An emphasis on mental and physical wellness has become increasingly prevalent in modern day society. And yet in the arts, one might argue that there is still plenty to go before it becomes the norm in the day to day workings of its employment structures. Brian Festa is aiming to change all that. With his program at San Diego Opera, {…}
French-Canadian conductor Yves Abel has extended his contract as Principal Conductor of San Diego Opera until July 2027. Abel first made his company debut in 2013 and became principal conductor in 2020. The conductor is the former chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Germany and the former principal guest with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He recently conducted “Carmen” at Wiener {…}
The San Diego Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Productions The season opens with Javier Martinez and Leonard Foglia’s “El Milagro del Recuerdo.” The production will star Sishel Claverie, Vanessa Alonzo, Claudia Chapa, Héctor Vásquez, and Guadalupe Paz. Leonard Foglia directs. Performance Dates: Dec. 1 & 3, 2023 Germán Enrique Alcántara, Alexander McKissick, Ethan Vincent, Tasha Koontz, and Megan Moore star in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Yves Abel conducts. {…}
Llewellyn Crain has been appointed to the position of Chief Development Officer with San Diego Opera. She takes over for Peter Shavitz who held the position since 2019. In her new role, Crain will work closely with the General Director David Bennett, and will be charged with developing the fundraising program so that it can support the company’s performances and {…}
San Diego Opera has received the 2023 Sandie Award for Excellence in Branding. The award, which is awarded by the American Marketing Association, was given for San Diego Opera’s 2022-23 Rebranding Campaign. The company created a new logo for its season via a partnership with Esser Design to help the organization better align with San Diego and its culturally diverse {…}
Radio Station KPBS 89.5 FM is set to feature numerous productions from San Diego Opera’s 2022-23 season throughout July. The company will kick off its broadcast schedule on July 1, 2023 with “El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego” followed by a July 8 broadcast of Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi.” A week later, audiences will hear another Puccini {…}
San Diego Opera has announced that it will be presenting free community concerts in May and June 2023. The company will showcase two concerts in honor of Mother’s Day. The first showcase is set for May 11, 2023 at the Logan Heights Library. Then, on May 16, the company will feature another concert at San Ysidro Public Library. Both events {…}
The San Diego Opera has canceled its upcoming “The Fall and the Rising” performances. In a statement, the company said, “Originally scheduled for 2020, and delayed because of COVID, ‘The Falling and the Rising’ was co-commissioned by San Diego Opera and we created the production that has been seen at opera houses around the country. San Diego Opera was excited {…}
The San Diego Opera will present Puccini‘s “Tosca” this March. The famed work will star soprano Michelle Bradley, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, and tenor Marcelo Puente. Other cast members include baritone Michael Sokol, tenor Joel Sorensen, and soprano Abigail Allwein. Valerio Galli conducts. Performances are set for March 25, 28 and 31 and April 2, 2023 at the San Diego Civic Theater. {…}
Listeners can refer to her however they wish, but Stephanie Blythe has always resisted categorizing herself as a mezzo-soprano, an alto, a contralto, or any other voice type. In her mind, she is a “vocalist.” Considering her upcoming appearances at San Diego Opera, her second foray into a role outside her gender, any attempt to categorize her voice will be {…}
San Diego Opera is set to world premiere Nicolas Reveles’ “Ghosts” on April 14, 2023. The work is comprised of three operas including “Eden,” “Dormir,” and “House.” “Eden,” which is based on a libretto by John de los Santos, is a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. “Dormir” was written by Michael Vegas Mussman and explores what might happen when Old {…}