Theater Erfurt's General Director, Guy Montavon was responsible for nearly turning THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, (Der fliegende Hollander) Richard Wagner's technicolor, romantic dream of an opera into a black, white and grey nightmare. The story of the Dutchman, Wagner's tragic 'pale Sailor' cursed by Satan to wander the seas eternally on a ghostly ship, who is finally rescued by the chaste love of a sea captain's daughter, (Senta), was nearly capsized by Montavon's very questionable directorial concept and exacerbated by absurd choices in the makeup-, lighting- and costume designs.
Artistic and Executive Director of Pacific Opera Project (POP) Josh Shaw was recently named 'One of Musical America's Top 30 Innovators in Classical Music.' Over the past six seasons, he has directed 23 productions at POP including THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, and LA CALISTO. His reimagining of THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO as an episode of Star Trek has gained national attention and has been produced by seven companies.
A decade after launching her career in Italy, acclaimed Australian coloratura soprano Jessica Pratt delivers her first performances in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at New York's Metropolitan Opera on April 11 and 14.
OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll today announced the recipients of the 13th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. This year's honorees—conductorWilliam Christie, mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto, tenor Vittorio Grigolo, soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, and soprano Sonya Yoncheva — will be celebrated at a black-tie gala celebration on April 22nd, 2018 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe will be the special musical guest.
OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll today announced the recipients of the 13th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. This year's honorees-conductor William Christie, mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto, tenor Vittorio Grigolo, soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, and soprano Sonya Yoncheva - will be celebrated at a black-tie gala celebration on April 22nd, 2018 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe will be the special musical guest.
American soprano Kathleen Battle's luminous voice has been called '…without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world' (The Washington Post ). Yet beyond the glory of her singing, in a career filled with countless accolades, honors and major milestones, what has perhaps distinguished her most is her almost magical ability to create an unwavering bond with her audience. Returning to Seattle for the first time in two decades, the legendary opera star takes the stage at the University of Washington's Meany Hall on April 14, 2018, to explore traditional spirituals and the writings of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. She is joined by acclaimed jazz pianist Joel Martin and local choirs The Sound of the Northwest and UW Chamber Singers.
On Tuesday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, acclaimed American tenor Lawrence Brownlee presents the New York premiere of Cycles of My Being, a new song cycle composed by Tyshawn Sorey with lyrics by Terrance Hayes that explores the realities of life as a black man in America. Brownlee—hailed as one of “the world's leading bel canto tenors” by the Associated Press—is conducted by composer Tyshawn Sorey and joined by violinist Randall Goosby, cellist Khari Joyner, clarinetist Alexander Laing, and pianist Kevin Miller for Cycles of My Being, which is co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall as part of the Hall's 125 Commissions Project. The program opens with Schumann's Dichterliebe, to be performed alongside pianist Myra Huang.
The role of the fragile title heroine who teeters between love and madness is shared by sopranos Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti and Pretty Yende, who have each impressed audiences with dazzling bel canto portrayals at the Met. Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano share the role of her lover in this chilling production by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman. Roberto Abbado conducts.
When Opera Philadelphia's inaugural Festival O launched the present season, the opera world responded with a standing ovation, welcoming it as 'one of the most enjoyable additions to the fall calendar in years'
Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC), one of the nation's leading treble choirs, honors Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson, currently serving her final year with LACC after leading the organization with distinction for 22 years, at "Gala Bel Canto" on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, 6 pm, at Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The celebration features musical tributes by some 200 singers from five LACC ensembles, as well as a three-course dinner, fine wines and a live auction. John Horn, host of KPCC's "The Frame," is Master of Ceremonies and Los Angeles Master Chorale Artistic Director Grant Gershon presents LACC's "Bel Canto Award" to Tomlinson. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser benefit Los Angeles Children's Chorus' outstanding artistic and scholarship programs.
When Opera Philadelphia's inaugural Festival O launched the present season, the opera world responded with a standing ovation, welcoming it as "one of the most enjoyable additions to the fall calendar in years"
On Wednesday, March 28, WQXR will present the latest installment of its “Classical Up Close” series at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space with special guest, acclaimed tenor Lawrence Brownlee.
I spoke recently with Elaine Alvarez who will be singing the lead role this weekend in the San Diego Opera's production of Florencia en el Amazonas by Mexican composer Daniel Catan and librettist Marcela Fuentes-Berain. Alvarez told me that when she got a call from the San Diego Opera's General Director David Bennett, 'I was at a train station in France, and it was cold. I started jumping up and down! And he was like, 'Do you think you're going to be ready to sing this? Is this in line now with where your voice is.' And I'm like, a hundred percent! Yes! Yes! Yes!' Spanish was her first language, Florencia appealed to her Latin heritage, and she knew her voice was ready. She'd sung Beatrice in Catan's earlier opera Rappaccini's Daughter and was delighted with the opportunity to make her San Diego debut with another of his works.
BRON announced today that Linda Cardellini, Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon, Golden Globe winner Kyle MacLachlan and Kathrine Narducci will join Academy Award nominee Tom Hardy in the Al Capone bio-pic Fonzo, written and to be directed by Josh Trank (Chronicle).
Looks like the West End will be getting to know Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe. According to a report by the Daily Mail, Lincoln Center Theater's production of THE KING AND I 'has its eye on the London Palladium for a limited season next year.'
The Coachella Valley Symphony's 25th anniversary season of concerts ontinues with "Opera to Broadway" on Sunday, March 18 at 3:00p.m at The Annenberg Theatrev located at The Palm Springs Art Museum. "We've assembled some of the most brilliant singers showcasing their talents in both Opera and Broadway genres including: soprano, Caroline Nelms; baritone Zeffin Quinn Hollis and soprano, Jennifer Lindsay with a special guest appearance by the 2017 McCallum Theatre Open Call Winner Javier Triviso. This magnificent collection of voices backed by the Coachella Symphony will certainly be a sell out," said Lisa Lindley, President, Coachella Valley Symphony.
Academy Award-nominee, Angela Bassett will join Kathleen Battle as a guest narrator in Battle's program Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, March 29 at 8:00pm.
