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Operalia 2014 Winners Announced
by Sally Henry Fuller - Aug 31, 2014


Last night, after a week of competition that brought 40 young singers from 17 nations to Los Angeles, Placido Domingo announced that Rachel Willis-Sorensen, an American soprano, and Mario Chang, a Guatemalan tenor, took the top prizes tonight in the 22nd edition of Operalia, the World Opera Competition. Hosted by LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the weeklong contest culminated tonight in a Gala Finals Concert-featuring the LA Opera Orchestra conducted by Mr. Domingo at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion-which was streamed live on Medici TV.

The Santa Fe Opera Holds High Note This Season
by BWW News Desk - Aug 8, 2014


At a time when things seem challenging for opera, the Santa Fe Opera holds strong. Santa Fe is among the oldest opera festivals in America and is the largest and most important. It has made its reputation as a distinctive company with a flair for the unusual. This summer they presented operas such as “Dr. Sun Yat-Sen” by Huang Ruo, and Beethoven's “Fidelio.”

Contestants and Judges Announced for Plácido Domingo's Operalia, The World Opera Competition
by Courtnie Mele - Jun 12, 2014


Representing 17 nations, 40 young singers have been selected to compete in the 22nd edition of Placido Domingo's Operalia, the World Opera Competition, hosted by LA Opera this summer. The contest will be held from August 25 through 30, 2014. Tickets to the competition's final round-a Gala Finals Concert featuring the LA Opera Orchestra conducted by Mr. Domingo at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 7:00pm on Saturday, August 30-are now on sale.

Judges and Contestants Announced for Plácido Domingo's OPERALIA This Summer
by BWW News Desk - Jun 12, 2014


Representing 17 nations, 40 young singers have been selected to compete in the 22nd edition of Plácido Domingo's Operalia, the World Opera Competition, hosted by LA Opera this summer. The contest will be held from August 25 through 30, 2014. Tickets to the competition's final round—a Gala Finals Concert featuring the LA Opera Orchestra conducted by Mr. Domingo at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 7:00pm on Saturday, August 30—are now on sale.

DAS RHEINGOLD and CARMEN to Close Out Houston Grand Opera's Season
by Matt Smith - May 29, 2014


Houston Grand Opera drew the season to a close with hit new productions of Das Rheingold and Carmen that prompted CultureMap Houston to conclude: 'This is, without doubt, the epitome of early twenty-first century opera production. It's where we are going, and it's thrilling.'

Photo Flash: First Look at Renee Fleming, Ryan McKinny and More in LA Opera's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
by Christina Mancuso - May 19, 2014


Superstar Renee Fleming returns to Los Angeles in a role created for her extraordinary talents! Clinging desperately to a masquerade of Southern grace, Blanche DuBois moves into her sister's cramped apartment, creating all the wrong kinds of sparks with her crude brother-in-law. When dark truths about Blanche's past begin to emerge, her world comes apart at the seams in a spiral of violence and madness. Check out a first look below!

STAGE TUBE: Sneak Peek at Renee Fleming and More in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
by Christina Mancuso - May 19, 2014


Superstar Renée Fleming returns to Los Angeles in a role created for her extraordinary talents! Clinging desperately to a masquerade of Southern grace, Blanche DuBois moves into her sister's cramped apartment, creating all the wrong kinds of sparks with her crude brother-in-law. When dark truths about Blanche's past begin to emerge, her world comes apart at the seams in a spiral of violence and madness. Check out a sneak peek below!

Evan Rogister to Conduct LA Opera's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, 5/18-24
by BWW News Desk - May 6, 2014


Plácido Domingo announces that Evan Rogister will conduct LA Opera's upcoming performances of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Renée Fleming as Blanche DuBois. Mr. Rogister replaces Patrick Summers, who has been withdrawn from the production due to a back injury, from which doctors expect a full recovery.

Evan Rogister to Conduct LA Opera's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, 5/18-24
by Tyler Peterson - May 6, 2014


Plácido Domingo announces that Evan Rogister will conduct LA Opera's upcoming performances of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Renée Fleming as Blanche DuBois. Mr. Rogister replaces Patrick Summers, who has been withdrawn from the production due to a back injury, from which doctors expect a full recovery.

BWW Reviews: Houston Grand Opera's CARMEN is Sultry and Opulent
by David Clarke - Apr 27, 2014


Closing their 2013-14 Season, HGO is presenting Georges Bizet's acclaimed CARMEN. For this production, Award winning Broadway Director and Choreographer Rob Ashford took the reins and has created a CARMEN that is as beautiful as it is exciting.

Plácido Domingo's OPERALIA Returns to Los Angeles, Tickets On Sale Now, 8/25-30
by BWW News Desk - Apr 22, 2014


This summer, 40 of the most exciting young singers from every corner of the globe will converge upon Los Angeles to compete in Operalia, the prestigious voice competition created byPlácido Domingo to discover the next generation of international operatic superstars. This year's contest, its third time in Los Angeles, will be hosted by LA Opera from August 25 through 30, 2014. Tickets to the competition's final round—a Gala Finals Concert conducted by Mr. Domingo at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 7:00pm on Saturday, August 30—are now on sale.

