Licia Albanese News

Soprano Johanna Rusanen, in her Carnegie Hall debut, and baritone Takaoki Onishi are the soloists in Kullervo, for which the OSNY will be joined by tenors and basses of the Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus.

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum. As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus "Va, pensiero," from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Zeger, opens its opera season with Britten's The Turn of the Screw, featuring Juilliard singers and the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Steven Osgood and directed by John Giampietro, on Wednesday, November 14 and Friday, November 16, 2018, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, November 18, 2018, at 2pm in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

The Giulio Gari Foundation, whose mission is to discover and encourage young classical singers, will hold its annual benefit gala on Sunday, October 21 at the New York Athletic Club. A concert begins at 3 p.m., and will be followed by dinner.

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.   As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus 'Va, pensiero,' from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

The National Philharmonic ends its 2017-2018 season at The Music Center at Strathmore with a musical celebration, '100th Anniversary of Poland's Independence,' today, June 2 at 8 p.m. at the Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore. Conducted by world-renowned Polish Maestro Miros?aw Jacek Baszczyk, the concert will feature music composed by Poland's greatest musicians, performed by some of today's leading vocalists and musicians. The performance will commence with an introduction by the Ambassador of Poland, Piotr Wilczek. The 100th anniversary of Poland has significant meaning for the National Philharmonic, which is led by Polish-born Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski. One of the National Philharmonic's veteran artists, Brian Ganz-who will perform at the Polish celebration concert-is also a frequent performer of Frederic Chopin, beginning a quest in 2011 to perform all of the great Polish composer's works. During this celebratory concert, Maestro B?aszczyk will lead the National Philharmonic Chorale, accompanied by Esther Heideman, soprano; Magdalena Wor, mezzo-soprano; Tyler Duncan, baritone; and the National Philharmonic in Krzesimir D?bski's Hussars' Polonaise and Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater and Mr. Ganz in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21.  Ticket prices are $23-$76 and are free for young people age 7-17. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.

The National Philharmonic ends its 2017-2018 season at The Music Center at Strathmore with a musical celebration, '100th Anniversary of Poland's Independence,' on Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. at the Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore. Conducted by world-renowned Polish Maestro Miroslaw Jacek Baszczyk, the concert will feature music composed by Poland's greatest musicians, performed by some of today's leading vocalists and musicians.

The National Philharmonic ends its 2017-2018 season at The Music Center at Strathmore with a musical celebration, "100th Anniversary of Poland's Independence," on Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. at the Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore. Conducted by world-renowned Polish Maestro Miros?aw Jacek Baszczyk, the concert will feature music composed by Poland's greatest musicians, performed by some of today's leading vocalists and musicians. The performance will commence with an introduction by the Ambassador of Poland, Piotr Wilczek. The 100th anniversary of Poland has significant meaning for the National Philharmonic, which is led by Polish-born Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski. One of the National Philharmonic's veteran artists, Brian Ganz-who will perform at the Polish celebration concert-is also a frequent performer of Frederic Chopin, beginning a quest in 2011 to perform all of the great Polish composer's works. During this celebratory concert, Maestro B?aszczyk will lead the National Philharmonic Chorale, accompanied by Esther Heideman, soprano; Magdalena Wor, mezzo-soprano; Tyler Duncan, baritone; and the National Philharmonic in Krzesimir D?bski's Hussars' Polonaise and Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater and Mr. Ganz in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21.  Ticket prices are $23-$76 and are free for young people age 7-17. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.

National Chorale, New York's premier professional choral company, under the Artistic Direction of Everett McCorvey, continues its 2017-2018 Season at Lincoln Center with Beethoven Symphony #9 on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 8pm at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC. Tickets are $30-$100 and are available at www.nationalchorale.com, or by calling (212) 333-5333.

Schimmel Center with the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra presents the world premiere of The Struggle to Forgive: Confronting Gun Violence in America on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Led by Music Director and Conductor Gary S. Fagin, the new cantata-which has a libretto by Fagin and features soprano Mikaela Bennett, mezzo-soprano Sarah Heltzel, and baritone Jorell Williams-gives voice to those whose lives have been impacted by gun violence in the United States, including victims and their families.

