Charles Mack News

John Cranko's Onegin was recently presented by American Ballet Theatre. As I expected, the reviews weren't great. It seems Cranko never commands much respect over here. The reviews all describe the work in the same way: empty, boring, sleep-inducing. But I don't agree. Sure, the ballet could be shortened, but aren't there many ballets like that. One thing it does offer: wonderful acting parts for dancers.

Handel and Haydn Society Presents Handel Jephtha, conducted by Artistic Director Harry Christophers, in celebration of the 2015 Bicentennial. The piece premiered in the US by H&H in 1855. Performances are set for tonight, May 3, 2013 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 3pm at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Mass.

Following their landmark revival of Atys in 2011, esteemed conductor William Christie and his early music ensemble Les Arts Florissants return to BAM with another French Baroque gem: David et Jonathas, in a production directed by the general manager of Zurich Opera House Andreas Homoki, making his US debut.

Following their landmark revival of Atys in 2011, esteemed conductor William Christie and his early music ensemble Les Arts Florissants return to BAM with another French Baroque gem: David et Jonathas, in a production directed by the general manager of Zurich Opera House Andreas Homoki, making his US debut.

The Hartt School has announced that celebrated tenor Robert Brubaker '77 (Bachelor of Music) will be honored with the 2013 Hartt Alumni Award at the annual Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19. Mr. Brubaker has established himself as a leading tenor in opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, praised for the clarity and power of his voice and the impact of his acting. He has appeared at The Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Opera National de Paris, Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, and other major opera houses around the world. Mr. Brubaker, who will speak at Hartt's graduation ceremony, also will share his experiences and insights with students and other interested members of the University of Hartford community at Hartt's Paranov hour on April 25, from 12:15 PM to 1:05 PM, in Millard Auditorium.

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) will open its 2012/2013 orchestra series with Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado leading the orchestra for the first time at Carnegie Hall. The performance also marks Heras-Casado's main stage Carnegie Hall debut.

A total of 35 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus this month to participate in the first-ever Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing more than twenty new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

A total of 35 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus this month to participate in the first-ever Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing more than twenty new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) will open its 2012/2013 orchestra series with Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado leading the orchestra for the first time at Carnegie Hall. The performance also marks Heras-Casado's main stage Carnegie Hall debut.

HOBART BAROQUE is a brand new event celebrating the music of the 17th and 18th centuries. April 12 sees the inauguration of HOBART BAROQUE, nine days of exceptional performances by international and local musicians. To date, there has been no festival dedicated specifically to baroque music. That honour falls to Tasmania's capital, Hobart.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) presents Emmy-nominated guest conductor Benjamin Wallfisch, considered "one of UK's most exciting young composers" (BBC Music Magazine), who makes his LACO debut conducting the world premiere of his own Violin Concerto on Saturday, November 10, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre and Sunday, November 11, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall.

The Co-Founder and former Chairman of IMG Artists Charles Hamlen will become Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) new Vice President for Artists & Programs, effective October 2012. In this role, Mr. Hamlen will plan repertoire and artistic collaborations for OSL's annual orchestra series at Carnegie Hall, chamber music series at The Morgan Library & Museum and Brooklyn Museum, summer residency at Caramoor International Music Festival, Subway Series, OSL@DMC and other special projects. Mr. Hamlen will follow Elizabeth Ostrow, the current Vice President, Artistic Planning, who has worked at OSL for the past 16 years.

Brian Friel's adaptation of Ibsen's seminal work, Hedda Gabler, will open at The Old Vic tonight, 12 September. Directed by Anna Mackmin, this major new production will star Olivier award-winning actress Sheridan Smith in the title role with Darrell D'Silva as Judge Brack, Buffy Davis as Bertha, Daniel Lapaine as Eilert Loevborg, Anne Reid as Juliana Tesman, Adrian Scarborough as George Tesman, and Fenella Woolgar as Thea Elvsted.

According to a report from whatsonstage.com, Daniel Lapaine and Darrel D'Silva will join previously cast Sheridan Smith in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic. Previews begin tonight, September 5, with an opening set on September 12, 2012.

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera in the U.S. and Canada, will open the field's custom-designed NATIONAL OPERA CENTER, employing urban repurposed architecture in the heart of New York City. The National Opera Center opens for business on September 4, with the official ribbon cutting taking place on September 28. The National Opera Center of OPERA America provides an array of essential facilities and services to the opera industry that have been sorely needed and never before available under a single roof. Encompassing 25,000 square feet on two floors of a former fur factory on Seventh Avenue at 29th Street, this $14 million project of OPERA America ($6 million for construction, $6 million for operating endowment and $2 million in relocation costs from Washington, D.C. to NYC) will serve as the heart of an industry that is widely disbursed, yet inherently collaborative. OPERA America's National Opera Center is the first-ever such facility built specifically for opera rehearsals, auditions and meetings. The creation of this facility was an innovative, dynamic and comprehensive response to the lack of appropriate spaces for these activities in New York City. It is truly a convening hub, a place to audition, a place to rehearse, a place to perform, a place to unite. Andrew Berman Architect designed the center, with acoustics by Robert R. Mahoney & Associates.

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, has announced that Frayda B. Lindemann, Ph.D. became the first opera company trustee in the organization's entire 42-year history to be elected Chairman of its Board of Directors. Dr. Lindemann began her term at OPERA America's recent Annual Business Meeting - held during Opera Conference 2012 in Philadelphia - where eight new members were also elected to the Board.