(Photo credit: Martin Schalk) The Philharmonie de Paris in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture presents “2025 Boulez Year.” This selection of events will celebrate the centenary of the birth of composer and conductor Pierre Boulez. Soprano Sarah Aristidou performs in Boulez’s “Pli selon pli, portrait de Mallarmé” with Les Siècles led by conductor Franck Ollu. Performance Dates: January {…}
(Photos: © Met Opera) This holiday season’s production of Metropolitan Opera’s “The Magic Flute” brings joy and grandiosity to Met Opera’s stage, and audience members of all ages. Julie Taymor’s beloved production is a nostalgic showcase of thoughtful set designs, costume designs, and dancing. This is the abridged, English adapted version of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” designed to run in under {…}
The Grammy nominations have been announced. For this article, we will focus on the vocal and operatic nominations. The Best Opera Recording nominees are “Adams: Girls Of The Golden West” featuring John Adams, Paul Appleby, Julia Bullock, Hye Jung Lee, Daniela Mack, Elliot Madore, Ryan McKinny, and Davóne Tines, Dmitriy Lipay, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Master Chorale, “Catán: Florencia {…}
New York Festival of Song, led by Artistic Director Steven Blier, is set to open its mainstage season with “My Brother’s Keeper” on Nov. 19, 2024 at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. Conceived by baritone Justin Austin, the program tells a story of brotherly love, caretaking, and community among Black men in America through art song, soul, gospel, and {…}
(Credit: Dessoff Choir) The Dessoff Choirs is set to open its 100th anniversary season with Brahms’ German Requiem. The performance, which will be led by Music Director Malcolm J. Merriweather will be held on Nov. 2, 2024, at The Town Hall. According to the ensemble, this program holds special significance as Brahms and Otto Dessoff were friends. Brahms provided Dessoff {…}
(Photo credits: Crowley, Cadisch, & Simpson) The Oxford International Song Festival has announced its 2024 season lineup. Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Natalie Burch open the Festival with Schubert’s “Schwanengesang.” Performance Date: October 11, 2024 Soprano Carolyn Sampson and pianist Joseph Middleton present a works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: October 12, 2024 Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton {…}
(Photo credit: Stephanie Sedlebauer) National Sawdust, the women-led, Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based non-profit has released the details of its 10th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, only classical vocal works are included. Co-founder and artistic director Paola Prestini, and Royce Vavrek’s opera “Silent Light,” which is based on the 2007 film by Carlos Reygadas, opens the season. Performance Date: September {…}
(Photo credit: Digitice Media Team) The International Contemporary Ensemble has announced its 2024-25 season. This article only contains classical vocal performances. Soloists Alice Teyssier and Damian Norfleet, the Quince Ensemble, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and composer Courtney Bryan at the piano present her works “Requiem,” “Blessed,” and “Dreaming” (“Freedom Sounds”) as part of the Composer Portraits series. Performance Date: Sept. 12, {…}
The Washington Chorus will present “Elijah Reimagined” on June 8, 2024. The showcase, which will take place at the Kennedy Center starting at 7 p.m., will feature a unique take on Mendelssohn’s oratorio with projection design by Camilla Tassi. “One of my goals since joining The Washington Chorus has been to present older works in a new light,” said TWC {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Elim Chan conducts the First Night at Proms with soloists Sophie Bevan and Isata Kanneh‐Mason. The program includes Handel, Ben Nobuto, Beethoven Bruckner, and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: July 19, 2024 British choral groups The King’s Singers and VOCES8 present a Prom that showcases {…}
The London Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024-25 season. Here are the vocal performances. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Performance Dates: Oct. 20 & 23, 2024 André J Thomas conducts the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and LSO Community Voices in music by Brandon Boyd, Nolan Williams, Margaret Bonds, Brandon Waddles, André J Thomas, Moses Hogan, Rosephanye Powell, Joe Pace, Carol Cymbala, Kurt Carr, Raymond Wise, and Frances Fonza Smith. Performance {…}