Sasha Cooke, Tommi Hakala, Johanna Rusanen Headline First Half of Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2024-25 Season

The Philharmonia Orchestra has announced the first half of its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of performances featuring classical vocal performances. First up is a program featuring music by Sibelius and Grieg with soprano Johanna Rusanen and baritone Tommi Hakala. Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the showcase. Also on the program is the Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat Male Voice Choir and pianist Stephen {…}

Aug 28, 2024

Bard Music Festival 2024 Review: La damnation de Faust

(Photo by Matt Dine) There was a time that I would have unashamedly described myself an avid Berliozian. Which means, to me, that I not only loved Berlioz’s music but also the classic ‘romantic’ ideal his life represented. Besides his epitomizing the dramatic life of the Romantic period artist, Berlioz clearly blazed a path with innovative forms of music that {…}

Apr 20, 2024

Sasha Cooke, Ingela Brimberg, Mark S. Doss & Eve-Maud Hubeaux Lead La Monnaie de Munt’s 2024-25 Season

La Monnaie de Munt has announced the 2024-25 season. Opera Wagner’s “Siegfried” will star Magnus Vigilius, Peter Hoare, Gábor Bretz, Scott Hendricks, Wilhelm Schwinghammer, Ingela Brimberg, Nora Gubisch, and Liv Redpath. Alain Altinoglu conducts Pierre Audi’s production. Performance Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 4, 2024 Kris Defoort’s “The Time of Our Singing ” will star Mark S. Doss, Claron Mcfadden, Simon Bailey, Levy {…}

Mar 14, 2024

Sasha Cooke, John Holiday, Liv Redpath, Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang Headline San Francisco Symphony’s 2024-25 Season

The San Francisco Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances on offer. Joe Hisaishi conducts a concert of music from the films of Hayao Miyazaki. The concert will feature the participation of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Performance Dates: Sept. 5 – 8, 2024 Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Verdi’s Requiem with Leah Hawkins, Karen Cargill, {…}

Feb 14, 2024

Michael Spyres, Ben Bliss & Susanna Phillips Lead St. Louis Symphony’s 2024-25 Season

St. Louis Symphony has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a rundown of its vocal performances. Stéphane Denève conducts Mozart’s Requiem with Dashon Burton, Kelly O’Connor, Joélle Harvey, and Ben Bliss. The program will also includes Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546 and Detlev Glanert’s Four Preludes and Serious Songs. Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2024 Take 6 {…}

Oct 13, 2023

Lucas Meachem Leads The Dallas Opera’s ‘The Diving bell and the Butterfly’

(Credit: Kyle Flubacker) The Dallas Opera is set to present the world premiere of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” The opera by composer Joby Talbot and librettist Gene Scheer will star baritone Lucas Meachem and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. The cast will also include tenor Richard Croft, soprano Deanna Breiwick, bass Kevin Burdette, soprano Andriana Chuchman, tenor Andrew Bidlack, soprano Jocelyn {…}

Sep 30, 2023

San Francisco Opera 2023-24 Review: ‘The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs’

Steve Jobs forever changed the world of communications. The opera, “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,” composed by Mason Bates with libretto by Mark Campbell, opened at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House and brought the story of how Jobs gave birth to the computer with panache. Although the opera’s premiere occurred in Santa Fe in 2017, and was the {…}

Sep 5, 2023

San Francisco Opera to Present ‘The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs’

(Credit: Ken Howard) The San Francisco Opera is set to present the Bay Area premiere of “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” The opera, which is set to premiere on Sept. 22, is composed by Mason Bates with a libretto by Mark Campbell. Kevin Newbury will direct the production with Michael Christie leading the San Francisco Opera cast, Orchestra, and Chorus. {…}

Aug 5, 2023

Q & A: Sasha Cooke on the Ravinia Festival, the Mahlers & Her Passion for Modern Opera

Few artists in the opera world today are as versatile as mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Just take a look at the two-time Grammy Award winner’s upcoming 2023-24 season and you’ll find performances of classics such as “Don Giovanni” and “Messiah,” alongside newer works such as “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” Last season was no different with Cooke navigating works by Mozart, {…}

May 13, 2023

Sasha Cooke & Paul Groves Headline La Jolla’s SummerFest 2023

La Jolla Music Society has announced its 2023 SummerFest, which will take place at The Conrad in San Diego, California between July 28 and August 26. The season’s main theme will be “The Great Unknown.” “Audiences will discover fantastical and otherworldly pieces, myths, fairy tales, dreams, and memories, reveling both in the canon’s most beloved works and in hidden gems {…}

Apr 25, 2023

Sash Cooke & Kirill Kuzmin to Perform in Merkin Hall

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and pianist Kirill Kuzmin are set to perform at New York’s Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall on May 25, 2023. The performance is set to feature songs from her 2023 Grammy-nominated album, entitled “how do I find you.” The performance will include new commissions by some of the most innovative contemporary artists/composers Caroline Shaw, Missy Mazzoli, Nico {…}

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