Beth Morris News

Composer Nico Muhly discusses his music for countertenor with author and illustrator Maira Kalman and Guggenheim curator for performance and media Nat Trotman.

Thinking himself worldly and experienced, Don Alfonso decides to relieve his young friends, Ferrando and Gugliemo, of their faith in sexual fidelity. He challenges them to a bet, promising that within 24 hours their fiancees will prove unfaithful. Outraged, they accept, but find the challenge too painfully revealing and too difficult to withstand. Dressed in clown's clothes, these young men break their own hearts and the hearts of their fiancees. A comedy that is a tragedy underneath is the perfect stuff for the uncanny genius of Mozart, so clearly revealed in this dazzling score.

Choreographer John Heginbotham and author/illustrator Maira Kalmandiscuss their newest collaboration featuring imaginative production design and whimsical dance theater inspired by Kalman's written work and visual art.

Composer Nico Muhly discusses his music for countertenor with author and illustrator Maira Kalman and Guggenheim curator for performance and media Nat Trotman.

Thinking himself worldly and experienced, Don Alfonso decides to relieve his young friends, Ferrando and Gugliemo, of their faith in sexual fidelity. He challenges them to a bet, promising that within 24 hours their fiancees will prove unfaithful. Outraged, they accept, but find the challenge too painfully revealing and too difficult to withstand. Dressed in clown's clothes, these young men break their own hearts and the hearts of their fiancees. A comedy that is a tragedy underneath is the perfect stuff for the uncanny genius of Mozart, so clearly revealed in this dazzling score.

Due to ongoing University-mandated budget cuts, Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre announced today that the 2017 edition of the Yale Institute for Music Theatre, which concluded on June 25, would be its last.

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.

HERE begins its 2017-2018 producing season with Stairway to Stardom, a world premiere Resident Artist production by Amanda Szeglowski / cakeface, commencing the 25th Anniversary of this award-winning, boundary-stretching institution. Stairway to Stardom, developed through the HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP), will have 10 performances from September 12 - 23 at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, just below Spring Street), launching this milestone season.

HERE proudly announces its 2017-2018 producing season, marking the 25th Anniversary of this award-winning, boundary-stretching institution.  The 2017-2018 HERE lineup features three HERE Resident Artist world premieres; the world premiere of a HERE Artistic Director production by Kristin Marting; innovative works from the Dream Music Puppetry Program including a revival of Symphonie Fantastique by Basil Twist, internationally acclaimed artist and Artistic Director of HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program; the sixth annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival, and HERE's yearly CULTUREMART festival, where HERE serves up a first look at new work in process from artists in the HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP).  The multidisciplinary productions in HERE's milestone 2017-2018 season represent the culmination of commissions and developmental residencies of up to three years in the HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP) and/or the Dream Music Puppetry Program.  

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE - the singularly inspired creation by the designer, director and performer, master puppeteer Basil Twist, set to the revolutionary 1830 score by composer Hector Berlioz - will return to New York City on the occasion of the ground-breaking work's 20th anniversary starting March 29, 2018 prior to opening night on April 3 at HERE (145 Sixth Ave.), it is announced by HERE's Artistic and Producing Directors Kristin Marting and Kim Whitener, and Barbara Busackino, HERE's Co-Founder and Executive Director of Tandem Otter Productions, Mr. Twist's production company. HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program proudly presents SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE's return to HERE, its original home, on the occasion of HERE's 25th Anniversary Season.

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) announces its complete 2017-2018 season, Dreamscapes, under the leadership of Artistic Director Derek Bermel, Music Director George Manahan, and President Edward Yim, featuring ten world, U.S., and New York premieres by a diverse set of composers. ACO continues its concerts at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall (December 8, 2017 and April 6, 2018) while expanding its presence in New York to include performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center (November 7, 2017) and as part of the 2018 PROTOTYPE Festival (January 12-14, 2018). ACO continues to take its commitment to fostering new work beyond the stage in its annual Underwood New Music Readings (June 21 and 22, 2018) for emerging composers, now in its 27th year, and through EarShot, the National Orchestra Composition Discovery Network, which brings the Readings experience to orchestras across the country.

AOP (American Opera Projects) and Composers & the Voice Artistic Director Steven Osgood have selected six composers and three librettists to receive fellowships for its upcoming ninth season of Composers & the Voice. The 2017-2019 season will train, and present new works from, composers Matthew Browne, Scott Ordway, Frances Pollock, Pamela Stein Lynde, Liliya Ugay, and Amber Vistein and librettists Laura Barati, Kim Davies, and Sokunthary Svay. The primary focus of Composers & the Voice is to give emerging composers and librettists experience working collaboratively with singers on writing for the voice and contemporary opera stage.

Opera Saratoga presents a new production of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, directed and choreographed by Lawrence Edelson, and conducted by noted Maestro John Mauceri (company debut), who has been responsible for many significant operatic restorations, including Blitzstein's Regina.

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) announces the appointment of Lidiya Yankovskaya as the company's new Music Director.

HERE presents the world premiere of The Reception, a HERE Resident Artist Production, as part of its 2016-2017 producing season. The Reception will have 10 performances, tonight, June 14, through June 24, at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, just below Spring Street).

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.

Immersive Escape Productions and producing partners Michael Counts and Jennifer Worthington are proud to present The Path of Beatrice - an immersive experience that extends their groundbreaking escape room, Paradiso: Chapter 1 out into the real world.

LA Opera's 2016/17 season will conclude with the West Coast premiere of Thumbprint, an opera by composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Susan Yankowitz about Pakistani human rights activist Mukhtar Mai. 

HERE presents Dark Circus, by renowned French company STEREOPTIK, a presentation from HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program. This innovative puppet theater work, for all ages, plays six performances May 30 - June 4 at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, just below Spring Street).