Beth Morrison News

On the heels of its tremendously successful twelve-day immersive O17 festival last fall, as well as a stunning production of George Benjamin's phenomenal critical sensation Written on Skin earlier this spring, Opera Philadelphia closes out its season with one of the world's most popular operas, Bizet's masterpiece, Carmen. In the title role is mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, who opened Opera Philadelphia's 2017-2018 season with a "vocally formidable" (Philadelphia Inquirer) and "brilliant" performance (Opera News) in the title role of the world premiere of Elizabeth Cree. Directed by Paul Curran, who led 2015's acclaimed La traviata, this new production of Carmen will enliven the Academy of Music for five performances, April 27-May 6.

Strathmore and Beth Morrison Projects will present the world premiere of Iron & Coal, a multi-media rock opera by composer/lyricist Jeremy Schonfeld and director Kevin Newbury, in the Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday and Friday, May 3 and 4, 2018 at 8 p.m.

Grand Band, a New York-based "supergroup" (New York Times) formed by pianists Erika Dohi, David Friend, Paul Kerekes, Blair McMillen, Lisa Moore and Isabelle O'Connell, makes its Midwest debut at the Ordway Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 16. Their performance features the world premiere of Three Fragile Systems by Missy Mazzoli alongside music by Julius Eastman, Michael Gordon, Paul Kerekes and Kate Moore.

Featured Performers Include Sopranos Sarah Shafer and Abigail Fischer, Tenor James Reese, and Baritone Lee Poulis

LA Opera has added a performance of Soldier Songs by David T. Little, with film by Bill Morrison, as part of its 2018/19 Off Grand season. Starring baritone David Adam Moore, the multi-media concert presentation directed by Ashley Tata will take place at the Ford Theatres (2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, 90068) on Saturday, October 13, at 8:30pm.

The Ford Theatres today announced the 2018 season of events at the fully transformed John Anson Ford Theatres. The 2018 season will open on Friday, June 1 with Chano Dominguez'sFlamenco Sketches, a reimagining of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album in the world, featuring Chano on piano and National Flamenco Contest (Cordoba, Spain) winner Daniel Navarro, and will conclude on Sunday, October 28 with a new site-specific work by the always innovative Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre.

An expansive new choral work exploring lesser-known stories about the pursuit of the American Dream in Memphis, Houston, and Los Angeles, told through an interview-based libretto, will be premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale on Sunday, May 13 at 7 PM in Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The GRAMMY Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus presents Silent Voices: If You Listen, the second installment of its multimedia, multi-composer, and multi-year Silent Voices series of concert works with spoken word, conceived, produced and performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus (April 27-28, at National Sawdust). Silent Voices: If You Listen builds on the success of Silent Voices' 2017 premiere at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House. Here, eight composers, all women, collaborate with the choristers in amplifying the voices of the marginalized and confronting the challenges of division and categorization, racism, sexism, social and economic disparity, immigration, our environment, and threats to our understanding of truth. Commissioned composers for Silent Voices: If You Listen include Julia Adolphe, Olga Bell, Anna Clyne, Paola Prestini, Toshi Reagon, Shelley Washington, Bora Yoon, and Pulitzer winner Du Yun; the concert will also feature a work with guest artist Shaina Taub. Unifying this work is the distinctively versatile and beautiful sound of the rigorously-trained singers - a chorus of culturally and socioeconomically diverse New York City young people, ages 12-18 - joined by International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). These are young voices set on resisting the socio-politically retrograde elements of the present in a move towards a more inclusive and compassionate vision of the future.

Outdoor summer entertainment venue Music by the Lake, presented by George Williams College of Aurora University, announces its 18th annual season presenting artist debuts and a range of musical genres and shows, including orchestral music, contemporary and nostalgic pop/rock, country and family programming. The summer series, which includes weekend events from June 24 through August 11, features events for all ages to enjoy.

