Morris Robinson News

Houston Grand Opera opened their Winter Repertory offerings with an impressive and rousing production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's iconic book musical SHOW BOAT. The musical historically changed the face of American Musical Theatre and introduced a genre of entertainment that many feel OKLAHOMA perfected and solidified. Despite it's classification as a musical, the show's score is incredibly operatic and requires many classically trained voices to effectively pull off a production.

LA Opera announces the 2013-2014 season, including Bizet's Carmen, Verdi's Falstaff, Mozart's The Magic Flute, Britten's Billy Budd, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Massenet's Thaïs, L.A. premiere of Wilson/Glass collaboration Einstein on the Beach.

With rehearsals underway this week, Houston Grand Opera welcomes Lara Teeter to the role of Cap'n Andy in the new production of SHOW BOAT opening January 18. Teeter takes on the role after Tommy Tune stepped down because he is on vocal rest.

With rave reviews for Puccini's La boheme and Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers to its credit, Houston Grand Opera's season is up and running. Starting in January, the company offers productions of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Kern and Hammerstein's classic American musical Show Boat, which bring with them the company debuts of conductor Trevor Pinnock, bass Morris Robinson, baritone Adrian Erod, Broadway legend Tommy Tune, and more. They will be followed in March by HGO's original and highly acclaimed production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna / To Cross the Face of the Moon, a mariachi opera by Jose "Pepe" Martinez and Leonard Foglia. Tickets are on sale now and moving quickly for this winter repertory period, which accounts for 14 of the season's 44 performances, a 38 percent increase from an average of 32 performances in recent seasons. This increase, as well as HGO's 34 percent growth in subscription sales and more than $112 million fundraising effort over the last five years, clearly identifies HGO as today's most successful American opera company.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

Mzia Nioradze will sing Azucena in Verdi's Il Trovatore this evening, October 8, replacing Dolora Zajick, who is ill.

Guanqun Yu will make her Met debut as Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore on September 29 matinee, replacing Carmen Giannattasio who is ill. Yu was already scheduled to sing Leonora on October 17, 20, and 25; Giannattasio is still scheduled to sing the role on October 4, 8, and 12.

According to the Houston Chronicle, nine-time Tony Award winner, Broadway performer, choreographer and director Tommy Tune is set to play 'Cap'n Andy Hawks' in the Houston Grand Opera production of Show Boat, opening January 18, 2013.

Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman announced the festival's 2012 season, which offers more than 100 separate events exemplifying most musical genres, including the 77th residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The summer boasts a variety of music's legends from Philip Glass to James Taylor, along with 43 debuts, including Glee and Wicked star Idina Menzel, reggae master Jimmy Cliff, classic rocker Santana, Grammy-and-Oscar sensation Esperanza Spalding, and Musical America's "conductor of the year" Jaap van Zweden. Ravinia Music Director James Conlon celebrates the 35th anniversary of his own festival debut as his contract is extended through 2014.

Kern and Hammerstein's SHOW BOAT opened at the Lyric Opera in Chicago this week and runs until March 17th.

A spectacular new production of the American musical SHOW BOAT to dock at Lyric Opera of Chicago Feb. 12 - Mar. 17 starring Ashley Brown, Nathan Gunn, Alyson Cambridge, Morris Robinson, Angela Renée Simpson, Ross Lehman, Cindy Gold, Ericka Mac, Bernie Yvon John DeMain, conductor and Francesca Zambello, stage director.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

On December 31st at 7PM, Music for Life International presents the 2011 New Year's Eve Concert for Peace. Created by musical icon Leonard Bernstein in 1983, the New Year's Eve Concert for Peace at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine has become a major New York City cultural landmark over the past three decades.

On December 31st at 7PM, Music for Life International presents the 2011 New Year's Eve Concert for Peace. Created by musical icon Leonard Bernstein in 1983, the New Year's Eve Concert for Peace at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine has become a major New York City cultural landmark over the past three decades.

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the Atlanta Symphony premiere, and Theater of a Concert presentation, of Puccini's Madama Butterfly June 9 and 11 at 8:00 p.m. and June 12, 2011, at 3:00 p.m.

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the Atlanta Symphony premiere, and Theater of a Concert presentation, of Puccini's Madama Butterfly June 9 and 11 at 8:00 p.m. and June 12, 2011, at 3:00 p.m.

Devoted to stimulating its South Florida audience with a diverse repertoire, Florida Grand Opera (FGO) continues its current season with Don Giovanni, one of the world's most beloved operas, and the newly-commissioned Cyrano. The two productions will be performed throughout April and May, beginning with Don Giovanni on April 16, 2011.

Music for Life International Inc. and American Pakistan Foundation present Beethoven for the Indus Valley, a benefit concert of Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, organized and led by Singapore-born Indian conductor George Mathew.

Music for Life International Inc. and American Pakistan Foundation present Beethoven for the Indus Valley, a benefit concert of Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, organized and led by Singapore-born Indian conductor George Mathew.

Offenbach's reputation was firmly established by his hugely successful comic operas, but with The Tales of Hoffmann, the composer of the famous 'Can-Can' from Orpheus in the Underworld was determined to achieve recognition as a composer of serious opera as well. Based on several short stories by the writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Tales of Hoffmann would soon become a favorite vehicle for many of the world's leading opera singers who relished the opportunity to exploit its limitless dramatic opportunities. Canadian tenor David Pomeroy, who made his 2009 Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of its new production of The Tales of Hoffmann, will make his FGO debut in the same role.