Enrico Caruso News

With her captivating multi-octave voice and persuasive cross-cultural message, vocalist and songwriter MAYSSA KARAA defines a new era of musical inclusion. Her self-penned songs tell of a journey connecting her origins in the ancient land of Lebanon to her adopted home of Los Angeles, California. She will release her full-length English solo debut album later this year, which is being produced by Grammy® Award-winner Richard Jacques.

Donizetti's LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR--the story of a fragile young woman, Lucia, who's caught in a feud involving her family, the Ashtons, and the Ravenswoods--is one of the mainstays of the repertoire at major opera houses around the world, famed particularly for its mad scene. It's long been a favorite at the Met, with the current performances the third cast of the season, starring soprano Pretty Yende, tenor Michael Fabiano and baritone Quinn Kelsey.

Massey Hall in association with The Musical Stage Company presents Tony Award-winning actor and activist Alan Cumming for his Legal Immigrant tour on Saturday, June 16. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 9 at 10am.

Montalvo Arts Center continues its acclaimed Carriage House Concert Series with an exciting performance by Italian lyric tenor and star of PBS specials Pasquale Esposito, 8pm, March 23. The lauded singer will perform An Evening with Pasquale: A Musical Journey that will include songs from his upcoming PBS special, as well as a variety of contemporary Italian, Neapolitan, English, and Spanish standards, and other classical and contemporary works. This concert will be presented at Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga. For tickets ($49 Reserved, $55 Premier) and more information the public may visit montalvoarts.org or call 408-961-5858.

Soprano, Amanda Beagle, is making her NYC cabaret debut while returning to her roots with a celebration of the "Italian-American Songbook." Amanda Beagle debuts her latest show and recording at The Metropolitan Room on Tuesday July 25th at 7pm. Reservations are required and tickets are on sale now. 

Ruth Eckerd Hall announces the Adults At Leisure Series for the 2017-18 season, which includes returning favorites Blue Suede Shoes (The Premier Elvis Birthday Bash), 110 Years of Broadway and the Hitmen In Concert as well as several shows making their debut, including 3 Redneck Tenors, The Modern Gentlemen, One Night In Memphis and more.

Ruth Eckerd Hall announces the Adults At Leisure Series for the 2017-18 season, which includes returning favorites Blue Suede Shoes (The Premier Elvis Birthday Bash), 110 Years of Broadway and the Hitmen In Concert as well as several shows making their debut, including 3 Redneck Tenors, The Modern Gentlemen, One Night In Memphis and more.

 Matthew VanBesien, president of the New York Philharmonic, will become president of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan in July 2017.

Santa Monica's Morgan-Wixson Theatre is sharing the comedy so prevalent in Florence Foster Jenkins performances by presenting "GLORIOUS! the True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the Worst Singer in The World" written by Peter Quilter through February 5, 2017. It is a hilarious and heart-warming comedy, somewhat similar to the 2016 film Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep. As directed by Anne Gesling, and thanks to the brilliant performance of AnnaLisa Erickson as Florence, we get to know the real woman who truly believes she is the best opera singer in the world - with a remarkable ability to ignore the taunts and laughter from her critics and audiences in the pursuit of her dream. Erickson's ability to overplay Florence's brutally imperfect singing and flamboyant physical style to perfection is captivating.

Matthew VanBesien, president of the New York Philharmonic, will become president of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan in July 2017.

Anna Netrebko will add a new role to her wide-ranging Met repertory tonight through December 3 when she sings her first company performances of the seductive, tragic heroine of Puccini's Manon Lescaut.Marcelo Álvarez makes his role debut as Manon's obsessed lover des Grieux, with Christopher Maltman stars as Manon's brother Lescaut and Brindley Sherratt as Geronte, Manon's older lover. The November 21, December 7, and December 10 performances will star Kristine Opolais as Manon, reprising a role she first sang with the company in last season's premiere of Sir Richard Eyre's staging. Marco Armiliato will conduct all performances of Manon Lescaut at the Met this season.

Celebrate historic Coney Island at the 6th Annual History Day at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Coney Island's oldest amusement park, and the Coney Island History Project. The free event will be held from 1:00 -6:00 PM on Sunday, August 7.

Celebrate historic Coney Island at the 6th Annual History Day at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Coney Island's oldest amusement park, and the Coney Island History Project. The free event will be held from 1:00 -6:00 PM on Sunday, August 7.

Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore returns to the Met stage on March 10 starring Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo as the two young lovers, Adina and Nemorino. Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola makes his company debut leading performances of Bartlett Sher's 2012 staging. Alessandro Corbelli sings the role of Dulcamara, the loveable con man who sells the “magic elixir” of love, along with Adam Plachetka as the sergeant Belcore, who attempts to court Adina. Mario Chang and Pietro Spagnoli sing the last two performances on April 2 and 7 as Nemorino and Dulcamara respectively.

A lively and original new national music series, THE KATE, pays homage to the series' muse and namesake, Katharine Hepburn, evoking the high-spirited charisma and iconoclastic essence of the cultural icon by featuring a dynamic lineup of vibrant artists who have something to say and share it during their performances.

-This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera, theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights.

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

The Met's new production of Puccini's MANON LESCAUT opens February 12 with Kristine Opolais as the seductive, tragic heroine and Roberto Alagna in a role debut as her ardent lover, the Chevalier des Grieux.

The Met's new production of Puccini's MANON LESCAUT opens February 12 with Kristine Opolais as the seductive, tragic heroine and Roberto Alagna in a role debut as her ardent lover, the Chevalier des Grieux.

The popular verismo double bill of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci returns to the Met beginning January 21.