Chicago Opera Theater is set to present “Another Sunrise” and “For a Look or a Touch.” The production will open on May 27 at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture. The productions are produced by Music of Remembrance, an organization dedicated to remembering the Holocaust through music. The double bill marks the Chicago Premiere of one-act operas both composed by {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}
Boston Lyric Opera has announced two upcoming showcases for the 2023 season. The company announced that Ryan McKinny will star in “Bluebeard’s Castle” in a production directed by Anne Bogart. He will be joined by Naomi Louisa O’Connell in the role of Judith; she is also set to perform “Four Songs” by Alma Mahler in the second half of the {…}
Music of Remembrance has announced its 2022-23 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. First up is “Josephine,” a Monodrama by Tom Cipullo starring Laquita Mitchell. It will be directed by Erich Parce and conducted by Geoffrey Larson. The showcase will also be paired with “Wertheim Park,” a work by {…}
(Disclosure: Out of respect for the sensitivity of our audience we will only link to images of blackface instead of showing them here) Following a performance of “Aida” at the Arena di Verona on July 8, several opera singers are calling out Anna Netrebko for the use of blackface. Jamie Barton took to Twitter and said, “It’s been a long {…}
Every element in Seattle Opera’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” which I saw on opening night, focused the production into a sunny comedy brimming with goodwill. You’d have to look hard to find any political overlays, class resentment, sexual aggression, or personal bitterness on stage amidst the humorous antics. Any elements of the story that might harbor threats of dark antagonism {…}
(Credit: Jiyang Chen) Search for Common Ground has appointed baritone Ryan McKinny to its President’s Lead Council. In his new position, McKinny will be among those that offer “counsel, introductions, and feedback on the organization’s strategic priorities and life-saving peacebuilding work.” His tenure lasts two years. “Search for Common Ground gives me hope for the future of humanity,” McKinny said {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2022–23 season featuring operatic productions. Here is a look. Verdi’s “La Traviata” opens the season with Angel Blue and Cecilia Violetta López sharing the title role. They are joined by Bryan Hymel, Ricardo Garcia, Andrei Kymach, and Anthony Clark Evans. Matthew Aucoin conducts the production by Arin Arbus. Performance Dates: Oct. 21-Nov. 8, 2022 Dame Ethel Smyth’s {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2022-23 Season featuring six operatic productions including an LA premiere. The season opens with Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Amanda Woodbury and Liv Redpath sharing the title role. They will be joined by Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Alexander Birch Elliott, and Eric Owens with Lina González-Granados conducting Simon Stone’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 17-Oct. 9, 2022 Rhiannon {…}
(Credit: Chris Lee) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The production by Richard Eyre will be shown six times starting Jan. 8 through 28, 2022. Maestro Daniele Rustioni will lead the production with a cast that includes Golda Schultz in her Met role debut as Countess Almaviva and Adam Plachetka as Count Almaviva. When {…}
(Credit: Hans van der Woerd) The Metropolitan Opera House has announced that its Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will not be conducting a run of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in January 2022. Per a press release, Nézet-Séguin will be taking a brief, almost four-week sabbatical from all conducting duties commencing Dec. 19, 2021. “This short break will allow time for {…}