Sasha Cooke News

Well, it's that time of the year again--time for a look-back on what was worth making note of during the calendar year that's about to come to an end. It's from a totally personal, subjective point of view, of course, but frankly that's the way opera-lovers always seem to like it, n'est-ce pas? The productions worth noting come from places big, small and in-between, from composers old as the hills to freshly minted or somewhere in between (likewise the performers), from traditional or boldly modern to simply stand up and sing.

The Swedish label BIS Records is releasing its third album of the ongoing Mahler recording series in collaboration with Music Director Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra—a recording of Mahler's Second Symphony, Resurrection, also featuring soprano Ruby Hughes, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and the Minnesota Chorale. The album will be released on disc in the U.S. and Canada, and digitally worldwide, on February 1, 2019, but will be available in advance at Orchestra Hall and through the Minnesota Orchestra's website, minnesotaorchestra.org, beginning December 14, 2018.  

Los Angeles Opera presented the premiere performance of HANSEL AND GRETEL. The opera's original libretto is steeped in nineteenth century culture but Richard Sparks' translation, originally for the 2006 LA presentation of the opera, brought the text up to date and made it most appealing to contemporary children.

Some 39 members of Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC), one of the world's leading children's choirs, are featured in LA Opera's production of Humperdinck's enchanting Hansel and Gretel conducted by James Conlon and starring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham (The Witch), mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke (Hansel) and soprano Liv Redpath (Gretel). The production runs for six performances from November 17 to December 15, 2018, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. LACC's new Artistic Director, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, prepared the young choristers for their roles as the gingerbread children, noted for the purity of their sound and intricate four-part harmony. A perennial favorite, Hansel and Gretel, based on the beloved Brothers Grimm tale and sung in English, features a magical score and plot and is considered to be the composer's best-known work. 

Placido Domingo, LA Opera's Eli and Edythe Broad General Director, has announced final details about the company's upcoming revival of Hansel and Gretel, composer Engelbert Humperdinck's uniquely charming classic for all ages.

Named for the groundbreaking African American contralto, the Marian Anderson Vocal Award recognizes a young American singer in opera, oratorio, or recital repertoire with outstanding promise for a significant career. Washington National Opera (WNO) named bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green as the 2018 recipient earlier this year and is pleased to present him in concert today, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $39.

Named for the groundbreaking African American contralto, the Marian Anderson Vocal Award recognizes a young American singer in opera, oratorio, or recital repertoire with outstanding promise for a significant career. Washington National Opera (WNO) named bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green as the 2018 recipient earlier this year and is pleased to present him in concert on Thursday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $39.

Music Director Andres Orozco-Estrada, an all-star cast of vocalists, the Houston Symphony and the Houston Symphony Chorus all join to afford Houston the chance to hear Dvo?ak's seldom-heard, grand choral masterwork Stabat Mater  at 8 p.m., Sept. 27 and 29, and 2:30 p.m., Sept. 30 in Jones Hall.

San Francisco Opera announces updated casting for its 96th Season, which opens Friday, September 7, with the double bill of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and two galas, Opera Ball 2018: ¡Viva La Noche! and the BRAVO! CLUB Opening Night Gala. The 2018-19 Season features eight productions that are new to the War Memorial Opera House stage, including a new staging of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca and the West Coast premiere of Jake Heggie's It's a Wonderful Life. Highlights also include Placido Domingo in Concert on October 21 and a roster of returning artists, debuting soloists and conductors.

In their astounding new opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, composer Mason Bates and librettist Mark Campbell explore the spiritual evolution of one of the most influential men of modern times as he creates a revolutionary new world of technological empowerment, then discovers a larger world within himself.

Throughout his career, Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) has maintained a deep commitment to fostering musical excellence and innovation among the next generation of classical musicians, and this summer he embarks on three new educational partnerships to further that mission.

Manfred Honeck, Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, returns to the New York Philharmonic on May 3, 2018 for the first time since February 2017. He will conduct four concerts in a program that includes works by Tchaikovsky and Sibelius as well as Dvo?ak's Rusalka Fantasy, an orchestral suite arranged by Honeck. This month, Honeck continues to celebrate his 10th season as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with performances in Pittsburgh including Verdi's Requiem and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.

Handel knew how to put on a show. With Rinaldo, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, he created a thrilling crowd-pleaser. Rinaldo dazzles with its expressive arias, like the plaintive "Lascia ch'io pianga," one of the most popular soprano arias ever written. Rinaldo's spectacular instrumental writing is unsurpassed, with rousing trumpets, drums, strings, and oboe in the martial aria "Or la tromba" and show-stopping harpsichord pyrotechnics-originally improvised by Handel-in the fiery aria "Vo' far guerra."

Just about the most spectacular opera event of the season so far arrived at Carnegie Hall Sunday afternoon, with the English Concert and Harry Bicket making their annual foray into Handel territory, with a superb RINALDO.

On Sunday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m., Harry Bicket conducts Handel's Rinaldo at Carnegie Hall with acclaimed baroque orchestra The English Concert. In this concert presentation, countertenor Iestyn Davies performs the title role joined by sopranos Jane Archibald (Armida) and Joélle Harvey (Almirena), bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni (Argante), mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke (Goffredo), and countertenors Jakub Józef Orli?ski, (Eustazio), and James Hall (A Christian Magician).

Juilliard announces the appointment of tenorWilliam Burden to Juilliard's voice faculty in Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts. Mr. Burden's appointment will begin in fall of 2018. Mr. Burden has performed at the world's greatest opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Glyndebourne, Santa Fe Opera, and the Bayerische Staatsoper, among many others.

The Colburn Orchestra makes its triumphant return to the Broad Stage on Thursday, March 1, for a program of classical greats: Rossini, Nielsen and Beethoven. Founded in 2003, the Colburn Orchestra is the flagship ensemble of the Colburn Conservatory of Music.

Eli and Edythe Broad General Director Pl cido Domingo has announced the repertory and artist roster for the company's 2018/19 season, planned by Mr. Domingo in collaboration with Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon and Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco President and CEO Christopher Koelsch. The season will include six mainstage productions presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with additional performances presented elsewhere through the company's Off Grand initiative.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced plans for the 2018 19 Season. The Company's 96th Season will open Friday, September 7 with a gala double-bill performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in Jos Cura's production with an international cast featuring Lianna Haroutounian, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, Marco Berti and Dimitri Platanias, conducted by Daniele Callegari. To usher in the new opera season, San Francisco Opera Guild will produce its signature benefit event, Opera Ball 2018.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced plans for the 2018 19 Season. The Company's 96th Season will open Friday, September 7 with a gala double-bill performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in Jos Cura's production with an international cast featuring Lianna Haroutounian, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, Marco Berti and Dimitri Platanias, conducted by Daniele Callegari. To usher in the new opera season, San Francisco Opera Guild will produce its signature benefit event, Opera Ball 2018.