Following the sold out July 3 and July 4 concerts at Tanglewood, James Taylor and Caroline Taylor, have donated the proceeds from the two shows to help support the Festival. The Taylors were inspired to donate the proceeds from both shows this year by the celebration of America’s 250th birthday and this year’s performances marked Taylor’s 52nd year of concerts {…}
The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to look back and reflect at what was and what will remain in our memories. As per usual, OperaWire has compiled the favorite performances of the year from many of our contributors. We won’t keep you waiting, here’s a look at the Staff Picks for the best performances of 2025. {…}
(Photo: Hillary Scott) I imagine that every lover of opera can reference memorable “Toscas” in their life, whether recordings or live performances. My first–as a young buff, via a vinyl box set–was indeed a classic. All thanks to Gino, who–many years ago–managed the classical section of LPs at Sam Goody’s in Yonkers. He could always be relied upon for spot-on {…}
(Credit: Boston Symphony Orchestra) The Tanglewood Festival has announced the 2025 season. In a statement by Andris Nelsons, the conductor said, “We are excited for another fantastic summer at Tanglewood, full of exceptional music in the beautiful surroundings of the Berkshires. We are delighted to perform Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ with Kristine Opolais and Bryn Terfel, and excerpts from Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet; with {…}
(Photo credit: ©Julien Gazeau) This summer, Les Arts Florissants tours its semi-stage production of Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” throughout North America. William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants and Le Jardin des Voix on the tour. Soloists include soprano Paulina Francisco, mezzo-sopranos Georgia Burashko, Rebecca Leggett, and Juliette Mey, tenor Ilja Aksionov and Rodrigo Carreto, baritone Hugo Herman-Wilson, and bass-baritone Benjamin {…}
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced that this summer’s Tanglewood on Parade will be dedicated to the late Seiji Ozawa, who was the Orchestra’s Music Director Laureate. As such, there will be additional programs that pay homage to the famed conductor, including a “Tanglewood on Parade” concert on August 6 featuring such artists as Christine Goerke, and the Marcus Roberts {…}
Tanglewood has unveiled its 2024 slate. Here is a rundown of the vocal performances. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in an all-Strauss program featuring Renée Fleming as she takes on music from “Arabella” and “Der Rosenkavalier.” Performance Date: July 7, 2024 William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants in Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen.” The work stars Paulina Francisco, Juliette Mey, {…}
The Tanglewood Festival has announced a cast change for its August 12 and 13 concerts. The company said, “With great regret, after testing positive for COVID-19, cellist Yo-Yo Ma must withdraw from this week’s scheduled Tanglewood appearances, including today’s now canceled (8/10) Open Cello Workshop, Saturday’s (8/12) Open Rehearsal, and Sunday’s (8/13) Boston Symphony concert.” As a result, “Unparalleled American {…}
The Tanglewood Festival has announced a cast change for the July 29 performance. The festival said that “mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard has had to withdraw from this Saturday’s performance of Berlioz’s ‘Les Nuits d’été’ due to illness.” As a result, American contralto Avery Amereau will make her BSO debut and will perform the Berlioz in her place. The remainder of the {…}
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced the Tanglewood Festival 2023 season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. The Knights, under Eric Jacobsen, will present a new work by Chris Thile, who will also be the vocal soloist, as well as Jessie Montgomery’s “Source Code.” Performance Date: June 29, 2023 Nicholas {…}
Castle of Our Skins will present Tania León’s “Oh Yemanja” on Nov. 27, 2022, at Tanglewood’s Learning Institute. The showcase will feature soprano Brianna J. Robinson, flutist DeShaun Gordon-King, cellist Francesca McNeely, and pianist David Coleman. The program will also feature Andre Myers’ “Falling Skyward,” Powell Perry’s “The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’llah,” Perkinson’s Calvary Ostinato from “Black Folksongs and Lamentations,” {…}