Susan Graham News

The Washington National Opera opened Dead Man Walking on February 25, which continues throughMarch 11, 2017 in the Opera House. It is based on Sister Helen Prejean's acclaimed 1993 memoir, which tells of her time working with death row inmates at Louisiana State Penitentiary and of a particular relationship she developed with one of the inmates. The opera explores the human conflicts posed by society's demands for vengeance and the Christian imperative for forgiveness and love. The lyrical score by composer Jake Heggie (WNO's Moby-Dick, 2014) is widely regarded as a modern classic, while Terrence McNally's balanced libretto has been called one of the most perfect librettos of an American opera ever written.

Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC), one of the nation's leading choirs, honors three pillars of the arts and philanthropic fields, including opera legend Placido Domingo and philanthropists Jo Bufalino Libaw and Shawn D. Libaw, at Gala Bel Canto on Friday, March 24, 2017, 6 pm, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. 

Rooted in the moral conflict between society's thirst for justice and Christianity's tenet of forgiveness, the modern American opera DEAD MAN WALKING is an apt selection for the Washington National Opera this season. With a moving score by Jake Heggie and an honest, straightforward libretto by Terrence McNally, it is based on Sister Helen Prejean's 1993 memoir of her work as a spiritual advisor to death row inmates, including one in particular, Joseph De Rocher. The Kennedy Center production directed by Francesca Zambello marks the 50th international production of DEAD MAN WALKING, and it's a bold and haunting one.

The Josephine S. Leiser Opera Center and Steinway Piano Gallery Miami present the season's third pair of performances in the free concert series, 'SongFest Recital Series.' The program will be heard at Steinway Piano Gallery Miami in Coral Gables on Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 pm and at the Leiser Center in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, March 5 at 6:00 pm.

The Juilliard Opera season continues with a concert version and a fully staged production of G.F. Handel's Agrippina, presented by Juilliard as part of Carnegie Hall's La Serenissima: Music and Arts From the Venetian Republic festival.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2017-18 season will feature 220 performances of 26 works, including two Met premieres, one co-commissioned by the company and one an older masterpiece having its first Met performances; a variety of repertory favorites, three in new productions; and performances of Verdi's towering concert work for soloists, orchestra, and chorus, the Requiem. Of note, Broadway star Kelli O'Hara is set to return to the Met in Così fan tutte this season.

The Juilliard Opera season continues with a concert version and a fully staged production of G.F. Handel's Agrippina, presented by Juilliard as part of Carnegie Hall's La Serenissima: Music and Arts From the Venetian Republic festival.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2016-2017 season with the company premieres of two modern American masterworks of opera: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's Dead Man Walking, February 25-March 11, 2017 in the Opera House, and Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer's Champion, March 4- 18, 2017 in the Opera House. Both operas explore the theme of social justice which is often associated with John F. Kennedy and are presented as part of JFKC, the Kennedy Center's season-long celebration of President Kennedy's centennial. Using many of the same designers and scenic elements, the directors of each opera have worked collaboratively to create two distinct worlds in each new production to showcase the issues of Justice, Courage, and Freedom at the heart of these two compelling stories. An additional special event will continue the exploration of these themes: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will headline Justice at the Opera on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in the Opera House.

As previously announced, MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale), closes its 75th anniversary season with Victor Herbert's Babes in Toyland on April 27, 2017 at 7pm at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall (57th Street and 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019).

The Houston Symphony and Music Director Andres Orozco-Estrada announced today details of the 2017-18 season, which marks Orozco-Estrada's fourth year as music director. Highlights of the season include the appointment of Peruvian-born composer Jimmy Lopez as the Houston Symphony's new Composer-in-Residence and the introduction of Ars Electronica Futurelab's musical visualization of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, an immersive concert experience directed by acclaimed choreographer Klaus Obermaier

The Juilliard Opera season continues with a concert version and a fully staged production of G.F. Handel's Agrippina, presented by Juilliard as part of Carnegie Hall's La Serenissima: Music and Arts From the Venetian Republic festival.

The Metropolitan Opera National Council, Eastern Region host committee will hold its regional finals auditions Wednesday, January 18th at Merkin Concert Hall (129 West 67th Street) beginning at 1 pm. Twelve singers from the New York City area will compete for cash prizes totaling over $15,000 and a chance to perform on the Met stage at the next level of auditions.  Members of the Met's artistic staff and other professionals from the opera world will judge the auditions and give feedback to each participant - a unique and invaluable feature of the National Council program. Each singer will perform two arias. Following the singing, audience members will hear an educational program during the judges' deliberations, after which the winners will be announced. The event concludes with a reception for singers, patrons and special guests. The event is open to the public; tax-deductible donations are solicited to defray administrative expenses and to fund the awards.

Fresh from a triumphant turn as Didon in Chicago Lyric's production of Berlioz's Les Troyens, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Susan Graham takes the concert stage this winter, performing selections from Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

At the conclusion of last night's final performance of Verdi's Aida, San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock presented the Company's Chorus and Dance Manager and member of the Opera Chorus, Jim Meyer, with the San Francisco Opera Medal, the Company's highest honor.

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble is adding a two-program Baroque Series to its winter and spring 2017 season. These concerts will be presented at Brooklyn Museum and The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, the acoustically and architecturally notable Greenwich Village church where St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble first performed in 1974 and from which the Ensemble derives its name.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the much-anticipated company premiere of Les Troyens, a rarely performed masterpiece by French composer Hector Berlioz, as the third opera of the 2016/2017 season. The new production Les Troyens opens Sunday, November 13, with only five performances through December 3 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago.

The Martina Arroyo Foundation's 12th Annual Fundraising Gala, a celebration of Prelude to Performance, Role Class and Outreach Programs, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30pm in the Grand Salon of the JW Marriott Essex House,160 Central Park South, NYC.

The Martina Arroyo Foundation's 12th Annual Fundraising Gala, a celebration of Prelude to Performance, Role Class and Outreach Programs, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30pm in the Grand Salon of the JW Marriott Essex House, 160 Central Park South, NYC.

On Today, October 27, 2016 at 7:30pm the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys and Orchestra of St. Luke's present Haydn's The Creation oratorio in the opening concert of the 2016/17 season. Displaying Haydn's unfussy optimism, The Creation features some of the most memorable and life-enhancing music ever written. Soloists include soprano Ellie Dehn who sings the parts of Gabriel and Eve. Versatile tenor Thomas Cooley sings Uriel and bass Craig Phillips sings the parts of Raphael and Adam.

On Today, October 27, 2016 at 7:30pm the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys and Orchestra of St. Luke's present Haydn's The Creation oratorio in the opening concert of the 2016/17 season. Displaying Haydn's unfussy optimism, The Creation features some of the most memorable and life-enhancing music ever written. Soloists include soprano Ellie Dehn who sings the parts of Gabriel and Eve. Versatile tenor Thomas Cooley sings Uriel and bass Craig Phillips sings the parts of Raphael and Adam.