‘You Get What You Put Out Into the Universe:’ Baritone Lucas Meachem On His Highs and Lows, Diversity in Opera, & COVID’s Impact on Young Artists

In late May, the COVID-19 pandemic relented for a spell, enticing parts of the United States to reopen after weeks of lockdown. Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer in the States, was in full swing. 2020 had a disastrous start, but big cities like New York had the virus somewhat contained. Worldwide, the insidious threat of sickness and {…}

Jul 6, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Lawrence Brownlee, Russell Thomas, Jakub Jósef Orlinski Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

The state of the 2020-21 season is becoming clearer with each passing week, indicating that opera stream could very well remain at the forefront for the foreseeable future. So here are our top 10 operas to stream this week. And just a reminder to not forget to check out important discussions taking place regarding issues of race and equality in {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Russell Thomas, Jakub Jósef Orlinski, Eun Sun Kim Headline San Francisco Opera’s ‘Celebrating the Summer’ Virtual Gala

San Francisco Opera is set to showcase a virtual event entitled “Celebrating the Summer Season” on Friday, July 10, 2020. The 90-minute program will be headlined by the artists and operas that were programmed during the originally scheduled summer season, which was canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Such artists as Michelle Bradley, Louise Alder, Sasha Cooke, Jakub Jósef {…}

Jun 22, 2020

Pretty Yende, James Conlon, Sasha Cooke Headline LAO At Home Schedule Starting June 30

The Los Angeles Opera has announced its streaming schedule for LAO At Home starting on June 30. Following its Great Opera Choruses performance on June 28, 2020, the company will present “Learn at Home” with Music Director James Conlon as he introduces Wagner’s “Ring Clycle.” Streaming Date: June 30, 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke will join {…}

May 25, 2020

Plácido Domingo, Joyce DiDonato, Aleksandra Kurzak, Anthony Roth Costanzo Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

We’re starting to see the world open up slowly in some countries and rapidly in others. But the performing arts world isn’t quite opening at the same pace with few organizations back in the full swing of things. As a result, streaming options are ever-prevalent. So as we move into the summer months, here is a look at what operas {…}

May 21, 2020

Lori Laitman, Sasha Cooke, Kelly Markgraf Headline The American Opera Project’s Weekend Performances

The American Opera Project will be hosting two concert performances this weekend, which are aimed at raising funds for the AOP 2020 Relief Fund Campaign. The first concert, “Lean on Me,” takes places on May 23, 2020 at 4 p.m. EDT. The performance will feature Lori Laitman and Tom Cipullo as they take on American Song. Fifty percent of proceeds {…}

May 19, 2020

Jamie Barton, Anthony Roth Costanzo Headline ‘Opera Jukebox’ Benefit Concert

(Photos by Matthew Placek, Joan Marcus, and BreeAnne Clowdus) David Hyde Pierce will join forces with superstar singers Anthony Roth Costanzo and Jamie Barton to present “Opera Jukebox,” an interactive concert experience on May 30, 2020. Per a press release, each singer will offer up three selections for audience members to choose from. Roth Costanzo will offer up options from {…}

May 15, 2020

Ailyn Pérez, Matthew Polenzani Among 100 Singers Join Forces for Campbell & Moravec’s ‘Light Shall Lift Us’

Over 100 singers came together for a video performance of “Light Shall Lift Us,” a work by librettist Mark Campbell and composer Paul Moravec. The duo, which has worked together on “The Shining” proposed the idea to Marc Scorca of Opera America, who embraced the idea and helped put together the 107 artists who would eventually record their individual parts {…}

May 8, 2020

Isabel Leonard, Sasha Cooke, Blythe Gaissert Headline American Opera Project’s ‘Living Room Music’ Series

The American Opera Project has announced a new concert series entitled “Living Room Music.” The event will kick off with “A Grateful Embrace,” a Mother’s Day special hosted by mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano Blythe Gaissert, pianist Daniel Gortler, and baritone Jorell Williams. Other performers include Maile Okamura, Colin Jacobsen, and Isabel Santiago. Performance Date: May 10, 2020 Mezzo-soprano Blythe Gaissert, {…}

Feb 6, 2020

Julia Bullock, Gustavo Dudamel & Isabel Leonard Lead LA Philharmonic’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) The LA Philharmonic has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of important stars and conductors. For the purposes of this article, we will only highlight vocal performances. The season opens with Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Peer Gynt selections with Gustavo Dudamel conducting Lang Lang. The program also includes John Adams’ Short Ride in {…}

Jan 23, 2020

Lucas Meachem, Jamie Barton & Joyce DiDonato Highlight Dallas Opera’s 2020-21 Season

(Credit: Cory Weaver/The Dallas Opera) The Dallas Opera has announced its 2020-21 season celebrating its 64th season. This season will showcase five main stage productions and a number of concerts. Here is a look. Main Stage The season opens with Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Emmanuel Villaume conducts a new production by Kyle Lang. The production is set to {…}

sasha cooke