Jake Heggie News

Former Houston Symphony Music Director Christoph Eschenbach returns to Houston to conduct a spiritually-uplifting program of works by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner at8 p.m. March 3-4, and 2:30 p.m. March 5.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is pleased to announce it has awarded grants to 10 opera companies through The Opera Fund: Audience Development grant program, which promotes deep learning experiences about new or infrequently produced American operas and music-theater works. Each grant supports audience development activities associated with a specific work being produced by a Professional Company Member of OPERA America.

The Washington National Opera opened Dead Man Walking on February 25, which continues throughMarch 11, 2017 in the Opera House. It is based on Sister Helen Prejean's acclaimed 1993 memoir, which tells of her time working with death row inmates at Louisiana State Penitentiary and of a particular relationship she developed with one of the inmates. The opera explores the human conflicts posed by society's demands for vengeance and the Christian imperative for forgiveness and love. The lyrical score by composer Jake Heggie (WNO's Moby-Dick, 2014) is widely regarded as a modern classic, while Terrence McNally's balanced libretto has been called one of the most perfect librettos of an American opera ever written.

Today's subject Michael Mayes is living his theatre life playing a murderer on death row in the Washington National Opera production of Dead Man Walking. Michael has performed the role of Joseph De Rocher in multiple productions –including one at Central City Opera in Denver, Colorado – and now local arts aficionados can see him play it at the Kennedy Center's Opera House through March 11th.

Rooted in the moral conflict between society's thirst for justice and Christianity's tenet of forgiveness, the modern American opera DEAD MAN WALKING is an apt selection for the Washington National Opera this season. With a moving score by Jake Heggie and an honest, straightforward libretto by Terrence McNally, it is based on Sister Helen Prejean's 1993 memoir of her work as a spiritual advisor to death row inmates, including one in particular, Joseph De Rocher. The Kennedy Center production directed by Francesca Zambello marks the 50th international production of DEAD MAN WALKING, and it's a bold and haunting one.

After years of development, the world premiere of Riders of the Purple Sage, a new opera based on Zane Grey's Western novel of the same name will be unveiled in Phoenix and Tucson.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Lahav Shani, in his Pittsburgh debut, perform landmark works honoring the city of New York by some of America's most celebrated composers during the BNY Mellon Grand Classics weekend, "Rhapsody in Blue," on February 24-26 at Heinz Hall.

The Josephine S. Leiser Opera Center and Steinway Piano Gallery Miami present the season's third pair of performances in the free concert series, 'SongFest Recital Series.' The program will be heard at Steinway Piano Gallery Miami in Coral Gables on Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 pm and at the Leiser Center in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, March 5 at 6:00 pm.

The New York Philharmonic will return to Bravo! Vail in Colorado, celebrating its 30th season, for the Orchestra's 15th annual summer residency, July 21-28, 2017. The residency will include six orchestral concerts that honor the Philharmonic's legacy on the occasion of its 175th anniversary season and the conclusion of Alan Gilbert's tenure as Music Director.

Former Houston Symphony Music Director Christoph Eschenbach returns to Houston to conduct a spiritually-uplifting program of works by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner at8 p.m. March 3-4, and 2:30 p.m. March 5.

 Florida Grand Opera (FGO) and Steinway Piano Gallery Miami are pleased to present acclaimed soprano Diana Soviero in a masterclass on Today, February 18 at 7:30 pm in Steinway Piano Gallery Miami in Coral Gables.

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth today announced Utah Opera's 2017-18 season in recognition of the company's 40th anniversary.

Lawrence Edelson, Founder and Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater (ALT), announced that applications for the next cycle of the company's nationally acclaimed Composer Librettist Development Program will be accepted from February 15 to March 31, 2017.

American Lyric Theater (ALT) is pleased to announce that applications for the next cycle of the company's nationally acclaimed Composer Librettist Development Program will be accepted from February 15 to March 31, 2017. There is no fee to apply for the program.

Music of Remembrance (MOR) presents a newly commissioned multi-media work by American composer Mary Kouyoumdjian to be performed at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St.,SF, on May 24, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

 Pittsburgh Opera announces its 2017-18 season, the company's 79th. The season continues Pittsburgh Opera's tradition of performing world-class productions from old favorites to exciting new works.

Pittsburgh Opera announces its 2017-18 season, the company's 79th. The season continues Pittsburgh Opera's tradition of performing world-class productions from old favorites to exciting new works.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Lahav Shani, in his Pittsburgh debut, perform landmark works honoring the city of New York by some of America's most celebrated composers during the BNY Mellon Grand Classics weekend, "Rhapsody in Blue," on February 24-26 at Heinz Hall.