Alice Ford News

Puccini's La Bohème, the most-performed opera in Met history, returns to the repertory in the opening week of the 2018-19 season, with 11 performances of Franco Zeffirelli's beloved production from September 25. Initial performances feature three much anticipated Met debuts

Metropolitan Maestro Carlo Rizzi's 2018-19 season includes Tosca and Mefistofele at the Met, Falstaff in Tokyo, a new production of Un ballo in maschera at Welsh National Opera and symphonic concerts in Japan, Italy and Spain

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971. The foundation and the George London Awards (the prize of the foundation's annual competition) are named for the legendary Canadian-American bass-baritone, one of the greatest opera singers of 20th century, who devoted much of his time and energy in his later years to the support and nurturing of young opera singers.

The second annual Sheen Center Theater Festival takes place June 21 to 24 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street, at the corner of Elizabeth Street, NYC). Celebrating the voices of emerging and established Catholic playwrights in staged reading presentations, this year's full-length plays tell the stories of a young Nuyorican comic book artist seeking his place in the world, a Montreal family struggling with the aftermath of suicide and gun violence, and a pair of Shakespearean widows testing the freedoms and limitations of widowhood. Admission is free. Reservations are required and can be made online at www.sheencenter.org/shows/festival.   

Shakespeare's light-hearted comedy about societal hierarchies and the power of love to bring them down comes to the stage at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC's) Kelsey Theatre. In their annual tribute to The Bard, Shakespeare '70 presents "The Merry Wives of Windsor" Fridays, June 22 and 29 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, June 23 and June 30 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, June 24 and July 1 at 2 p.m.

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971. The foundation and the George London Awards (the prize of the foundation's annual competition) are named for the legendary Canadian-American bass-baritone, one of the greatest opera singers of 20th century, who devoted much of his time and energy in his later years to the support and nurturing of young opera singers.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced that the company's 2018 Summer Festival will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theatre in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26 through July 15 at venues throughout the region.

When Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opened its first season in Houston's new opera house at the Wortham Theater Center in 1987, world-renowned tenor Placido Domingo starred in Verdi's Aida. Now, just over 30 years later, Domingo will again take the Wortham stage on September 26 for HGO and Placido-Coming Home!, a gala evening celebrating the company's return to its creative home after a year of displacement following Hurricane Harvey. Joined by beloved Houston soprano Ana Maria Martinez and the HGO Orchestra conducted by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, Domingo will perform an evening of operatic and popular musical favorites. The concert, which begins at 7 p.m., will be followed by a celebration dinner in the Ballroom at Bayou Place.

The final production of the Met's 2017-18 season, Gounod's Roméo et Juliette opens on April 23, 2018, with Bryan Hymel and Ailyn Pérez as the star-crossed lovers, conducted by Plácido Domingo and directed by Bartlett Sher. The cast also includes Karine Deshayes as Stéphano, Joshua Hopkins as Mercutio, and Kwangchul Youn as Frère Laurent, with six performances through May 12, 2018.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region. Single tickets, as well as subscription packages, are on sale now at www.operasaratoga.org.

The 2018 McCammon Voice Competition judges have chosen the semi-finalists for the eighteenth biennial competition, to be held on March 16, 2018 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The finals will be held March 17, 2018 at Bass Performance Hall. This year's competitors are David Araujo, Amanda Blue, Nicolette Book, Ryan Bradford, Rachael Braustein, Kathleen Buccleugh, Chelsea Coyne, Danielle Davis, Peter Scott Drackley, Helen Huang, Hao Hu, Emily Michiko Jensen, Abigail Kempson, Chonghwa Kim, Abigail Levis, Brandon Morales, Elizabeth Moran, Langelihle Mngxati, Chong Yoon Noh, Brittany Nickell, Yulan Piao, Anthony Reed, Michael St. Peter and Andrew Wannigman.

When I first heard soprano Hyesang Park and tenor Kang Wang--two of the bright young singers featured in last weekend's Juilliard and the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Program concert--they were leads in a charming production of Bellini's LA SONNAMBULA at the school. On Friday evening, they were two of the stellar performers in “An Evening of Verdi”--extended excerpts from four operas with the Juilliard Orchestra doing a fluid job under Maestro Evan Rogister, who was also particularly attentive to the needs of the singers.

Rossini's Semiramide is presented at the Met for the first time in 25 years, with eight performances beginning February 19, 2018, led by Maurizio Benini. The cast, comprised of artists considered by many to be amongst the world's leading bel canto singers, includes Angela Meade in the title role, Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, Javier Camarena as Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov as King Assur and Ryan Speedo Green as the High Priest Oroe. On March 10, 2018, the production will be transmitted to cinemas throughout the world as part of the Met's Live in HD series.

Accelerating his arrival as Music Director by two seasons, Yannick Nezet-Seguin will take up the post in time for the start of the Metropolitan Opera's 2018-19 season, it was announced today.

Los pr0ximos 3 y 4 de junio a las 21.30 tendra lugar en el Teatro Real el concierto DIVA ON RETOUR de la aclamada soprano lirica Patricia Racette.

The Dallas Opera is proud to announce its spectacular 2018-2019 Season, "Swept Away," consisting of five captivating mainstage productions, including a passionate Puccini pairing during the month of March, designed to melt the last blast of winter, followed by the company's first-ever Falstaff.

The cycle of late Verdi works presented at Opera Vlaanderen in recent seasons wouldn't be complete without Falstaff. In this vibrant testament, the old master composed a final masterpiece in which he once more reinvents himself at an advanced age. None other than Hollywood actor, director and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz will be returning to Opera Vlaanderen to direct, having just completed his first feature film as director, Georgetown. In his successful debut as director of Der Rosenkavalier (2013), his great affinity for a comic ensemble piece was already in evidence.

The cycle of late Verdi works presented at Opera Vlaanderen in recent seasons wouldn't be complete without Falstaff. In this vibrant testament, the old master composed a final masterpiece in which he once more reinvents himself at an advanced age. None other than Hollywood actor, director and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz will be returning to Opera Vlaanderen to direct, having just completed his first feature film as director, Georgetown. In his successful debut as director of Der Rosenkavalier (2013), his great affinity for a comic ensemble piece was already in evidence.

First Place Winner Meghan Kasanders, 26, led the field of nine finalists at Pittsburgh Festival Opera's 7th Annual Mildred Miller International Voice Competition with her performances of Dich, teure Halle from Wagner's Tannh user and 'Come scoglio' from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte on Sunday, Oct. 22 at The Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh. The New York-based soprano received a $6,000 prize supported by Pittsburgh Festival Opera Board Member Phyllis Sidwell. Scroll down for photos!

First Place Winner Meghan Kasanders, 26, led the field of nine finalists at Pittsburgh Festival Opera's Seventh Annual Mildred Miller International Voice Competition with her performances of Dich, teure Halle from Wagner's Tannh user and Come scoglio from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte on Sunday, Oct. 22 at The Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh.