Eric Owens News

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam; the Royal Concertgebouw; and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director - performed by violinist Leila Josefowicz, for whom it is written and dedicated. The concerts also include two early 20th-century Russian works, Stravinsky's Petrushka (original 1911 version) and Lyadov's The Enchanted Lake.

Superstar bass-baritone and native Philadelphian Eric Owens comes home to make his much-anticipated role debut as King Philip II in a new production of Don Carlo, Verdi's grand opera of passion and political intrigue. Five performances will be staged at the Academy of Music, April 24-May 3. Tickets are available via Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018 or operaphila.org.

Passionate performances by Libor, Morris and Owens are what propel an otherwise adrift Flying Dutchman. Clearer staging and dynamic direction could have made this production of Wagner's classic opera thrilling.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced its 2015-2016 theater season. As the nation's performing arts center, the Kennedy Center is dedicated to bringing theater's finest productions to its stages. Reaching hundreds of thousands of audience members annually, the upcoming theater season showcases a diverse range of theatrical productions from a dramatic, centuries-old classic tale to unforgettable Broadway sensations; the season has something to offer everyone in the family.

(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, today announced its 60th anniversary season, one that highlights classic, contemporary, and American works. The 2015-2016 season includes a new-to-Washington staging of Bizet's Carmen, the world premiere of a newly revised version of Appomattox by composer Philip Glass and librettist Christopher Hampton, a revival of WNO's charming holiday production of Hansel and Gretel, the company premiere of Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars in a gripping production from Cape Town Opera, and WNO's first complete staging of Wagner's extraordinary four-part Ring Cycle, with a world-class cast under the direction of Francesca Zambello and featuring the WNO Orchestra conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. Highlights from the 2015-2016 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 6 p.m. as part of the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

The audited financial results for San Francisco Opera's 2013–14 season (FY14) were announced today by San Francisco Opera Association President Keith Geeslin: a deficit of $348,244 on an operating budget of $74,119,493. The Company's 91st season presented eight main stage works at the War Memorial Opera House in addition to numerous concerts, recitals, workshops and community engagement events attracting more than 271,954 individuals.

The Cleveland Orchestra and Franz Welser-Most have announced details of the Orchestra's 2015-16 season. The year marks the Orchestra's 98th season and the 14th season with Franz Welser-Most as Music Director.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2014-2015 season with a revival of Richard Wagner's mythical tale of love and redemption on the high seas—The Flying Dutchman, March 7-21 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This production is the conclusion of WNO's recent look at Wagner's work in anticipation of the company's first complete presentation of the composer's epic four-part Ring cycle next season. Starring American bassbaritone Eric Owens in his staged role debut as The Dutchman, Wagner's powerful early opera is directed by Stephen Lawless and features the WNO Orchestra conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin and Eric Weimer. Condemned to wander the seas upon a ship of ghosts, The Dutchman can only venture ashore once every seven years to seek his salvation: a woman's unconditional love. When Senta, the beguiling daughter of the sea captain Daland, pledges to be faithful to him forever, it seems the ancient curse might finally be broken. But Erik, her jealous huntsman suitor, poses just one of many obstacles in a tale where greed, fidelity, and misfortune collide in full force. Director Stephen Lawless tells the Dutchman's story with theatrical flair, including a stunning ship of blood-red sails that places the opera's dramatic action in bold relief. The opera is famous for its tempestuous overture, Senta's passionate ballad, and its riveting final scene set atop a stormbattered bluff.

Soprano Michelle Bradley and pianist Michael Gaertner, winners of the 2014 Music Academy of the West Marilyn Horne Song Competition, will perform a program of lieder, spirituals, and other works by Beethoven, Strauss, Duparc, Faure, Poulenc, Bachelet, and H.T. Burleigh in recital appearances this May in Santa Barbara, Dallas, and New York City.

With all its money problems, why hasn't the Met thought about doing some lesser known works in concert? Or, for that matter, marshalled some of its glamorous resources to put on the Verdi REQUIEM? For the time being, we have to be grateful for the New York Philharmonic and its Music Director Alan Gilbert for reminding us how powerful this music can be.

The Collegiate Chorale announces the postponement of George F. Handel's Susanna from February 3, 2015 to the company's 2015/16 Season, with date and time to be confirmed.

The New York Philharmonic's 2015-16 season reflects Music Director Alan Gilbert's and the organization's belief in the rich rewards of collaboration with artistic and institutional leaders, and in expanding the idea of what a symphony orchestra can be through a range of diverse programming and educational activities. Artistic partnerships will grow through enhanced curatorial influences, and national and international collaborations will continue to further cement the Orchestra's role as a resource in New York City and around the world.

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, this weekend, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

The Collegiate Chorale continues its 2014-15 season with George F. Handel's Susanna on February 3, 2015 at 8pm at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Tickets are $30-$95 and are available at TicketMaster.com. For more information, visit http://collegiatechorale.org/performances/susanna.

Watch the complete new AMERICAN VOICES special now!

World-renowned American opera singer Renée Fleming convenes a festival of special guests to celebrate the diverse range of America's vocal artistry. Young artists receive mentoring from respected singers including Ben Folds, Dianne Reeves, Sutton Foster, Eric Owens, Kim Burrell and Alison Krauss. Also see performances by Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles and Norm Lewis.

Soprano Angela Meade, the youngest singer ever featured on the cover of the “Diva Issue” of Opera News (November 2014), launches 2015 with a trio of high-profile events in January. She makes her eagerly awaited debut with the New York Philharmonic under Alan Gilbert in three performances of Verdi's Requiem at Avery Fisher Hall (Jan 15-17). Later in the month audiences have the opportunity to hear her star turn in the Richard Tucker Music Foundation's annual gala concert on aLive From Lincoln Center broadcast. “Richard Tucker Opera Gala: A New Century”, which was taped last October, airs on PBS on Friday, January 23, 2015. This weekend Meade is performing in a more intimate New York setting at the Morgan Library (Jan 11) where she shares the bill of a George London Recital with baritone Nicholas Pallesen, a fellow winner of the George London prize.

The art of singing is center stage in our country's popular culture: from Glee and 106 & Park to American Idol, The Voice, and Nashville, and even at sporting events and national ceremonies.

A new look at AMERICAN VOICES!