(Photo: Kari Shea) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. Almost five years ago, working on a social news media product concept, I wrote: “It starts with a whisper…” I remember, this single phrase won {…}
(Credit: Hans van der Woerd) Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera and Philadelphia Orchestra, has sent an open letter to incoming U.S. President Joe Biden, and incoming Vice-President Kamala Harris. In his letter, the famed Canadian maestro asked the new administration to take immediate action in order to save the embattled US cultural sector. “Artists need {…}
The MET Orchestra, one of the greatest in the world, is in jeopardy. Read that again. The MET Orchestra, one of the greatest in the world, is in jeopardy. That’s not just an opinion. As reported in multiple news outlets, including this one, none other than the iconic conductor, Maestro Riccardo Muti, unequivocally stated just that. In his letter dated {…}
(Photo: Dmitry Lyapustin) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. The way you enter the New Year sets the tone for the whole year ahead, the old superstition said. And I wonder whether we should {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus have announced a new fundraising campaign. In a statement the orchestra and chorus said, “we are pleased to begin with a special fundraising matching campaign, to support our community of artists in these unprecedented times. Thanks to a generous contribution from Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin and his life partner Pierre Tourville, any donations from {…}
With election day in full swing, opera singers have also added their voices advocating for Americans to vote. Many have been vocal about their support for the Democratic candidates, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, including Christine Goerke, Jamie Barton, Lawrence Brownlee, Leonardo Capalbo, Zachary James, Greer Grimsley, Karen Slack, Breanna Sinclaire, Jennifer Rowley, Elizabeth Deshong, and Kenneth Overton, among many {…}
Carnegie Hall has made its opening night performance from October 8, 2020 available to stream for free on its Facebook and YouTube pages for the next 90 days. The star-studded lineup of artists includes Joyce DiDonato, Gustavo Dudamel, Michael Feinstein, Renee Fleming, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, James Taylor, and Michael Tilson Thomas. Directed by Emmy Award-winner Habib Azar, the program included archival {…}
On Sept. 18, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died at the age of 87. Ginsburg was known as a fearless leader who fought for gender equality and women’s rights and served on the Sumpreme Court for 27 years. She was also a lover of opera and frequently attended performances. She even made her operatic debut in 2016 in a {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra will kick off its 2020-21 season with an opening night celebration for the digital stage. The event, set for Sept. 30, 2020, will be led by music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and will feature Coleman’s “Seven O’Clock Shout,” Rossini’s “The Thieving Magpie” overture, Verdi’s “D’amor sull’ali rosee” from “Il Trovatore,” Mozart’s Symphony No. 29, and the first Philadelphia {…}
(Credit: Hans van der Woerd) The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced its revised fall season of digital programming. The company will film performances without an audience; these showcases will then be presented on a weekly basis on the orchestra’s Digital Stage platform. The theme of the orchestra’s season, titled “Our World NOW,” will reflect the cultural and musical zeitgeist with recent {…}
Since the members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra were furloughed, the orchestra has launched a fundraising initiative in order to channel its energy into education and engagement through teaching and performing. The fundraising campaign was created in order for the orchestra to be able to do outreach programs and to create new events and concerts during these times of COVID-19. {…}