano soloist and {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced “New Directions,” a new series of digital collaborations created by Music Theatre Wales. The series aims to question the essence of opera and what it can be by commissioning and working with artists who are often ignored or excluded from creating opera. To that effect, the company turned to Tumi Williams and Sita Thomas to create {…}
Opera Philadelphia’s virtual channel is set to present the premiere of Rene Orth and Kanika Ambrose’s “Taktakshoo” starting on Nov. 19, 2021. The showcase, which will star Kristen Choi and a quartet of dancers, fuses opera and K-pop, marimba and electronics, with an aim to explore electronics in opera. “Opera is long overdue for live vocal electronic manipulation,” Orth said {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced a free outdoor screening of “La Traviata” on Sept. 9, 2021. The showcase, which is set to take place at Dilworth Park, was originally scheduled for Sept. 8 at 8 p.m., but was rescheduled due to prognostications of rain. The opera stars Lisette Oropesa as Violetta, Alek Shrader as Alfredo, and Stephen Powell as Germont in {…}
Opera Philadelphia has announced programming changes for Season 2 of the Opera Philadelphia Channel. The company announced that the Glass-Handel program slated to premiere in October has been canceled. In May the company announced plans to stream a concert film and documentary created by American countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo in collaboration with producer Cath Brittan and avant-garde fashion/art company Visionaire. The concert film would have {…}