What does it mean to be a woman in the times of the #metoo and #timesup movements? What would our historical sisters have to say about it? From Sappho and Hildegard von Bingen to present day, this classical cabaret explores some of the innermost thoughts, desires, dreams, and experiences of women through music and poetry. Opera on Tap makes its' Flea debut as an Anchor Partner, presenting a diverse program of classical song in their signature fresh, heartfelt, and entertaining style.  

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to present the sixth show in its 97th season, the world premiere of NATHAN GUNN FLYING SOLO, written and directed by Hershey Felder, with musical direction by Michael Bagby.

American baritone Nathan Gunn and pianist Julie Gunn, partners in life and often on stage, will make their debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in an evening of cabaret by iconic composers ranging from Leonard Bernstein and Cole Porter to Billy Joel and Tom Waits.  The evening concert from an eclectic American Songbook joins Bernstein at 100, the worldwide celebration of the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history. An Evening with Nathan and Julie Gunn takes place Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 7:30pm in the Bram Goldsmith Theater at The Wallis.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presents LA Phil/Beth Morrison Projects: PLACE on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:30pm.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presents LA Phil/Beth Morrison Projects: PLACE on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:30pm.

The GRAMMY Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus presents Silent Voices: If You Listen, the second installment of its multimedia, multi-composer, and multi-year Silent Voices series of concert works with spoken word, conceived, produced and performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus (April 27-28, at National Sawdust). Silent Voices: If You Listen builds on the success of Silent Voices' 2017 premiere at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House. Here, eight composers, all women, collaborate with the choristers in amplifying the voices of the marginalized and confronting the challenges of division and categorization, racism, sexism, social and economic disparity, immigration, our environment, and threats to our understanding of truth. Commissioned composers for Silent Voices: If You Listen include Julia Adolphe, Olga Bell, Anna Clyne, Paola Prestini, Toshi Reagon, Shelley Washington, Bora Yoon, and Pulitzer winner Du Yun; the concert will also feature a work with guest artist Shaina Taub. Unifying this work is the distinctively versatile and beautiful sound of the rigorously-trained singers - a chorus of culturally and socioeconomically diverse New York City young people, ages 12-18 - joined by International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). These are young voices set on resisting the socio-politically retrograde elements of the present in a move towards a more inclusive and compassionate vision of the future.

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE - the singular creation by designer, director, performer and master puppeteer Basil Twist and set to the revolutionary 1830 score by composer Hector Berlioz - returns to New York City for a 20th anniversary production, running 12 weeks only from March 29-July 15, 2018

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, led by Scottish conductor Douglas Boyd, presents the world premiere of Petrichor, a LACO Sound Investment commission, by composer Ellen Reid, hailed for her "radiant" work (The New Yorker), on Saturday, February 24, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, and Sunday, February 25, 2018, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall.

Northern Stage announced today that WP Theater (formerly Women's Project Theater) is among the five winners of an unprecedented new grant to support women artistic directors in professional theaters across the United States. The BOLD Theater Women's Leadership Circle, led by Carol Dunne, Producing Artistic Director of Northern Stage, will provide $1.25 million of support for Northern Stage and four other theaters run by female artistic directors during the 2018-2019 season. Each theater will receive a $250,000 grant. 

Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, announces its 2018-2019 season, one that continues its focus on bold productions of classic operas, fascinating contemporary perspectives, and the best in American artistry. The season includes a new WNO production of Verdi's classic romantic drama La traviata, the company premiere of Kevin Puts's and Mark Campbell's Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night, Tchaikovsky's epic Eugene Onegin, Gounod's devilishly entertaining Faust, and Puccini's towering masterpiece Tosca. The season also features a weekend of four world premieres during the American Opera Initiative Festival; a revival of WNO's hit world-premiere holiday family opera The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me; a special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performance of La traviata; and other exciting vocal events, including the annual Mars, lnc.'s Opera in the Outfield.

Prelude to the Apocalypse (For What It's Worth) engages with the climate crises in a number of unexpected ways: through the lens of evolutionary time, the biblical apocalypse, and the process of growing up as a person and a society. The play also examines the human tendency to make wishes, especially in moments when we feel powerless. It all takes place in the shadow of a giant hourglass. Nevertheless, the universe breathes on.