Welcome back as we explore the latest CD and DVD releases from around the opera world. This week audiences will get to hear a world premiere recording of an important LGBT work, the first ever recording from Heartbeat Opera, a recording from the Houston Grand Opera, and the debut of an acclaimed mezzo. Here are the highlights for this week’s releases. {…}
Piedmont Opera announces its 2026-27 and 50th anniversary season. Prior to her recital Renée Fleming hosts “Music and Mind with Renée Fleming: Harnessing the Arts to Heal & Connect.” Performance Date: Sept. 18, 2026 Renée Fleming presents “Voice of Nature—The Anthropocene.” Performance Date: Sept. 19, 2026 Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Another Sunrise” and “Before It All Goes Dark” will {…}
(Credit: Scott Suchman) On March 21, the Washington National Opera opened “The Crucible,” its second production of the spring season at the Lisner Auditorium. The Washington National Opera’s decision to showcase this work spotlights the importance of art’s resilience in times where where institutions like the John. F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are being taken over by regimes {…}
Following the departure of the Washington National Opera’s decision to leave the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, more than 60 artists have signed an open letter pledging support to the company. The letter, which is an ongoing effort organized by Pulitzer and Grammy-award winning librettist Mark Campbell, states “We, the undersigned, support the recent decision between Washington {…}
Ryan McKinny is praising the Washington National Opera’s decision to leave the Kennedy Center. In a social media post the bass-baritone said, “I am proud to be a part of an organization that stands up for the arts – and for what’s right.” However, he did urge audiences to start supporting the company. He said, “If you’ve stayed away from {…}
(Photo: Daniel Tchetchik) The Carlisle Floyd Centennial (CF100) will mark a historic milestone with a special concert at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. The event will celebrate the 100th birthday of the legendary American composer, widely considered the “Father of American Opera.” The performance will feature excerpts from “Susannah” alongside selections from “Cold Sassy Tree” {…}
(Photo: “Dead Man Walking” by Jake Heggie was twenty-five years old on Sunday, September 14th. In San Francisco, its anniversary was celebrated by the opening of a production, one of the 80 productions worldwide, with the composer, Jake Heggie there to receive the San Francisco Opera Medal, and Sister Helen Prejean, from whose book the opera arose, and retold in {…}
The San Francisco Opera is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Dead Man Walking” by San Francisco-based composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrence McNally. The opera, which returns to the War Memorial Opera House stage on Sept. 14 through 28, 2025, will open the season. The opera premiered in 2000 and has since been seen in 80 productions worldwide, {…}
The Cincinnati Opera has announced its 2026 season. Strauss’ “Salome” will star Kathryn Lewek, Alfred Walker, Chad Shelton, Michelle DeYoung, and Zach Borichevsky. José María Condemi directs the production, with Robert Spano conducting. Performance Dates: June 18 & 20, 2026 Kevin Day’s and Tifara Brown’s “Lalovavi” will be directed by Kimille Howard and conducted by Kevin Miller. Brittany Olivia Logan, {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Mainstage Productions The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” in Francesca Zambello’s production. Kwamé Ryan conducts with Jennifer Rowley starring in the leading role. She is joined by Adam Smith, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Agnieszka Rehlis, Shenyang, and Morris Robinson. Amber R. Monroe and Robert Watson also star in the lead roles. Performance Dates: {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The company is set to present its “Opera Ball,” co-presented with the San Francisco Opera Guild. Performance Date: Sept. 5, 2025 The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with Eun Sun Kim conducting the work. Amartuvshin Enkhbat leads the cast in the title role alongside Adela Zaharia, Giovanni Sala, J’Nai Bridges, and {…}