Greer Grimsley News

Minnesota Opera announces its 2014–2015 season, which presents a world premiere, a company premiere, two masterpieces not seen at Minnesota Opera in nearly three decades and a new production of an operatic blockbuster. All five productions are new to Minnesota audiences.

Vancouver Opera unveils its bold, new look and feel - the first major rebranding of the company since 1985. The fresh contemporary look is part of the company's new long-term strategy aimed at broadening and deepening its connection with the communities it serves, while building a new generation of operagoers.

Conductor James Conlon, Music Director of LA Opera, concludes his three-year commemoration of the centenary of composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) and brings the Britten 100/LA celebration to a close in Los Angeles with LA Opera's production of Billy Budd, which opens on February 22 and continues through March 16, 2014. For more information about this production, please visit www.LAOpera.org.

The centenary of British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) has been observed around the world by musicians and institutions of every kind. Music Director James Conlon, whose lifelong fascination with Britten is reflected in his personal three-year performance cycle of the composer's works in America and Europe, is the inspiration for LA Opera's Britten 100/LA: A Celebration, an extensive collaboration featuring performances, conferences and exhibitions presented by a host of organizations throughout the Southland.

From the depths of hell to the heights of paradise, the four great operas of Seattle Opera's 2014/15 season will take operagoers on a fantastic journey. During this important season, leadership will pass from Speight Jenkins, who has been General Director of Seattle Opera for a remarkable 31 years, to Aidan Lang, who was announced as Jenkins' successor in June, 2013.

Minnesota Opera is pleased to announce its first production of 2014. Verdi's dark-hued Macbeth examines the corrosive consequences of tyranny. At the urging of his wife, Macbeth murders the king to claim the crown. His desperate and deadly reign of terror devastates his country and hastens his doom in this masterwork based upon Shakespeare's classic thriller. The Show Premieres Saturday, January 25th, and runs through February 2nd at Ordway, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102. The show is sung in Italian with English surtitles projected above the stage.

Minnesota Opera is pleased to announce its first production of 2014. Verdi's dark-hued Macbeth examines the corrosive consequences of tyranny. At the urging of his wife, Macbeth murders the king to claim the crown. His desperate and deadly reign of terror devastates his country and hastens his doom in this masterwork based upon Shakespeare's classic thriller.

Part child and part saint, endowed with physical as well as spiritual beauty, a young sailor unwittingly undermines the chain of command on the high seas in British composer Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd, returning to LA Opera's stage for six performances, February 22 through March 16.

Minnesota Opera is pleased to announce its first production of 2014. Verdi's dark-hued Macbeth examines the corrosive consequences of tyranny. At the urging of his wife, Macbeth murders the king to claim the crown. His desperate and deadly reign of terror devastates his country and hastens his doom in this masterwork based upon Shakespeare's classic thriller.

A "dream team of opera singers" (New York Times) will light up TV screens across the country on Friday, January 10 at 9 p.m. EST (check local listings) in the national broadcast of "Richard Tucker at 100: An Opera Celebration." Hosted by Audra McDonald for PBS's Emmy Award-winning Live From Lincoln Center, the telecast captures the Richard Tucker Music Foundation's recent gala concert at Avery Fisher Hall, which honored the legendary tenor's centennial. Isabel Leonard, the 2013 Richard Tucker Award-winner and a rising star in the U.S. and abroad, joined many of today's biggest names in opera-Stephanie Blythe, Stephen Costello, Joyce DiDonato, Renee Fleming, Susan Graham, Greer Grimsley, Angela Meade, Eric Owens, Ailyn Perez and Matthew Polenzani-for arias and ensembles by Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Puccini, Offenbach and more with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Choral Society led by Maestro Riccardo Frizza.

On February 22, our year-long Britten 100/LA celebration culminates with the opening of Billy Budd. This powerful tale of innocence and betrayal on the high seas based on Herman Melville's classic American novella features baritone Liam Bonner leading an all-male cast, including tenor Richard Croft as Captain Vere and bass Greer Grimsley making his LA Opera debut as Claggart, the master-at-arms maddened by Billy's goodness and beauty.