Placido Domingo and Renee Fleming Return to LA Opera in THAIS and STREETCAR, 5/17
by Christina Mancuso - Apr 18, 2014


Two of opera's greatest superstars-Placido Domingo and Renee Fleming-will return to LA Opera in May, each starring in a major LA Opera premiere.

BWW Reviews: Houston Grand Opera's DAS RHEINGOLD is Full-Throttle Spectacle
by David Clarke - Apr 15, 2014


Houston Grand Opera, which opened a lavish production of DAS RHEINGOLD this past weekend, is proudly kicking off their first Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner. Like any modern production of Wagner's Ring Cycle, Houston Grand Opera is sparing no expense. At Sunday's matinee, the audience leapt to their feet for curtain call and clamored excitedly about this show and what's still to come in the cycle.

Houston Grand Opera to Present DAS RHEINGOLD Tomorrow
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 10, 2014


Tomorrow, April 11, Houston Grand Opera presents Das Rheingold, launching the American debut of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Der Ring des Nibelungen by La Fura dels Baus. As the first staging of Wagner's epic cycle in HGO history, the event marks an important company milestone-one that HGO follows two weeks later with a new take on Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford. These two productions come at a time when HGO has once again been making headlines, not only for the world premiere of A Coffin in Egypt and an acclaimed revival of A Little Night Music, but by successfully appealing to new audiences. 'The most recent NEA survey shows that only 2% of Americans go to the opera each year. Yet HGO is bucking the trend. Since the 2009-10 season it has seen its attendances grow by 24 percent,' reported the Economist last month. As Houston History noted in a recent feature article, 'many arts programs across the nation are shutting down due to financial failure, [but] HGO has succeeded in remaining relevant.'

DAS RHEINGOLD, A COFFIN IN EGYPT and More Set for Spring 2014 at Houston Grand Opera
by BWW News Desk - Mar 7, 2014


The new year has already brought notable success for Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where the hotly anticipated American premiere of the long-lost Holocaust opera The Passenger-hailed by the Associated Press as 'the latest coup for a company known for producing new works'-took the national and local press by storm, and where the company's Rigoletto revival was pronounced 'glorious' (Theater Jones). These accolades come at an exciting time for the company, which continues this season's extraordinary line-up with the launch of the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by La Fura dels Baus; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve 'must-see opera events of the season' (Opera News); a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; and Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

Houston Grand Opera Launches New RING Cycle and More
by BWW News Desk - Feb 26, 2014


The critical response to Houston's American premiere production of The Passenger was overwhelming. Classical Voice America proclaimed the opera “a masterpiece,” and the Chicago Tribune found it an “engrossing, thought-provoking experience” that “deserves [a place] in the regular repertory.” Houston's production impressed the Houston Chronicle as one “that unites commanding performances and vivid, fast-paced staging,” while the Wall Street Journalcommended the way “conductor Patrick Summers shaped the evening with enormous care.” As for the performers, “top to bottom, the cast is excellent,” asserted the Dallas Morning News. Melody Moore “gave Marta's anguish lyricism and strength” (Wall Street Journal), “Michelle Breedt's instrument seemed ideally suited to the role of Liese” (Classical Voice America), and “Kelly Kaduce was mesmerizing” as Katya (Wall Street Journal). The Toronto Star concluded:

DAS RHEINGOLD, A COFFIN IN EGYPT and More Set for Spring 2014 at Houston Grand Opera
by BWW News Desk - Feb 19, 2014


The new year has already brought notable success for Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where the hotly anticipated American premiere of the long-lost Holocaust opera The Passenger-hailed by the Associated Press as 'the latest coup for a company known for producing new works'-took the national and local press by storm, and where the company's Rigoletto revival was pronounced 'glorious' (Theater Jones). These accolades come at an exciting time for the company, which continues this season's extraordinary line-up with the launch of the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by La Fura dels Baus; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve 'must-see opera events of the season' (Opera News); a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; and Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

BWW Reviews: Houston Grand Opera's RIGOLETTO is Sung Well but Flatly Acted
by David Clarke - Feb 9, 2014


Houston Grand Opera (HGO) consistently brings the best the opera world has to offer to Houston stages. Time and time again, they cast operas with incredible talent and put on productions that are visually stunning as well. Their latest production of RIGOLETTO is no exception. Everything that makes performances at HGO exciting was perfectly in place. The auditorium was buzzing with excitement about the show, the cast was vocally impressive and on point, and the orchestra was playing with all the gusto and pizzazz that Giuseppe Verdi's darkly toned score requires.

HGO Awards 1st Place to D'Ana Lombard in the 26th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers
by BWW News Desk - Jan 31, 2014


Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has announced the winners for the 26th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers that took place the evening of January 30 at the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater in front of a capacity crowd.

LA Opera Presents A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Renée Fleming, 5/18-24
by BWW News Desk - Jan 30, 2014


When Renée Fleming returns to LA Opera this spring to headline the Company's first performances of A Streetcar Named Desire, General Director Plácido Domingo promises that it will be an experience to savor.

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