Arnold Livingston Geis News

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the seventh season of its acclaimed American Opera Initiative (AOI) with four world premieres from January 11-13, 2019, in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. A comprehensive commissioning program that originates and develops new works, the American Opera Initiative provides rare opportunities for emerging composers and librettists to partner and write for the opera stage. The Initiative encourages and ensures the future of contemporary American opera through development, mentorship, and performance, with works based on American themes and stories. Since its inception, the annual program has commissioned 28 chamber operas, with some going on to future productions around the country; notables include this summer's successful production by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis of An American Soldier, an AOI commission in 2014, and Opera Omaha's and Miller Theater's recent productions of AOI's 2018 commission, Proving Up.

One hundred years after the armistice of The Great War, it is still crucial to honor the memory of all who fought to create a better world for the future. Washington National Opera's production of Silent Night, which opened on Saturday night at the Kennedy Center, is a glorious celebration of the brave soldiers who have risked their lives for their countries. The production is weakened by some questionable staging choices but serves as a suitable showcase for opera's rising stars.

Washington National Opera celebrates the centennial of the WWI Armistice with Kevin Puts's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night, November 10-25, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets start at $35. Based on the true story of a wartime ceasefire, an event depicted by the 2005 film Joyeux Noel, Silent Night features a cast comprised entirely of WNO family-current members and alumni from the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and WNO Chorus-with libretto in multiple languages that capture a powerful vision of humanity and hope. With gratitude for their sacrifice and service, Washington National Opera presents Silent Night in honor of all Veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to hosting a Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 25, additional discounts to see the production will be offered for active-duty service members for select performances.

Washington National Opera celebrates the centennial of the WWI Armistice with Kevin Puts's and Mark Campbell's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night, November 10-25, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets start at $35. Based on the true story of a wartime ceasefire, an event depicted by the 2005 film Joyeux Noel,Silent Night features music by Kevin Puts and libretto by Mark Campbell and stars a cast comprised entirely of WNO family-current members and alumni from the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and WNO Chorus-with libretto in multiple languages that capture a powerful vision of humanity and hope. With gratitude for their sacrifice and service, Washington National Opera presents Silent Night in honor of all Veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to hosting a Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 25, additional discounts to see the production will be offered for active-duty service members for select performances.

Washington National Opera celebrates the centennial of the WWI Armistice with Kevin Puts's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night, November 10-25, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets start at $35. Based on the true story of a wartime ceasefire, an event depicted by the 2005 film Joyeux Noel, Silent Night features a cast comprised entirely of WNO family-current members and alumni from the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and WNO Chorus-with libretto in multiple languages that capture a powerful vision of humanity and hope. With gratitude for their sacrifice and service, Washington National Opera presents Silent Night in honor of all Veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to hosting a Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 25, additional discounts to see the production will be offered for active-duty service members for select performances.

Washington National Opera opens its 2018-2019 season with a stunning new production by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello of Verdi's La traviata, October 6-21, 2018, in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets start at $45. From the famous brindisi drinking song to the heartbreaking 'Addio del passato' aria, the original 'Pretty Woman' proves it's better to have loved once than not at all. Verdi's romantic masterpiece and familiar tunes are as timeless as the storyline is contemporary, pitting tensions of social class against Violetta's personal sacrifice.

Washington National Opera opens its 2018-2019 season with a stunning new production by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello of Verdi's La traviata, October 6-21, 2018, in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets start at $45. From the famous brindisi drinking song to the heartbreaking 'Addio del passato' aria, the original 'Pretty Woman' proves it's better to have loved once than not at all. Verdi's romantic masterpiece and familiar tunes are as timeless as the storyline is contemporary, pitting tensions of social class against Violetta's personal sacrifice.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the seventh season of its acclaimed American Opera Initiative (AOI) with four world premieres from January 11-13, 2019, in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. A comprehensive commissioning program that originates and develops new works, the American Opera Initiative provides rare opportunities for emerging composers and librettists to partner and write for the opera stage. The Initiative encourages and ensures the future of contemporary American opera through development, mentorship, and performance, with works based on American themes and stories. Since its inception, the annual program has commissioned 28 chamber operas, with some going on to future productions around the country; notables include this summer's successful production by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis of An American Soldier, an AOI commission in 2014, and Opera Omaha's and Miller Theater's new productions of AOI's 2018 commission, Proving Up.

