Davone Tines

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).

The American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) continues showcasing a chamber version of John Adams's, EL NINO, beckoning back to Handel's MESSIAH, which played a few days ago at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. It showcased spectacular singing from Julia Bullock, Davone Tines, Anthony Roth Costanzo and Jasmin White, under conductor Christian Reif.

Signature Theatre announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Dave Malloy's Three Houses, directed and choreographed by Annie Tippe. The musical will feature J.D. Mollison, Mia Pak, Margo Seibert, Henry Stram, Scott Stangland, and Ching Valdes-Aran. Performances begin on April 30, 2024.

In EVERYTHING RISES--a one-hour performance piece from African American bass-baritone Davone Tines and Korean American violinist Jennifer Koh that had its East Coast premiere last week as part of BAM’s Next Wave series--we see these two virtuoso musicians take control of their careers, with the help of their matriarchs.

DACAMERA, a Houston-based presenter of chamber music and jazz concerts, continues its 2021–22 chamber music series with a performance by bass-baritone Davóne Tines on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. at Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center.

Over 90 concerts in uniquely curated series, including Quiet Please There's a Lady on Stage and TD Jazz Concerts: Jazz From Around the World to piano, vocal, chamber, and string concerts, featuring the world's top musicians, are planned for 2021.22.

Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts, and James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, today revealed details of the diverse concerts that will make up the 13th concert season at The Royal Conservatory of Music.

In the video, Gallup/Na'nízhoozhí, Anthony Roth Costanzo and Davone Tines sing music by Matthew Aucoin written to poetry by Jake Skeets. Lowe and Skeets are both Navajo artists. Skeets, who grew up in Gallup, gives his hometown a leading role in his poetry. Lowe's film is an unflinching yet tender portrait of the city in 2021.

DACAMERA  announces a return to in-person concerts and recitals for its 2021/2022 season.

On January 21st, Vocal Arts DC presents Davóne Tines in virtual concert with pianist Adam Nielsen in a program titled, “Recital No. 1: Mass”. The performance, which uses the Catholic mass to explore the diversity of the human experience, will feature world premiere works by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Caroline Shaw along with Tyshawn Sorely. 

Love. Most of us fortunate enough to experience it, are too familiar with its intoxicating highs and soaring lows. One day it's smooth and steady while the next cloudy and confusing. Inspired by the struggles of love with a raw glimpse into a relationship fraught with infidelity issues, soulful storyteller Sapphire Hart is set to release 'Toxic Love Story', her most honest single to date, out Friday, November 13th.

WHAT'S STREAMING: CLASSICAL (WEEK OF AUGUST 24–30)

Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts, and James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, today revealed details of the diverse concerts that will make up the 12th concert season at The Royal Conservatory of Music.

THE BLACK CLOWN, as envisioned by Langston Hughes, is a metaphor for the Afro-American as a figure of entertainment in a white world.  It is also a series of verses by Hughes.  In this performance piece devised by Davone Tines and  Michael Schachter, the clown is examined though the lens of history and given life in a series of impressive vignettes, employing song, acting, and dance.  An eclectic mix of music is heard, mainly soul, gospel, Black choral, and spiritual.   Various verses of the poem, which is lengthy, are brought to life by the extremely talented performers; some examples follow:

The first time I heard bass-baritone Davone Tinesa--he off the sensual, resonant voice and startlingly vivid stage presence--it was in Handel's ACI, GALATEA E POLIFEMO (described as a spectacular, streamlined, Cliff-Notes version of a Handel opera), at Brooklyn's National Sawdust. Tines wowed me and I thought that I wanted to hear more of him. He opens July 24, 2019 at Mostly Mozart in THE BLACK CLOWN at the Gerald Lynch Theatre of John Jay College, near Lincoln Center.

Something old, something new…there's still plenty going on for fans of opera and classical vocal music in the Northeast now that summer is upon us. Here's a taste of what to look for.

Helga Davis, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's Visiting Curator of Performing Arts, has announced a daring series of performances in music, theater, dance, and other art forms this spring, using the Museum's collection as a catalyst to spark contemporary discussions through multidisciplinary expressions.

With a formidable cast of three, and a brilliant ensemble of voices and instrumental musicians, Kaija Saariaho's ONLY THE SOUND REMAINS swept through town last weekend, created with director Peter Sellars. Once again, she left us in awe of how she can fill an impossibly large theatre with what seems on paper to be the tiniest of works.

On Monday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m., days after the release of her new, all-Saariaho album, violinist Jennifer Koh includes the composer's works on a program at Advent Lutheran Church headlined by the first-ever performance of music from The 38th Parallel, Ms. Koh's new collaboration with composer / multimedia artist Jean-Baptiste Barriere. The project, to receive its full premiere at a later date, explores their shared connections to the Koreas-Ms. Koh through her emigre parents, and Mr. Barriere through his grandmother's Korean partner, whom he considered his grandfather. Ms. Koh is joined in the suite by Davone Tines (bass-baritone), Camilla Hoitenga (flute), Aaron Wunsch (piano), and Mr. Barriere (electronics). In addition to the music of Kaija Saariaho and Mr. Barriere, works by J.S. Bach are included on the program.

World premiere musical theater piece adapted by Davone Tines and Michael Schachter from 1931 Langston Hughes poem, 'The Black Clown.' Dramatic monologue with orchestral accompaniment is part elegy, part declaration of independence, and part celebration which resonates in 2018 America. Tines gives a full-throated performance as the titular character with support from a twelve-person ensemble of singularly-talented singers and dancers.