Richard Buck News

The Verdi Chorus will present its Fall 2017 concert 'Love's Passions and Potions' for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 18th and 19th led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.

The Verdi Chorus will present its Fall 2017 concert 'Love's Passions and Potions' for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 18th and 19th led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.

The Verdi Chorus will present its Fall 2017 concert 'Love's Passions and Potions' for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 18th and 19th led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.

Royal Mail today celebrates 10 iconic buildings in the UK with the launch of a set of Special Stamps.

MADAM BUTTERFLY by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa is a work of tragic beauty in the hands of Austin Opera.

Presented during The Austin's Opera's 30th anniversary season, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN commands the historic Long Center's stage with a diverse, collective cast and belting operatic sequences. The origins of the story of The Flying Dutchman are rather skewed between timelines. The story first appeared in Travels in various parts Europe, Asia, and Africa in 1790 by John MacDonald, and again when Richard Wagner's operatic rendition came to life in 1843, after being adapted from an episode of Heinrich Heine's satirical novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski. More modernly, the story of The Flying Dutchman is told through the highly loved film series, The Pirates of The Carribean. Regardless of the interpretations by creative minds, one fact remains true - The Flying Dutchman refers to a ghostly ship destined to sail the seas for all eternity. Richard Wagner's rendition, sure to please both critics and audiences alike, is bringing this haunted tale to life with the reputation of precision that precedes The Austin Opera.

Austin Opera Oct. 24 announced the appointment of Annie Burridge as General Director of Austin Opera. Currently the Managing Director of Opera Philadelphia, an opera company recognized for its groundbreaking audience engagement and programming model, Ms. Burridge will assume her new position in November 2016, with a 5-year contract through October 2021. The announcement was made today by Elisabeth Juen Waltz, Chairman of the Austin Opera Board of Trustees and Jon Nash, President of the Austin Opera Board of Trustees. Ms. Burridge's nomination was confirmed at a special Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, October 24th.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE is a beautiful, spirited production, and director Alain Gauthier along with principal conductor Richard Buckley have created a beautiful piece for Austin audiences. With only one weekend remaining, be sure to catch Austin Opera's final performance of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE on Sunday, May 1st…and catch Count Almaviva and Rosina before they elope for good!

Without a doubt, Gounod's ROMEO & JULIET is one of Austin Opera's finest productions, and they have assembled a cast of the highest caliber. Paired with a gorgeous set, costumes and staging, this is not a production that one would want to miss. 'If music be the food of love, play on.'

I have always loved opera companies that have the ability to evolve and recreate productions for modern audiences. Typically, Austin Opera always rises to meet this challenge, but regrettably, in this production they miss the mark. Despite some standout performances, A MASKED BALL falls short because of some missed opportunities and questionable choices made by the director.

Poor, plain, easily ignored Nemorino. He's so in love with the beautiful Adina, but she doesn't love him back. Ultimately, lovesick Nemorino is forced to buy a love potion from a charlatan to win Adina's heart. While that may be the plot of Gaetano Donizetti's comic opera, it doesn't take a potion to fall for Austin Lyric Opera's superb production of The Elixir of Love. Every element of this superbly crafted production will win the love and adoration of the audience. Opera lovers will be entranced, and opera newcomers will be enchanted. If you are an opera novice or are under the impression that you hate opera, give this one a chance. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to follow this simple, charming, humorous show, and you'll be glad to know that given its 2 hour and 30 minute running time, it's a relatively brief affair.

Capital Stage will present Misner & Smith in their second performance at Capital Stage on Sunday, February 23 at 7pm. Join us for an evening of fresh and lyrical Americana/Folk music. Opening for the acclaimed Bay Area duo will be Capital Stage's own Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Williams performing selected songs on guitar in a similar genre.

When it comes to operas by Giuseppe Verdi, Don Carlo has to be the most challenging one to produce. Which version do you use? The French version? The Italian translation? Given the over four hour running time of the full version, where do you make cuts, and why? And once you answer those questions, there's the content to deal with. How do you pack in the opera's themes of love, war, betrayal, politics, and the Spanish Inquisition? The later question is one that Austin Lyric Opera's current production fails to answer. While Don Carlo is 3 hours and 30 minutes of aural bliss, the story is handled in a clumsy and sometimes unfortunate way.

Apocalypso Theatre Collective offers a new generation a chance to rediscover the man at a staged reading of Dig Infinity! at the Gene Frankel Theatre, located at 24 Bond Street, today, June 13th at 11am as part of the 5th Annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place from May 29th - June 23rd at the Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres.

Apocalypso Theatre Collective offers a new generation a chance to rediscover the man at a staged reading of Dig Infinity! at the Gene Frankel Theatre, located at 24 Bond Street, on Thursday, June 13th at 11am as part of the 5th Annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place from May 29th - June 23rd at the Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres.

Austin Lyric Opera's current production of The Marriage of Figaro clearly illustrates the brilliance and artistry of Mozart's music while poking fun at the hypocrisies of the upper class.

Austin Lyric Opera (ALO) has announced its 2013-14 Season, which will include the company premiere of two operatic masterpieces, and the presentation of one perennial favorite. The season opens this November with Don Carlo, Verdi's epic tale of unrequited love and strained family allegiances. ALO will be offering Don Carlo for the first time in the company's history, in celebration of the bicentennial of Verdi's birth. The season continues in January and February 2014 with Tosca, Puccini's volatile drama, returning to the Austin stage for the first time since 2004. The charming and romantic The Elixir of Love brings the season to a close in May 2014, and is another ALO first.

Austin Lyric Opera's (ALO) is pleased to present Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at The Long Center. Tickets range from $21.50 to $143.50. For more information, visit www.AustinLyricOpera.org.

The Pagliacci Project is an exciting new collaboration between Austin Lyric Opera (ALO) and the Butler Opera Center at the University of Texas (BOC). This partnership will culminate in numerous live performances of Act II from Leoncavallo's renowned opera, Pagliacci, in public venues in and around Austin, reaching audiences and communities new to opera. Performed in English, with updated sets and costumes, The Pagliacci Project will take place in a variety of highly-visible locations, such as outdoor street festivals, shopping malls, and clubs. Performances are free to the general public.

The Pagliacci Project is an exciting new collaboration between Austin Lyric Opera (ALO) and the Butler Opera Center at the University of Texas (BOC). This partnership will culminate in numerous live performances of Act II from Leoncavallo's renowned opera, Pagliacci, in public venues in and around Austin, reaching audiences and communities new to opera. Performed in English, with updated sets and costumes, The Pagliacci Project will take place in a variety of highly-visible locations, such as outdoor street festivals, shopping malls, and clubs. Performances are free to the general public.