None of the three pieces that I saw at the Glimmerglass Festival near Cooperstown, NY, last weekend was exactly what it seemed to be: Is CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN a fairy story or a cautionary tale? Is WEST SIDE STORY simply in a class of its own? Does SILENT NIGHT find that war is hell—or that hell is simply other people? Let's begin with SILENT NIGHT.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the sixth season of its acclaimed American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering the talents of rising American composers and librettists. All of the program's world premiere operas are presented during the American Opera Initiative Festival weekend,January 19 21, 2018, all in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The festival begins with the world premiere of a new hour-long work by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, Proving Up, on January 19 and 21, 2018, directed by Alison Moritz and conducted by Christopher Rountree, both in their WNO debuts. Three new pairings of opera composers and librettists Nathan Fletcher and Megan Cohen, Gity Razaz and Sara Cooper, John Glover and Erin Bregman offer new, one-act operas during the festival. Two semi-staged concert performances of each 20-minute opera are presented on January 20, 2018.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the sixth season of its acclaimed American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering the talents of rising American composers and librettists. All of the program's world premiere operas are presented during the American Opera Initiative Festival weekend,January 19 21, 2018, all in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The festival begins with the world premiere of a new hour-long work by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, Proving Up, on January 19 and 21, 2018, directed by Alison Moritz and conducted by Christopher Rountree, both in their WNO debuts. Three new pairings of opera composers and librettists Nathan Fletcher and Megan Cohen, Gity Razaz and Sara Cooper, John Glover and Erin Bregman offer new, one-act operas during the festival. Two semi-staged concert performances of each 20-minute opera are presented on January 20, 2018.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2017 2018 season with the company premiere of Handel's magical Baroque opera Alcina - starring megawatt soprano Angela Meade in the title role - November 4 19, 2017, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2017 2018 season with the company premiere of Handel's magical Baroque opera Alcina - starring megawatt soprano Angela Meade in the title role - November 4 19, 2017, in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.

Washington National Opera (WNO) announces the roster of emerging artists engaged for the 16th season of its Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, which begins in September.

Join us for an uplifting celebration of the human spirit as we close out our 2016-2017 Classics Series on Saturday, April 29 at Ambassador Auditorium with an Ode to Joy withBeethoven's Symphony No. 9. The concert will also feature Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music and a special performance of Holst's Choral Hymns from the Rig Vedafeaturing David Lockington on Cello with the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. 

The Pasadena Symphony closes out its 2016-2017 Singpoli Classics Serieswith Beethoven Symphony No. 9 on April 29 with both matinee and evening performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium. This season finale will envelop audiences with voices from the Donald Brinegar Singers, the JPL Chorus, and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus alongside four stellar solo vocalists: soprano Summer Hassan, mezzo soprano Tracy Van Fleet, tenor Arnold Livingston Geis and bass Steve Pence throughout the concert.

LA Opera invites the public to an Open House, which will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 10am to 6pm on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

LA Opera invites the public to an Open House, which will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 10am to 6pm on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale will present its first performances of Beethoven's powerful Missa solemnis in 13 years on its own concert series on Saturday, January 21 at 2 PM and Sunday, January 22 at 7 PM at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Heralded as a pillar of the choral and orchestral repertoire, the work is considered a specialty of the Master Chorale that last performed the work with Artistic Director Grant Gershon in Disney Hall in 2004.

New York City Opera continues its 2016 - 17 season on November 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2016 with the New York premiere of Tobin Stokes and Heather Raffo's Fallujah, the first opera written about the Iraq War experience.