Ana María Martinez, Russell Thomas, J’Nai Bridges, Rihab Chaieb Headline Cincinnati Opera’s 2021 Festival

Cincinnati Opera has announced a reimagined 2021 summer festival which will include three productions, all presented without intermission in new 90-minute versions. The festival will take place at Summit Park due to its ability to host large-scale stage productions that allow for safety protocols to be put in place for both performers and audience members. “Music Hall will always be {…}

Ana María Martínez, Brian Jagde & Quinn Kelsey Headline Opera Philadelphia’s ‘The Drama of Tosca’

Opera Philadelphia has announced plans to bring music to live audiences this spring with three outdoor performances of a concert adaptation of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The socially distanced performances at the TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park will be a 90-minute concert adaptation entitled “The Drama of Tosca.” The performances, which are scheduled for May 5, 7, and {…}

Q & A: Quinn Kelsey on Opera Kanikapila, Hawai’i Opera Theatre & Collaborating with Taimane Gardner

Last month the Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre’s inaugurated the Opera Kanikapila session. The new series pairs opera singers with local musicians from different cultures to explore and combine their artistic abilities. Native Hawaiian Quinn Kelsey, one of opera’s leading baritones, inaugurated the series alongside Taimane Tauiliili Bobbie Gardner with a program of diverse operatic and Hawaiian music. Kelsey is well known {…}

Former Vice-President at Columbia Artists Opens Minerva Artists

Former vice-president at Columbia Artists, Michael Benchetrit, has struck out on his own, founding Minerva Artists with 15 high-profile artists entrusting their careers to the seasoned agent. Benchetrit was at Columbia for 25 years before the agency shuttered in August. Minerva’s current roster includes sopranos Michelle Bradley, Nicole Cabell, Anna-Sophie Neher, Marjorie Owens, Brenda Rae, and in memoriam, Erin Wall; {…}

Anna Netrebko, Leontyne Price, Jonas Kaufmann & Renée Fleming Highlight Metropolitan Opera Matinee Broadcasts

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 2020-21 season encore radio broadcast. The company will broadcast encore recordings starting Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. with Mary Jo Heath hosting and Ira Siff as a commentator for the broadcasts. The broadcasts will also include dynamic intermission features, live backstage interviews with artists, and the ever-popular Opera Quiz. The broadcasts begin with Prokofiev’s “War {…}

Sondra Radvanovsky, Elina Garanča, Karen Slack, Mariusz Kwicien, Ferruccio Furlanetto Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

One brand new opera with three endings. A 20th-century work from a noted Czech composer. Two gala performances. A recital of new songs. A Shakespeare / Verdi / Ring Mashup. Beethoven. And three Italian operas with some of opera’s biggest stars for those looking for more standard repertory. That eclectic list comprises our top 10 operas to stream this week. {…}

Lisette Oropesa, Nadine Sierra, Samuel Ramey, Luca Pisaroni Headline San Francisco Opera’s Streaming Slate in October

San Francisco Opera has announced its streaming slate for the month of October. The company will kick things off with “Tosca” in a production from 2014 starring Lianna Harooutounian in the title role alongside Brian Jagde and Mark Delavan as Cavaradossi and Scarpia, respectively. Riccardo Frizza conducted the production by Thierry Bosquet. Streaming Dates: Oct. 10-11, 2020 Ferruccio Furlanetto, Samuel {…}