Andrew Davis News

Today, at Roy Thomson Hall, Music Director Peter Oundjian unveiled the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 95th performance season.

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions by invitation in New York City for male dancers for the 2015-16 season production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. This new-to-Chicago production is part of the company's American Musical Theater Initiative and features an internationally acclaimed creative team, including director Lee Blakeley, conductor David Chase, and choreographer Peggy Hickey.

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with Romeo and Juliet in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, Monday, February 22 through Saturday, March 19(nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director Anthony Freud and music director Sir Andrew Davis confirmed today the repertoire and casting for the company's 2016/17 season - the second season that they have fully planned together.  

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of Pops Conductor John Morris Russell presents two concerts this weekend, January 9-10, at Cincinnati Music Hall, dubbed I'M EVERY WOMAN, starring three powerhouse vocalists.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of Pops Conductor John Morris Russell presents two concerts January 9-10 at Cincinnati Music Hall, dubbed I'M EVERY WOMAN, starring three powerhouse vocalists.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances tonight, January 5, and January 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

Ann Patchett's best-selling novel Bel Canto took the literary world by storm. Now, in a new work curated by Lyric's creative consultant, Renée Fleming, this riveting story inspired by a real-life event becomes a powerful opera. Check out a sneak peek below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the perfect midwinter getaway: a beautiful production of Richard Strauss's delectably bittersweet romantic comedyDer Rosenkavalier, which opens on Monday, February 8 for eight performances.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances January 5 and 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

Join the Lyric Opera and the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center's free, pop-up performance of classic Neapolitan songs tomorrow, December 12 from 5 to 5:15 p.m. at Eataly (2nd floor), 43 E. Ohio, Chicago.

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions by invitation in New York City for male dancers for the 2015-16 season production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. This new-to-Chicago production is part of the company's American Musical Theater Initiative and features an internationally acclaimed creative team, including director Lee Blakeley, conductor David Chase, and choreographer Peggy Hickey.

The holiday season brings family, fun, togetherness and music! Experience all of that and more at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday celebration, Highmark Holiday Pops, on December 11-13 and December 19 and 20 at Heinz Hall.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Details on the arrivals of 'Hamilton' and 'If/Then,' and Bill Pullinsi's and Michael Flatley's retirements mark the end of two eraa. 'Far From Heaven' and 'Heathers' will premiere locally, and 'Bel Canto' bows at the Lyric Opera. 'Daddy Long Legs' streams, 'Option Up!' debuts new works, and voting for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards heats up!

Stageplays Theatre Company presents a 2-performance benefit concert reading Sunday and Monday, December 13-14, to introduce its next world-premiere play, It's Only Money, a new comedy by Llywelyn Jones and Tom Ferriter.

The holiday season brings family, fun, togetherness and music! Experience all of that and more at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday celebration, Highmark Holiday Pops, on December 11-13 and December 19 and 20 at Heinz Hall.

With artful direction and choreography from Susan Stroman, Lyric Opera's mounting of Franz Lehar's well-known 1905 operetta THE MERRY WIDOW sweeps audiences into a joyful waltz, complete with exquisite talent and a production with opulence to spare. This production debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the fall of 2014 with commanding opera diva Renee Fleming at the helm as the titular widow Hanna Glawari. Fleming truly shines in this production, with the equally talented Thomas Hampson at her side as Count Danilo Danilovich.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2015-16 season with a concert version of The Beatles' iconic album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performed by the Art of Time Ensemble, tonight, November 21, 2015 at 8pm.

Peter Oundjian, music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Scotland's Royal National Orchestra, and celebrated violinist Stefan Jackiw make their debuts with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) for two performances on Saturday, December 12, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Oundjian, described as 'consistently illuminating' (Gramophone), conducts Bartok's brilliant Divertimento, Sz 113; Beethoven's sunny Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60; and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. The latter work, among the most beloved violin concertos ever written, features Jackiw, also making his Los Angeles debut, who has been hailed for 'talent that's off the scale' (Washington Post) and as a 'legend in the making' (Chicago Tribune).

Manhattan School of Music (MSM) recently announced the appointment of Kent Tritle, also the School's Director of Choral Activities, as Chair of its historic Organ Department. Tritle, who the New York Times has hailed as 'the brightest star in New York's choral music world,' is organist for both the New York Philharmonic (since 1994) and American Symphony Orchestra (since 1993), as well as serving as Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He is also Music Director of both Musica Sacra, the longest continuously performing professional chorus in New York, and the acclaimed Oratorio Society of New York.