(Credit: Decca / Andrew Eccles) The Aspen Music Festival has announced its 2020 summer program, which will consist of numerous of vocal and orchestral works. For the purpose of this article, we will focus only on vocal works. Famed soprano Renée Fleming will give a solo recital featuring music from R. Strauss’ “Capriccio” as well as Kevin Puts’ “Letters from {…}
The LA Opera announced its 2020-21 season featuring five main stage production, four new productions and a number of second stage productions through its Connects and LA Opera Grand sections. Among the composers featured in the programming are Missy Mazzoli, Verdi, Mozart, Handel, and Rossini. In light of the new season announcement, CEO and president of the house Christopher Koelsch {…}
Carnegie Hall has announced its 2020-21 season featuring some of the greatest soloists and conductors in the world. For this article we will highlight the vocal performances of the season. Orchestras The season opens with the LA Philharmonic performing John Adams’ Tromba Lontana and Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Selections from Peer Gynt. Gustavo Dudamel conducts with soloists Liv Redpath and {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of Main stage productions, of grand and community events. Here is a look at what the ambitious season is set to showcase. Main Stage The season opens with Verdi and Cammarano’s “Il Trovatore” starring Angel Blue in her role debut as Leonora and Gregory Kunde in his LA Opera {…}
(Photo Credit: Jennifer Taylor) On Jan. 14, 2020, SongStudio opened its second year of masterclasses and performances at Carnegie Hall, continuing in the legacy of supporting and nurturing young artists started by revered mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. Among the distinguished instructors of the program, led by Renée Fleming, were Elīna Garanča, Julia Bullock, Gabriel Kahane, and Hartmut Holl, Gabriel Kahane The {…}
Famed soprano Renée Fleming is set lead the second year of her SongStudio at Carnegie Hall starting on Jan 13-18. Fleming will mentor 10 aspiring singers including Natalie Buickians, Meghan Kasanders, Anneliese Klenetsky, Kady Evanyshyn, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Eric Finbarr Carey, Randy Ho, Dominik Belavy, Johnathan McCullough, and Laureano Quant. There will also be mentorship for 10 collaborative painists include {…}
Opera America has announced that it has awarded $220,000 to develop new American operas with seven different companies. The recipients of the grants include The American Opera Project and Seagle Music Colony, Beth Morrison Projects, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, and The Dallas Opera. The American Opera Project and Seagle Music Colony are working together {…}
On November 24, 2019, audiences gathered at the Metropolitan Opera to pay tribute to the life and career of Jessye Norman. The event comprised of musical performances, video highlights of Jessye’s performances, and statements from her family, friends, and colleagues. First among these highlights were two clips of Norman singing “Amazing Grace,” from her performances at the 1997 Presidential Inauguration {…}
The full cast for the upcoming “The Light in the Piazza” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago has been unveiled. Renée Fleming is set to lead the cast, joined by Rob Houchen as well as three-time Olivier Award winner Alex Jennings. Solea Pfeiffer will also star alongside Marie McLaughlin, Eric Sciotto, and Suzanne Kantorski. Other cast members include Malcolm Sinclair, {…}
(Credit: Fay Fox/Andrew Eccles/Simon Pauly/ Bree Anne Clowdus) The Richard Tucker Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards for American opera singers. Each year the Tucker foundation awards an American singer who is on the cusp of becoming a national and international star, with the hopes that the award acts as a well-timed catalyst to elevate the artist’s {…}
(Photo credit: Craig T. Mathew) Should opera companies do musicals? I guess the question is not yet settled and it came up in connection with Los Angeles Opera’s production of the Tony Award-winning “The Light in the Piazza,” which opened at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 and ran through Oct. 20. On both a company blog-site and {…}