Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2019-20 season! This will be the company’s 81st season and will encompass four operas produced at the Benedum Center, a Baroque chamber opera at Pittsburgh CAPA School Theater, and a production by the Second Stage Project at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, as well as a multitude of other events. The season opens with a period production {…}
Pittsburgh Opera will revive Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The production, which is set to star Nicole Cabell as Mimì and Sean Pannikar as Rodolfo, will be conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud and directed by Stephanie Havey. The two lead singers in this production are both veterans of TV singing competitions. Panikkar, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alum, was a star on America’s Got Talent {…}
On February 23, 2019 the Pittsburgh Opera is set to present the local premiere of Tom Cipullo’s “Glory Denied.” The work, based on a book by Tom Philpott, tells the true story of U.S. Army Colonel Jim Thompson, who was held captive as a prisoner of war longer than any other American in history. The work, which only features four {…}
The Pittsburgh Opera is set to present “AfterWARds,” which uses the words and music of Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” The work will reorganize the opera into an 80-minute version that shifts the opera’s focus towards its four protagonists and their timeless struggles for love and peace in a world full of carnage and destruction. “AfterWARds” is set on the island of Crete {…}
Like last week’s list, you’ll see a lot of classic works up for recommendation. But you’ll also see a showcase featuring brand new vocal works. Let’s dig in (in alphabetical order by company). Modularis – Experiments in Opera On Friday and Saturday, this unique company will showcase four new works for voice and modular synthesizer. Even if modern opera isn’t {…}
Pittsburgh Opera has announced four new members to its Board of Directors. The company announced that Bill Hillgrove, Thomas James III, MD, Brian Binkley, and Cindy Kerr will join the company’s board this year. Hillgrove is a sportscaster who has served as WTAE-TV’s Steelers Insider since 1994, calling the play-by-play for Pittsburgh Steelers football games, including four Super Bowl broadcasts. {…}
It all began with five ladies who belonged to Pittsburgh’s Tuesday Musical Club: pianist Virginia C. Byerly; contralto Carolyn Hunt Mahaffey; Priscilla W. Collins; Ruby N. Wickersham; and Marie M. Pease. In 1939, 80 years ago this season, these Founding Five established The Pittsburgh Opera Society, which would become the seventh-oldest opera company in the United States. The first production, {…}
We have another six offerings this week because a number of companies are getting their season started. You’ll see two world premieres among this week mixed in with some repertory favorites. The Mile Long Opera: A Biography of 7 O’Clock – The High Line Looking for a unique experience in New York City? “The Mile-Long Opera” is probably going to {…}
Pittsburgh Opera will continue its 80th season with Humperdinck’s classic “Hansel & Gretel.“ The opera is set to star Pittsburgh favorite Marianne Cornetti as the witch, as well as Ashley Fabian as Gretel, Corrie Stallings as Hansel and Caitlyn Gotimer as the Dew Fairy/Sandman. Leah Heater will perform the Mother, while Craig Verm will sing the Father. Anthony Walker will conduct the performances, which will be sung in {…}
Pittsburgh Opera has announced Michael Braxton as the new Director of Development. The company announced that the veteran fund-raiser will take over the position on August 13, 2018 for the start of the new season. In a press statement, Braxton noted, “I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity. Pittsburgh Opera is one of Pittsburgh’s cultural gems and recognized nationally {…}
The Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2018-19 Resident Artists. This year, the program received more than 500 applicants and chose seven singers. The year’s residents will be mezzo-soprano Antonia Botti-Lodovico, tenor Terrence Chin-Loy, soprano Ashley Fabian, soprano Caitlin Gotimer, stage director Matthew Haney, baritone Ben Taylor, and bass-baritone Tyler Zimmerman. The program, which has been hailed as one of the country’s leading training programs for young singers, {…}