The centenary of British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) has been observed around the world by musicians and institutions of every kind. Music Director James Conlon, whose lifelong fascination with Britten is reflected in his personal three-year performance cycle of the composer's works in America and Europe, is the inspiration for LA Opera's Britten 100/LA: A Celebration, an extensive collaboration featuring performances, conferences and exhibitions presented by a host of organizations throughout the Southland. Britten's centenary year may be drawing to an end, but Britten 100/LA events will continue into early 2014, culminating in LA Opera's February and March performances of Billy Budd.

Centenary celebrations marking the 100th birthday of the late Brooklyn-born tenor Richard Tucker continue on December 14, when New York City's Park East Synagogue, in association with the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, presents a tribute to the cantor-turned-opera star as its ninth-annual benefit concert for the Park East Day School. The program for the special event showcases the American cantorial tradition and commemorates Tucker's devotional art as a cantor. The 8 p.m. concert at the synagogue (163 E. 67th St.) will feature Park East Chief Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, one of the world's most renowned exponents of the cantorial art, as well as operatic tenor Neil Shicoff, a New York native and veteran of the Metropolitan Opera; also on the program is the Park East Synagogue Choir under music director Russel Ger. Tickets start at $50 with proceeds supporting education activities at the Day School. For more information, contact Park East Synagogue at 212-737-6900 or info@parkeastsynagogue.org.

A free concert commemorating the 200th birthdays of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner features the Loyola Symphony Orchestra and Loyola Chorus alongside special guests and Metropolitan Opera stars Alfred Walker '96, Greer Grimsley '76 and Luretta Bybee. The program will include selections from Verdi's 'Otello,' 'Aida' and 'La Traviata,' as well as Wagner's 'The Flying Dutchman' and 'Die Walkure,' including the famed 'Ride of the Valkyries.'

Tonight, November 17, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the legendary tenor's birth with a star-studded gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Isabel Leonard, the 2013 Richard Tucker Award-winner and a rising star in the U.S. and abroad, joins an outstanding group of singers including Stephanie Blythe, Stephen Costello, Joyce DiDonato, Renee Fleming, Christine Goerke, Susan Graham, Greer Grimsley, Angela Meade, Eric Owens, Ailyn Perez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette. With the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Choral Society led by Riccardo Frizza they will present a program of arias and ensembles by Verdi, Bellini, Rossini, Dvorak, Puccini and Offenbach. Following the concert, which is being taped for broadcast on PBS's Live From Lincoln Center on January 10, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. EST (check local listings), the foundation will host a gala dinner on the Grand Promenade of Avery Fisher Hall.

On November 17, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the legendary tenor's birth with a star-studded gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Isabel Leonard, the 2013 Richard Tucker Award-winner and a rising star in the U.S. and abroad, joins an outstanding group of singers including Stephanie Blythe, Stephen Costello, Joyce DiDonato, Renee Fleming, Christine Goerke, Susan Graham, Greer Grimsley, Angela Meade, Eric Owens, Ailyn Perez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette. With the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Choral Society led by Riccardo Frizza they will present a program of arias and ensembles by Verdi, Bellini, Rossini, Dvorak, Puccini and Offenbach. Following the concert, which is being taped for broadcast on PBS's Live From Lincoln Center on January 10, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. EST (check local listings), the foundation will host a gala dinner on the Grand Promenade of Avery Fisher Hall.

A free concert commemorating the 200th birthdays of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner features the Loyola Symphony Orchestra and Loyola Chorus alongside special guests and Metropolitan Opera stars Alfred Walker '96, Greer Grimsley '76 and Luretta Bybee. The program will include selections from Verdi's "Otello," "Aida" and "La Traviata," as well as Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" and "Die Walkure," including the famed "Ride of the Valkyries."

On Sunday, November 17th at 6:30 pm, the New York Choral Society (NYCS),returns for its 20th year as guest artist at the Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala in Avery Fisher Hall. In an evening led by Maestro Riccardo Frizza, the Gala concert will feature Isabel Leonard, winner of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, which is conferred annually upon a single artist who is on the threshold of a major international career.