National Chorale, New York's premier professional choral company, under the Artistic Direction of Everett McCorvey, continues its 2017-2018 Season at Lincoln Center with Beethoven Symphony #9 on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 8pm at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will hold its annual Spring Gala at New York's Metropolitan Club (1 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022) on Thursday evening, April 5, 2018, starting at 6:00 pm. The organization will honor renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe with the NYCHORAL Music Excellence Award for her contributions to the musical profession, as well as Sylvia R. Hoisington who is celebrating her 50th season with the chorus. Produced in partnership with the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, the evening's showcase performance will feature soprano Amanda Majeski and tenor Ben Bliss, both of whom will be participating in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Cosi fan tutte from March 15 to April 9, 2018. Members of the NYCHORAL Chamber Ensemble will also perform. The evening will feature a silent auction of unique items and experiences. The program is as follows:

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will hold its annual Spring Gala at New York's Metropolitan Club (1 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022) on Thursday evening, April 5, 2018, starting at 6:00 pm.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Xian Zhang present Mozart's Requiem, March 15-18 in Newark, Princeton and Morristown. A trio of vocal pieces, including a pair of a cappella works performed by the Montclair State University Singers, open the program.

Opera singer Adelmo Guidarelli appeared in a Super Bowl LII pre-game show commercial singing the praises of SONY's new PS4 Pro with 4K graphics. Sunday's televised launch marked the first in a series of commercials, starring Guidarelli, for SONY's latest advertising campaign called 'Opera.' In keeping with their 'Greatness Awaits' mantra, Sony has paired the emotions conjured by Guidarelli's operatic voice with the intensity gamers feel when looking at 4K graphics. 'PS4 Pro, dynamic 4K,' Guidarelli sings while footage of games such as God of War, Far Cry 5, and Monster Hunter: World flash across the screen--'So beautiful, can't look away...' really reflects the gamer's passion for the art of video game play. The fervent connection felt by opera lovers is evoked in the roaring crescendo of Guidarelli's 4K themed gamer aria.

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL), under the baton of music director David Hayes, will appear at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium (881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019) with Where Even the Sea Sings, Sunday afternoon, February 11, 2018, at 3 pm. This program juxtaposes three composers of very different backgrounds and styles, inspired by a shared commonality in theme: the grandeur of the 'sea.'

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) celebrates the holidays at Carnegie Hall with its Winter Wonder program featuring soprano and Metropolitan Opera star Ailyn P rez as guest artist today, December 14 at 7:00 p.m.

The Operation Opera Christmas Spectacular will be presented for one matinee holiday extravaganza at the National Opera Center on December 10, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. This song packed performance is the only place in town where one can hear a dozen operas, plus a full juke-box of pop tunes and Christmas carols.

Palm Springs Opera Guild, one of the longest-standing cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley, has selected eight emerging opera stars to compete at the upcoming 34th Annual Dorothy Nocita Memorial Palm Springs Vocal Competition on Sunday, December 3, 2017 from 3 5:30 PM. This annual free event provides an opportunity for eight emerging young opera singers to compete for nearly $40,000 in prizes, earn community recognition for their achievements, and advance their careers. The event will take place at the Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, located at 31001 Rattler Road in Rancho Mirage.

Mezzo soprano Hyona Kim will join PREformances with Allison Charney classical concert series on November 27th for the second concert of its 2017-18 debut Season at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center. Ms. Kim joins host and founder soprano Allison Charney in a program which will feature preformances by Royal Stockholm Philharmonic cellist Kajsa William-Olsson who will play Martinu's Cello Concerto, No. 1 as she prepares to perform it with full orchestra later this season; Orchestra of St. Luke's principal flutist Elizabeth Mann who will play Prokofiev's Flute Sonata with pianist Donna Weng in advance of their upcoming concert at Princeton and the ARK trio, who will perform Michael Ching's reimagining's of five of Schubert's classic songs in his cycle Arrangements and Derangements: Interpretations of Schubert.