Richard Strauss News

One of the great singers of her generation, renowned for her extraordinary voice and musical versatility, American opera singer and recitalist Jessye Norman has been chosen as The Twelfth Glenn Gould Prize Laureate.  Throughout her career, the sheer size, power and luster of her voice has shared equal acclaim with that of her thoughtful music-making, innovative programming of the classics, and fervent advocacy of contemporary music.  More than forty years after making her operatic debut, Jessye Norman continues to maintain a busy performance schedule, now concentrating on recitals and concerts.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director) will present a rare reading of Ferenc Molnar's Liliom for one night only, on Monday, June 11 at 7pm at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).

The University Musical Society (UMS), under the leadership of President Matthew VanBesien, today announces its 140th season in 2018-19 with an initial slate of 40 performances and events. One of the country's most acclaimed performing arts presenters, UMS honors its past by showcasing respected ensembles and performers with whom it has enjoyed rich relationships, and fully embraces the future as initiator, incubator, and accelerator for innovative new works and projects. This potent combination infuses the anniversary season with dynamic and diverse voices and perspectives featuring artists at the top of their game - celebrating the canon, taking risks, moving genres in new directions, disrupting stereotypes, and surprising audiences.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra announces its 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration, featuring a kaleidoscope of live performances highlighting music and programs of the Orlando Philharmonic, an elegant cocktail hour, a fabulous three-course dinner, a live auction, and dancing at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at the Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando. Attire is Black Tie.

Semyon Bychkov will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct two weeks of programs, including the 50th anniversary of a Philharmonic commission, artist debuts, and symphonic cornerstones. In the first week, Mr. Bychkov will conduct Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1, with soloist Bertrand Chamayou in his Philharmonic debut; Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5; and Brahms's Tragic Overture, Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. 

Slovak conductor Juraj Valcuha returns to Houston to lead the Houston Symphony and pianist Evgeni Bozhanov in Chopin's poetic Piano Concerto No. 2 April 26 and 28 at 8 p.m. and April 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Jones Hall.

Rafael Payare's highly anticipated inaugural concerts as San Diego Symphony's Music Director Designate take place as part of the annual January Festival. It will mark his only Jacobs Masterworks appearance this season and will feature acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein and the orchestra's first-ever performance of Benjamin Britten's Symphony for Cello and Orchestra. He will also perform in a special Discovery Night concert on January 10, with all funds from this concert going to support the San Diego Symphony's Learning and Community Engagement programs.

San Diego Symphony's programs have been announced for this spring. Please see below for  all remaining performances of the 2017-18 downtown season that will conclude at the end of May.

Through the backing of the AEP-China Project - an innovative cultural and arts expansion program jointly initiated by Maestro Long Yu, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Volkswagen Group China - eight of the leading musicians from the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra arrived in Shanghai for a one-week teaching experience at the Shanghai Orchestra Academy (SOA). The musicians hosted the 'Volkswagen Group China Music Night' concert, in which they performed together with SOA students on the evening of March 16th. The next day, they performed some of Mozart's most well-known works with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lin Daye, showcasing to Shanghai audiences the inspiration that led to the creation of the some of the best pieces of German classical music.

The Dallas Opera is both pleased and proud to announce that, after an international search supported by Arts Consulting Group, TDO has hired Kentucky Opera General Director Ian Derrer to become the eighth general director in its history, effective this July.

Hailed as 'The First Freudian Opera', Elektra is a tale of murder, betrayal, desperation, and the desire for vengeance that can consume us all. Richard Strauss' bloody masterpiece is brought to life by Vancouver's Heroic Opera Company with music that is powerful, raw, and jarring, and has been met with acclaim and controversy the world over.

Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, set during the reign of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, is a bittersweet tale of love lost and found. Sweeping waltzes, unsurpassed ensembles—especially the gorgeous final trio—and stunning orchestration bring Hugo von Hofmannsthal's witty libretto to life. Rhapsodic, comic, and deeply moving, Der Rosenkavalier is Strauss's crowning operatic achievement.

The centennial of renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein is celebrated throughout the National Philharmonic's 2018-2019 concert series at The Music Center at Strathmore. Performing compositions that influenced Bernstein, as well as some of his very own famous works, the National Philharmonic will be the only symphony orchestra dedicating most of its 2018-2019 season to the works surrounding the legendary composer. 

Manfred Honeck will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Sibelius's Violin Concerto, with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist; Mr. Honeck's own arrangement of Dvorák's Rusalka Fantasy, orchestrated by Tomáš Ille; and selections from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m.; Saturday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. The following week, Nikolaj Znaider will make his New York Philharmonic conducting debut leading Elgar's Cello Concerto, with Jian Wang in his subscription debut, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1, Winter Dreams, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 11 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Betsy Wolfe (Falsettos, Waitress), Eddie Korbich (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, The Drowsy Chaperone), Sal Viviano (The Full Monty, The Life), Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita who has won fans across the length and breadth of Broadway with her starring roles in Matilda & Dames at Sea, Tony Yazbeck (Tony Award nominee for On the Town), Jenny Lee Stern (Rocky: The Musical & Spamilton), and Mia Gerachis (Jekyll & Hyde) performed at Broadway by the Year at Town Hall on March 26th at 8pm.

American soprano Kathleen Battle's luminous voice has been called '…without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world' (The Washington Post ). Yet beyond the glory of her singing, in a career filled with countless accolades, honors and major milestones, what has perhaps distinguished her most is her almost magical ability to create an unwavering bond with her audience. Returning to Seattle for the first time in two decades, the legendary opera star takes the stage at the University of Washington's Meany Hall on April 14, 2018, to explore traditional spirituals and the writings of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. She is joined by acclaimed jazz pianist Joel Martin and local choirs The Sound of the Northwest and UW Chamber Singers.

16 premieres, 60 repertoire pieces, the inauguration of the Eiffel Arts Studios as well as the reopening of the Opera House are all featured in the 2018/19 season of the Hungarian State Opera. Until these venues are opened the resident companies of the Opera carry on touring: apart from guest appearances in county towns and Hungarian settlements beyond the borders of Hungary, the Opera is to visit New York, Berlin, the capitals of the Visegrad Group, and several Italian places that played an important role in the life of Puccini.

American Ballet Theatre's 2018 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 14 - July 7, will feature the World Premieres of AFTERITE by Wayne McGregor and Harlequinade by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. Tickets for ABT's 2018 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 25 at 12 Noon.

Betsy Wolfe (Falsettos, Waitress), Eddie Korbich (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, The Drowsy Chaperone) & Sal Viviano (The Full Monty, The Life) have been added to Broadway by the Year at Town Hall on March 26th at 8pm which will also star Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita who has won fans across the length and breadth of Broadway with her starring roles in Matilda & Dames at Sea, Tony Yazbeck (Tony Award nominee for On the Town), Jenny Lee Stern (Rocky: The Musical & Spamilton), and Mia Gerachis (Jekyll & Hyde).

Edward Gardner will make his New York Philharmonic debut conducting Debussy's Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra, featuring The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Leif Ove Andsnes in his final appearances with the Orchestra in that role. The program will also include Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and Sibelius's Pohjola's Daughter. The performances will take place on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m.; they will perform the same program at Long Island University's Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m.