(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 {…}
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 {…}
(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. {…}
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, {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
California’s Music Academy, formerly known as the Music Academy of the West, has unveiled its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. It all kicks off with an opening night gala “The Magic of Miraflores” featuring Michelle Bradley and Sing! children’s chorus. Pianist Natasha Kislenko also performs. Performance Date: June 3, {…}
The 2023 Aspen Music Festival has released its livestream lineup. All livestreamed performances are free and will be available on the AMFS virtual stage website. This article will focus solely on vocal performances. LA Opera’s James Conlon leads Sasha Cooke and Rodrick Dixon in “Conlon Conducts Mendelssohn, Mahler.” Cooke and Dixon present Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde.” Performance Date: July {…}
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 {…}
The Dallas Opera (TDO) has announced its 2023-24 Season, featuring a world premiere production of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” Kicking off the season, opening with Puccini’s “Tosca” starring Ewa Płonka in the title role, Joseph Calleja as Cavaradossi, Gihoon Kim as Scarpia, Andrew Potter as Angelotti, Thomas Cilluffo as Spoletta, and Darren Drone as Sacristan in this Andrew {…}
(Credit: Svetlana Pasedko) Aspen Music Festival & School has announced its 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. There will be several editions of the “Opera Encounters” throughout the season. The showcase features the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS faculty leading emerging talents in opera scenes, musical theater, and art songs. {…}