Robert Ward News

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman announced the recipients of the 2011 NEA Opera Honors at a meeting of the National Council on the Arts, the NEA's advisory body on Friday, June 24, 2011. Now in its fourth year, the NEA Opera Honors is the highest award our nation bestows in opera. This year's honorees are:

THE SPITFIRE GRILL will be presented by Four Seasons Theatre in partnership with Madison Theatre Guild December 3-18, 2010 in the Drury Theatre. Music and Book are by James Valcq with Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley.

THE SPITFIRE GRILL will be presented by Four Seasons Theatre in partnership with Madison Theatre Guild December 3-18, 2010 in the Drury Theatre. Music and Book are by James Valcq with Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley.

THE SPITFIRE GRILL will be presented by Four Seasons Theatre in partnership with Madison Theatre Guild December 3-18, 2010 in the Drury Theatre. Music and Book are by James Valcq with Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley.

During the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons, 33 U.S. opera companies both large and small and from coast to coast will perform works - including nine world premieres - by American composers, announced OPERA America, the national service organization for opera.

The Hartt School is pleased to announce the appointment of its newest faculty member, Robert Barefield, baritone. Barefield, who will begin his appointment in Hartt's Vocal Studies Division this fall, has performed as a soloist with organizations throughout the United States and in Europe, including the New Orleans Opera, the Mississippi Symphony, the Arizona Opera, the Dorian Opera Theatre, the Central City Opera, the Ohio Light Opera, and Operafestival di Roma in Italy.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, presented the fourth and final installment of the inaugural Salon Series: Exploring American Voices season to a full house on Wednesday, July 15.

The Dicapo Opera Theatre presents Puccini's Turandot, directed by Michael Capasso and conducted by Pacien Mazzagatti.