(Photo Credit: Eric Woolsey) Opera Theatre Saint Louis cultivates a justly deserved reputation for promoting contemporary works, having world-premiered 40-some operas in the company’s five decades, and staging many other operas born after WWII but perhaps not new enough to be labeled “contemporary” in 2024. The American legend, Philip Glass, made one prior appearance at the company—in person then, too—with {…}
Since 2008, James Robinson has served as the Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL). He has emphasized a great deal on bringing modern works to the company and has directed such operas as Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” and “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” John Adams’ “The Death of Klinghoffer,” Marc Blitzstein’s “Regina,” Jack Perla’s “Shalimar the {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced its 2025 season which will run from May 24 – June 29, 2025 at Webster University’s Loretto-Hilton Center. The season opens with Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus” with George Manahan conducting Shawna Lucey’s production. The operetta stars Sara Gartland, Deanna Breiwick, Kelsey Lauritano, Joshua Blue, Edward Nelson, and Johnathan McCullough. Performance Dates: May 24-June 28, {…}
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced a lineup of world premieres for the 2025 New Works Collective. The series will celebrate its third year of a three-year commissioning cycle and stands as a catalyst for innovative, community-driven programming within the American opera scene. For the 2025 edition, a group of 10 St. Louis citizens independently interviewed and selected the {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced that it will extend Principal Conductor Daniela Candillari’s contract. The conductor will remain with the company through September 2028. Candillari made her OTSL debut in 2021 conducting the “New Works, Bold Voices Lab” and began her tenure as OTSL’s Principal Conductor in 2022. In a statement, the conductor said, “Since joining OTSL as {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced that it is leaving Twitter. The company took to the app and said, “OTSL has had a good run on Twitter, but we decided that our time on this app has come to a close. We will no longer be active on Tiwtter/X as of today.” “The are still plenty of ways {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced its 2024 season. The season opens with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville“ conducted by Jonathan Brandani and directed by Eric Sean Fogel. The work will star Justin Austin, Hongni Wu, and Nathan Stark. Performance Dates: May 25-June 29, 2024 Joshua Blue, Katerina Burton, Thomas Glass, and Brittany Renee lead Puccini’s “La Bohème.” {…}
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced the stories of three ground-breaking 20-minute operas commissioned for its 2023 New Works Collective. The company said that five composers and librettists have deftly woven together musical influences spanning rock, funk, jazz, blues, and more to create a soundscape that is wholly unique and completely American. The initiative, which was first announced in {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced the renewal of General Director Andrew Jorgensen’s contract. The board of directors led by Kim Eberlein announced the renewal for an additional five-year term. Jorgensen well now lead the company through June 30, 2028, which will mark Jorgensen’s 10th year at Opera Theatre. In a statement Eberlein, “Andrew has proven himself to be {…}
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced the third class of the Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship. The innovative and successful program will cultivate future leaders in arts administration who come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The class, which will join OTSL beginning Sept. 30 includes Jhané Perdue (Artistic Fellow), Linda {…}
The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has announced its 2023 season. The season opens with “Treemonisha,” Scott Joplin’s landmark opera. The work will see an expanded version, reimagined for the modern day with an added prologue and epilogue by composer Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton. Charlotte Brathwaite directs the opera with George Manahan conducting. The cast includes Justin Austin, {…}