Opera Theatre Newsroom

Back in December, I saw the chamber version of John Adams’s EL NINO—dubbed EL NINO: NATIVITY RECONSIDERED—at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Pared down to its essence, it was wonderful, starred two of the singers who made their debuts in the premiere at the Met, soprano Julia Bullock and bass-baritone Davone Tines plus countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, who were at their best. It was a somber evening in a dramatic setting—a far cry from the oratorio/opera’s over-the-top welcome to Lincoln Center last night, in Lileana Blain-Cruz’s production that made me wonder what Franco Zeffirelli might have done with it. Think the Parisian throngs in Act II of the Met’s LA BOHEME (which, of course, is one of the Met’s most popular productions with audiences).

Experience a Spring double-bill by Wagner College Opera featuring Moore's comedic 'Gallantry' and Puccini's tragic 'Suor Angelica'.

The Met premiere of John Adams’s opera-oratorio EL NIŃO, which features soprano Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines is now on stage! What did the critics think?

Soprano Kathleen Battle will return to the Met stage May 12 for a special performance of classical song and favorite spirituals. In an all new video, featuring an excerpt from Baroque Duet, Battle sings “My Heavenly Father Watches over Me.”

Explore THE ELECTRONIC LOVER, a tragicomic opera in 9 episodes by Lisa Mezzacappa and Beth Lisick.

It’s easy to understand why Neal Goren, founder and artistic director of Catapult Opera, was immediately taken with LA VILLE MORTE. (His program notes say, “Upon receiving the piano-vocal score, I found myself sighing in ecstasy…”) First, the name Nadia Boulanger is magic in 20th century music—in music history in general, for that matter—though not for her own compositions.

I wouldn’t say that Andrew Ousley’s TIERGARTEN cabaret draws parallels between Weimar Germany—from World War I, leading up to the Nazification of the country and finally World War II—and the current political climate in the US. But you could. After all, who doesn’t love a little escapist fiddling while Rome (and other entities)—burns, here performed as part of the Carnegie Hall festival “Fall of the Weimar Republic: Dancing on the Precipice”?

Opera San José concludes its 40th anniversary season with the Bay Area premiere of Daniel Catán’s captivating opera, Florencia en el Amazonas, marking its debut at the California Theatre as the company’s first Spanish language opera performed on its mainstage. Check out production photos below!

BroadStage audience favorite mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča returns as part of the Celebrity Opera Recital Series on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center. Garanča is accompanied by an orchestra with the highly esteemed British conductor Karel Mark Chichon.

In a move that underscores the growing global interconnectedness of higher education and the arts, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), based in Boca Raton, Florida, and the Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini in La Spezia, Italy, have officially joined in a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that promises to enhance the cultural and academic exchange between the United States and Italy.

Today’s subject Katherine Goforth is someone who can definitely be called a breakthrough artist to be sure. She is the inaugural recipient of Washington National Opera’s True Voice Award for transgender and non-binary singers. She will be making her Kennedy Center debut on May first at 6:00pm with a recital on Millenium Stage.

The Hungarian State Opera will present Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov with Kossuth Prize recipient Gábor Bretz in the title role.

Opera Saratoga has announced a high stakes 2024 season! The summer festival features three sure bets - three new productions at Universal Preservation Hall running from June 27 to July 7.

The cast and creative team members of John Adams's El Niño at the Metropolitan Opera recently took part in two different panels to discuss the production, at The Apollo and The Guggenheim. Both panels are now available in full to watch online. Check out the videos here!

Houston Grand Opera will present two free performances of Puccini’s stunning masterpiece, Madame Butterfly. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Teatro alla Scala, one of the most prestigious opera houses globally, has officially appointed Fortunato Ortombina as its new director. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Milan's Mayor Giuseppe Sala following the approval by the opera house’s board of directors. Ortombina will begin his tenure in September at the Milan-based Teatro alla Scala.

Get a first look at all new photos The Met premiere of John Adams’s opera-oratorio EL NIŃO, which features soprano Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines.

All new rehearsal clips have been released from Fire Shut Up in My Bones at the Metropolitan Opera. In both clips, Ryan Speedo Green sings an excerpt from Charles’s Act II aria in the production's final dress rehearsal. Check out the videos here!

Get a first look at The Met premiere of John Adams’s opera-oratorio EL NIŃO, which features soprano Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines in an all-new video from rehearsals.

Go inside orchestra rehearsals for Opera Orlando's production of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, which performs April 19th and 21st, 2024.

While there are three mini-operas within the SHORTS programme, this reviews centres around two of them: LA VOIX HUMANE and THE IMPRESARIO. Over the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to attend various operas staged in Cape Town. They are magnificent: grand and opulent.

Shakespeare Theatre Company's final show this season is Mary Zimmerman's The Matchbox Magic Flute. Watch as adapter and director Mary Zimmerman describes what makes The Matchbox Magic Flute a unique operatic experience. 

Go inside rehearsals which are now underway for The Met premiere of John Adams’s opera-oratorio EL NIŃO, which features soprano Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines.

It was tough separating the opera from the event when FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES opened the first post-Covid pandemic season at the Met. Back then, in September 2021, FIRE made history as the first opera by a Black composer, Terence Blanchard with his librettist Kasi Lemmons (based on the book by Charles M. Blow), to make its way to the Met stage. This week, it returned to show that contemporary opera can have “legs” on the big stage of the company.

Experience the magic of Handel's opera, AMADIGI DI GAULA, presented by Ars Lyrica Houston on May 24 and 25. Don't miss this enchanting musical journey.