Bel Canto News

OPERAtion Brooklyn presents "Curiouser & Curiouser: An Opera-Burlesque Circus in Wonderland," a two-evening, Alice-themed opera-burlesque party in celebration of the 75th birthday of David Del Tredici, the composer whose name has become synonymous with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn on March 25 and 26 at 8 p.m.

Pacific Opera Victoria's 2011/12 season ends as the company presents Tracy Dahl and Sally Dibblee, two of Canada's accomplished divas, in MARIA STUARDA, April 12, 14, 18, 20, and 22, 2012, at the Royal Theatre in Victoria.

American Opera Projects and Opera on Tap, in association with Galapagos Art Space, present OPERAtion Brooklyn: Curiouser & Curiouser An Opera-burlesque circus in Wonderland.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced yesterday 35 new shows to its summer schedule at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale now to members and go on sale Saturday, March 24 at 10am to the public.

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program comes to the University of Washington for the first time next month with a production of Don Pasquale at Meany Hall for the Performing Arts.

A trio of international stars will sing the leading roles in a revival of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore, opening March 5. Juan Diego Florez will sing his first Met performances of Nemorino, the simple country boy who falls in love with the beautiful Adina, sung by Diana Damrau in her house role debut. Mariusz Kwiecien adds a new role to his Met repertory as Belcore, Adina's posturing fiance, and Alessandro Corbelli reprises his acclaimed interpretation of Dulcamara, the traveling quack whose phony love potion creates real romantic intrigue among the three characters. Donato Renzetti returns to the Met for the first time in more than 20 years to conduct this revival of John Copley's colorful 1991 production.

OPERAtion Brooklyn presents "Curiouser & Curiouser: An Opera-Burlesque Circus in Wonderland," a two-evening, Alice-themed opera-burlesque party in celebration of the 75th birthday of David Del Tredici, the composer whose name has become synonymous with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn on March 25 and 26 at 8 p.m.

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) announces its 72nd continuous season of opera. With a classic selection of works as well as the return of company favorites in leading roles, the 2012-2013 productions include: Puccini's La boheme, Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), Bellini's La sonnambula, and Verdi's La traviata.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, today announced details of its new world premiere. Bel Canto, by the gifted young Peruvian composer Jimmy Lopez, with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, is based on the best-selling novel by Ann Patchett. To premiere in Lyric's 2015-16 season, the new opera, commissioned as part of Lyric's Renee Fleming Initiative, will be conducted by Lyric music director Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Stephen Wadsworth.

Soprano Angela Meade, the 2011 Richard Tucker Award winner, returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Elvira in Verdi's Ernani, February 2-25, singing the role with which she made an unscheduled "star is born" professional debut at the Met in 2008 substituting for an ill colleague.

A trio of international stars will sing the leading roles in a revival of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore, opening March 5. Juan Diego Florez will sing his first Met performances of Nemorino, the simple country boy who falls in love with the beautiful Adina, sung by Diana Damrau in her house role debut. Mariusz Kwiecien adds a new role to his Met repertory as Belcore, Adina's posturing fiance, and Alessandro Corbelli reprises his acclaimed interpretation of Dulcamara, the traveling quack whose phony love potion creates real romantic intrigue among the three characters. Donato Renzetti returns to the Met for the first time in more than 20 years to conduct this revival of John Copley's colorful 1991 production.

The winners of the 41st annual George London Foundation Awards Competition for young American and Canadian opera singers were announced at the conclusion of the competition's final round this evening, which took place in a front of a capacity audience at Gilder Lehrman Hall at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City.

For six performances only, Verdi's Attila takes the stage at Seattle Opera from January 14 through 28, 2012.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring soprano Anna Netrebko in her highly anticipated first North American performances of the tour-de-force title role, will be the 2012 season opener of THIRTEEN's Great Performances at the Met Friday, January 20 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

For six performances only, Verdi's Attila takes the stage at Seattle Opera from January 14 through 28, 2012.