(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 {…}
The Seattle Opera has announced its 2021-222 season. The season opens with “La Bohème” starring Kang Wang, Yosep Kang, Talise Trevigne, Michael Chioldi, John Moore, Ginger Costa-Jackson, Brandie Sutton, Ashraf Swailam, Federico de Michelis, Eugene Villanueva, Theo Hoffman, and Barry Johnson. Joseph Colaneri conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 16-30, 2021 Key’mon Murrah, Christopher Ainslie, Sharleen Joynt, Deanna Breiwick, and Shelly Traverse {…}
(Credit: Jiyang Chen) The Atlanta Opera has world premiered “Orfano Mondo” on its Spotlight Media streaming platform. The work, which stars and was created by baritone Ryan McKinny in collaboration with filmmaker Felipe Barral, is broken up into a episodic series of eight episodes. The first four episodes are currently available. Each episode lasts between 10-15 minutes. The video uses {…}
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; {…}
The Kennedy Center has unveiled the first installment of its “Come, Hope” series, an initiative by the Washington National Opera inspired by Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” The video, entitled “Monuments of Hope” features mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and bass-baritone Ryan McKinny performing in front of D.C.’s most iconic monuments including the World War II Memorial, the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Sith {…}
This week climaxes in World Opera Day on Oct. 25. So in leading up to that momentous celebration (which will feature half of the entries on this list), our recommendations will spotlight diversity in the opera world, offering up audiences a chance to check out works by and featuring BIPOC composers and performers as well as unique performance experiences that {…}
Houston Grand Opera has announced that it will present “Vinkensport” or “The Finch opera” by composer David T. Little and Royce Vavrek. The showcase is set for Oct. 23, 2020 and will be streamed virtually for one month following release via Marquee TV. The performance will star Nicole Heaston as Sir Elton John’s Trainer with soprano Elena Villalón as Farinelli’s {…}
In collaboration with Dejan Vukosavljevic On the heels of its 2020-21 season cancelation, the Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2021-22 season. The company will present six new productions including three company premieres. Here is a look at the new season. New Productions The season opens with “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” by Terence Blanchard. The opera will be conducted by {…}
On Sept. 18, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died at the age of 87. Ginsburg was known as a fearless leader who fought for gender equality and women’s rights and served on the Sumpreme Court for 27 years. She was also a lover of opera and frequently attended performances. She even made her operatic debut in 2016 in a {…}
Columbia Artists Management Inc. has announced it will shut down due to the prolonged pandemic. In a statement that was emailed Saturday to CAMI artists the agency said it would be closing its doors on Monday, August 31. “Columbia Artists has engaged with a fiduciary to enter into an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a form of insolvency proceeding {…}
(Credits: LA Philharmonic official website / Opus 3 Artists official website) The Wolf Trap Opera Summer 2020 residency program, which includes 40 artists, has entered its final stages. Members have initially quarantined for a period of two weeks in order to ensure the COVID-19-free environment. During that period, artists engaged in virtual coaching and group sessions with the guest alumni, {…}