It’s that time of year during which we look back at the past 365-ish days and the big moments that defined them. Every year, the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera singers who solidify or take their careers in new directions. Others make important debuts or create roles that audiences would have {…}
Operalia has announced the 12 finalists who will win compete for the top prize at the annual competition. Per the opera competition the finalists announced are Russian tenor Migran Agadzhanyan, Candian mezzo Rihab Chaieb, Canadian/Italian mezzo Emily D’Angelo, Portuguese tenor Luis Gomes, American mezzo Samantha Hankey, German baritone Johannes Kammler, Chinese tenor Long Long, Belarus tenor Pavel Petrov, American baritone Sean Michael Plumb, South African {…}
This review is for the performance on June 8, 2018. This year’s Opera Fest has seen a number of fresh and highly inventive works. David Hertzberg’s “The Rose Elf” offers an immersive, and almost unbearably-intimate recount of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. Staged within the catacombs of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, the audience seated themselves on opposite sides of the long {…}
With the New York Opera Fest 2018 officially underway, OperaWire will be showcasing small previews for each major participant at the festival, as we did during last year’s event. However, we are doing things a bit differently this year and giving the floor directly to each company to speak to you, the reader, directly. Enjoy! David Hertzberg is one of {…}
Undeniably, the news regarding the Richard Tucker Awards centers on Christian Van Horn. But that doesn’t mean that we should overlook other major recipients today of the other awards given by the famed organization. After all, Van Horn, and many other Richard Tucker Award Recipients won these prestigious prizes as well. So here is a breakdown of the winners of {…}
Samantha Hankey has been named the first winner of the Glyndebourne Opera Cup. The American mezzo was named the champion after the final on Saturday evening. She had been one of seven female finalists. She also took home the media prize. She is coming off a solid year, having been among the winners of the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions. During {…}
The 10 finalists for the Glyndebourne Opera Cup have been announced. The finalists include soprano Francesca Chiejina, mezzo Samantha Hankey, soprano Elbenita Kajtazi, mezzo Eléonore Pancrazi, soprano Emily Pogorelc, bass-baritone Cody Quattlebaum, soprano Jacquelyn Stucker, soprano Gemma Summerfield, tenor Charles Sy, and baritone Hubert Zapiór. “We were treated to some really amazing music-making from our semi-finalists who conquered their nerves {…}
It’s not every day a young singer graduates school, wins a competition, and immediately lands leading roles. Most take the path of young artist programs and go on to sing small roles in major opera houses before breaking out. But that is not the case with Samantha Hankey who this week makes another major debut in Europe. After a successful {…}
American mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey recently won the Grand Finals at the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and won First Prize winner of the Dallas Opera Guild Competition. Now after winning such prestigious competitions, she is slowly becoming one of the most acclaimed rising stars of the opera world. A recent graduate of the Juilliard School, Hankey has already performed {…}
For those who missed the Metropolitan Opera Council Grand Finals Concert, WXQR is transmitting the recorded version on June 10. The concert will showcase the arias that the finalists sang at the concert back on March 19, 2017. Maestro Nicola Luisotti led the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the event was hosted by soprano Renée Fleming. Soprano Amber Wagner, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, {…}
Samantha Hankey has won the Dallas Vocal competition. The Mezzo-soprano, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, was awarded a $10,000 Grand Prize, presented by competition Co-Chairs Patsy and Bob Brooks. Meanwhile, second place went to Laura Wilde with a $5,000 Prize and third prize went to soprano Mane Galoya, who won $2,500. The $1,000 “People’s Choice Award” was awarded {…}
