Eleanor Steber News

Theater Resources Unlimited will present Meet the Coaches, during which actors can meet more than 10 monologue and music coaches, plus accompanists, who will share their methods and then meet individuals in breakout rooms.

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves will join Juilliard's Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts as distinguished visiting faculty beginning this month. Recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal artists, Graves continues to garner acclaim for her work on the world's opera and concert stages.

Two years ago, when I first saw photos of the projected new COSI FAN TUTTE,which was a production that originated at English National Opera and was slated to come to the Met, I was circumspect. I had grown up on three previous incarnations of COSI, the first dating from the 1950's a very traditional production which starred Richard Tucker and Eleanor Steber, the subsequent one dating from the 1980's, which had featured Kiri TeKanawa, and the last from 1996, which starred Carol Vaness and Suzanne Mentzer as the sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. All were very much 'period' pieces which made no effort to update or change the locale from the original setting of eighteenth century Naples.

At the conclusion of last night's final performance of Verdi's Aida, San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock presented the Company's Chorus and Dance Manager and member of the Opera Chorus, Jim Meyer, with the San Francisco Opera Medal, the Company's highest honor.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Berlioz's Les Nuits d'ete, with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena in her Philharmonic debut, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Today, September 29, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Berlioz's Les Nuits d'ete, with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena in her Philharmonic debut, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Thursday, September 29, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera's exclusive subscription streaming service, Met Opera on Demand, has expanded its reach with the release of a new streaming channel on the Roku platform. Owners of Roku players and Roku TVTM models will now be able to use Met Opera on Demand through their televisions, allowing easy access to the Met's vast archive of performances on home entertainment systems.

William Mason, the former general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, has just been appointed as new Artistic Adviser of the San Diego Opera.

New York City has lots of big attractions that people around the world are well aware of. But New York City also has smaller gems that don't get the same attention but still shine just as brightly. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony is one such gem. Last Sunday afternoon, this superb ensemble led ably by Maestro David Bernard delivered an impressive performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 2, which many, more well-known and well-funded, orchestras would be jealous of. Maestro Bernard, who worked without benefit of a score, brought a brilliant and bright quality to the first Allegro movement. The Larghetto that followed was mannered and precisely shaped. The Scherzo, usually performed as a light and merry dance, felt a bit wayward, as the playing got a bit loose. But a strong, majestic and fiery Finale brought the first half to a satisfying conclusion. The Second Symphony was composed during the summer and fall of 1802 and it signaled the end of Beethoven's 'early period.' For the composer, this was a time of great despair because he was finally realizing that his deafness could not be cured and would indeed be a permanent affliction. That despair is deeply engrained in the work, and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony dug deep and tapped into that despair and communicated it amiably to the audience.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Leonard Bernstein's On the Town today, January 31-February 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with soprano Georgia Jarman. The program features Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On the Town and On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, Foss's Time Cycle, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Opus 24.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Leonard Bernstein's On the Town on January 31-February 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with soprano Georgia Jarman. The program features Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On the Town and On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, Foss's Time Cycle, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Opus 24.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance welcomes back the internationally renowned Sphinx Virtuosi (formerly known as the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra) and the Catalyst Quartet, joined by celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves tonight, October 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm. This one-time collaboration between Ms. Graves and Sphinx can only be seen at the Harris.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance welcomes back the internationally renowned Sphinx Virtuosi (formerly known as the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra) and the Catalyst Quartet, joined by celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves on Tuesday October 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm. This one-time collaboration between Ms. Graves and Sphinx can only be seen at the Harris.

Renowned conductor Lorin Maazel will make a rare appearance at the Metropolitan Opera-conducting his first Verdi opera with the company-when he leads a revival of Don Carlo, opening February 22. Ramon Vargas sings his first Met performances of the title role, opposite Barbara Frittoli, also in her house role debut, as the tragic Elisabeth de Valois. Reprising their roles from previous Met seasons are Anna Smirnova as the mysterious Princess Eboli; Dmitri Hvorostovsky as the revolutionary Rodrigo, Count of Posa; Ferruccio Furlanetto as the tormented King Philip II; and Eric Halfvarson as the Grand Inquisitor. This season's performances are the first revival of Nicholas Hytner's production, which opened to critical acclaim in the Met's 2010-11 season.

American soprano Christine Brewer takes on her newest challenge on July 17 at the hallowed Hollywood Bowl, debuting in the iconic title role of Puccini's Turandot in a concert performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel.

American soprano Christine Brewer returns to the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage in a recital of songs by a diverse lineup of composers, Tuesday, June 1, at 8 p.m. She is joined by pianist Craig Rutenberg making his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut. The Colburn Celebrity Series event is the final series performance of the LA Phil's 2009/10 season.

American soprano Christine Brewer returns to the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage in a recital of songs by a diverse lineup of composers, Tuesday, June 1, at 8 p.m. She is joined by pianist Craig Rutenberg making his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut. The Colburn Celebrity Series event is the final series performance of the LA Phil's 2009/10 season.

The 79th consecutive season of the Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts launches on December 12, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. EST with a live performance of Puccini's Il Trittico, starring Patricia Racette singing all three leading soprano roles. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe also appears in the Puccini triple-bill.

The 79th consecutive season of the Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts launches on December 12, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. EST with a live performance of Puccini's Il Trittico, starring Patricia Racette singing all three leading soprano roles. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe also appears in the Puccini triple-bill.