Teresa Stratas News

As millions of the faithful around the world light the last candles of their menorahs, we take a look at a handful of musical moments that have a decidedly Jewish flair. On the last night of Hanukkah, we want to celebrate some of our favorite Broadway tunes about the faith while honoring the contributions of our immensely talented Jewish legends who have helped mold the American musical into what it is today. Therefore, we have selected eight Jewish-themed showtunes for the occasion. You can watch a video of each below, along with an incredible film about the importance of Jewish writers to the history of the musical theatre.

New York, NY (December 10, 2015) – OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll today announced the recipients of the 11th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. This year's honorees — Joseph Calleja, El?na Garan?a, Waltraud Meier, Anna Netrebko, and José van Dam — will be feted at a black tie gala celebration on April 10th at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. 

Get the inside scoop!  Due to popular demand, The York Theatre Company, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Readings Series, will present the return one-night performance of Call My Publicist! - The Starry Education of a Broadway Press Agent, written and performed by Joshua Ellis and directed by Gretchen Cryer, on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).  The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

Following a sold-out run of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro in June 2015, Wolf Trap Opera continues the Figaro storyline with the Washington, D.C. premiere of acclaimed composer John Corigliano and librettist William M. Hoffman's contemporary opera The Ghosts of Versailles. The new production plays for four performances, July 10, 12, 15 and 18, at The Barns at Wolf Trap. See below for production and ticketing information; production photos are available upon request beginning July 10.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), as part of its acclaimed Developmental Readings Series, presents Call My Publicist! - The Starry Education of a Broadway Press Agent, written and performed by Joshua Ellis. This premiere reading, directed by Gretchen Cryer will be presented for one-performance only TONIGHT, April 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

Lincoln Center has announced its programs and events for this month, April 2015, including Simon Keenlyside and Emanuel Ax, Les Arts Florissants' Le Jardin des Voix, Jack Quartet, American Songbook Band, Owel, LC Kids and more. Details below!

The York Theatre Company, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Readings Series, presents Call My Publicist! - The Starry Education of a Broadway Press Agent, written and performed by Joshua Ellis. This premiere reading, directed by Gretchen Cryer will be presented for one-performance only on Wednesday evening, April 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

Lincoln Center has announced its programs and events for April 2015, including Simon Keenlyside and Emanuel Ax, Les Arts Florissants' Le Jardin des Voix, Jack Quartet, American Songbook Band, Owel, LC Kids and more. Details below!

OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll today announced the recipients of the 10th Annual Opera News Awards. This year's honorees—Piotr Beczala, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Sondra Radvanosky, Samuel Ramey and Teresa Stratas—will be feted at a black tie gala celebration on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Previous Opera News Award Winners Martina Arroyo,Gerald Finley and Susan Graham are among the presenters.

A number of program changes and additions have been made to the performances, screenings, and events of Lincoln Center'sWhite Light Festival 2014 and Great Performers 2014-2015 series. See below!

Kim H. Kowalke, President of The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, announced today the launch of the 2015 Lotte Lenya Competition, a program of the Foundation. The Lotte Lenya Competition seeks exceptionally talented young singer/actors who excel in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2015 contest. Contestants will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500; total prizes awarded will exceed $50,000.

A number of program changes and additions have been made to the performances, screenings, and events of Lincoln Center'sWhite Light Festival 2014 and Great Performers 2014-2015 series. See below!

The 49th season of Lincoln Center's Great Performers series, which will run from November 2, 2014 through May 10, 2015, was announced today by Jane Moss, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director. Highlighting the season are the return of the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, led by Riccardo Chailly and of Michael Tilson Thomasconducting the London Symphony Orchestra. The "Art of the Song" series returns in 2015 with recitals by four outstanding vocal artists. The 2014-2015 season also features a period-instrument chamber orchestra series, a recital series, and a film series, and includes pre- and post-concert discussions and lectures. A new series, "Complimentary Classical" will bring four compelling string quartets to the David Rubenstein Atrium in free concerts in 2015.

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are teaming up for Merola Goes to the Movies, a new series that presents great opera-themed movies that have been captured on film.

The Lotte Lenya Competition has announced it is seeking exceptionally talented young singer/actors who excel in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2014 competition.

The Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch are teaming up for Merola Goes to the Movies, a new series that presents great opera-themed movies that have been captured on film.

The Metropolitan Opera will celebrate its longtime Music Director James Levine's 70th birthday with two full days of special programming on Met Opera Radio (Sirius XM Channel 74). The weekend-long marathon will feature 14 classic Levine performances, hand-picked by the maestro himself, beginning on Saturday, June 22 and continuing through midnight on Levine's birthday, Sunday, June 23. The first broadcast, at 6 a.m. Saturday, will be a 1991 performance of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera starring Luciano Pavarotti; the celebration will conclude at 12 a.m. on Monday, June 24 with a 1994 performance of Verdi's rarely heard Stiffelio, starring Placido Domingo in the title role. Complete details, including complete casting and original broadcast dates for all 14 performances, are below.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that a New York City Workshop of Rags is currently underway at the Roundabout Theatre Company, featuring Jessie Mueller, Matt Doyle as Ben, and Josh Young. Gordon Greenberg will direct the project, which is set to take place this June.

The first London production since the 1987 UK premiere of William M. Hoffman's As Is opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season on Tuesday, 6 August 2013 (Press Night: Thursday, 8 August at 7.30pm), directed by multi-award-winning director Andrew Keates.

Besides singing her dream role of Violetta for the first time anywhere, soprano Diana Damrau was also RIGOLETTO's Gilda in the Met's new 'Ratpack' production that was seen by millions worldwide as an HD broadcast in February. And, oh yes, there was the arrival of her second son, Colyn, whose impending birth late in 2012 had sent the opera world into a tizzy, when Mama Damrau began cancelling performances.