Frederica von Stade News

Whether from disease, 19th century #MeToo-style abuse, or unrequited love, Opera Philadelphia's (OP) Festival O18 opening weekend showed us three ways that central female characters lost their grip on reality. While I considered only one of them a total success, audience openness to sometimes-demanding material made it clear that the company has found a formula that strikes at the hearts of opera-goers, new and old.

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.   As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus 'Va, pensiero,' from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

“I was, like many composers, not someone who was immediately in love with the human voice, the operatic voice, in new music,” says Lembit Beecher, whose opinion has definitely changed. He has become a powerful new force in the medium, with his new opera, SKY ON SWINGS, written with librettist Hannah Moskovitch and directed by Joanna Settle, opening the second year of Opera Philadelphia's Festival, O18, on September 20. It stars two formidable mezzos, Frederica von Stade and Marietta Simpson.

A concert celebrating the 95th birthday of Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy Award-winning composer Ned Rorem (b. Oct. 23, 1923). The concert features the world premiere of the clarinet, violin and piano version of 'Pas de Trois' and a performance of 'Four Colors', composed for clarinetist Thomas Piercy, a long-time champion of Rorem's music. The concert also features three pieces composed for Thomas Piercy as Rorem birthday celebration music by former students of Rorem: Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon, and Troy Peters. Joining Piercy in the concert are violinist Eiko Kano and composer/pianist Chen Yihan.

You can't accuse Opera Philadelphia's O18 Festival--running September 20-30 at various city venues--of being predictable. But no one would chastise you if you were to think: How do you follow-up what seems like a once-in-a-lifetime event, last year's O17? Well, as Monty Python used to say, 'And now for something completely different...'

A concert celebrating the 95th birthday of Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy Award-winning composer Ned Rorem (b. Oct. 23, 1923). The concert features the world premiere of the clarinet, violin and piano version of 'Pas de Trois' and a performance of 'Four Colors', composed for clarinetist Thomas Piercy, a long-time champion of Rorem's music. The concert also features three pieces composed for Thomas Piercy as Rorem birthday celebration music by former students of Rorem: Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon, and Troy Peters. Joining Piercy in the concert are violinist Eiko Kano and composer/pianist Chen Yihan.

Lauded as “one of the most creative and ambitious companies in this country” (New York Times), Opera Philadelphia justified that reputation once again when it launched its inaugural Festival O last season; the Washington Post found it “one of the most enjoyable additions to the fall calendar in years,” and the Philadelphia Inquirer noted the festival's ambition “not to follow taste but to lead it.”

Glass Handel is one of two innovative and thought-provoking world premiere productions that highlight O18, the second edition of Opera Philadelphia's annual season-opening festival. Staged on September 22, 23 and 30 in the expansive Annenberg Court of Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation, home to O17's The Wake World, the new work is an immersive, multidisciplinary operatic installation headlined and created by American countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo – “a bona-fide star” (New Yorker) – in collaboration with producer Cath Brittan and avant-garde fashion/art company Visionaire. Under their curation, music by Baroque master George Frederic Handel and living legend Philip Glass meets the worlds of art, fashion, dance, and film through collaboration with a host of luminaries: fine artist George Condo; designer Raf Simons from fashion house Calvin Klein; choreographer Justin Peck; ballet dancers David Hallberg and Patricia Delgado; performance artist Ryan McNamara; and filmmakers including James Ivory, Maurizio Cattelan, Mickalene Thomas and Mark Romanek. Opera Philadelphia's world premiere production also marks the official launch of ARC, Costanzo's solo album debut, a collection of Glass and Handel arias due for September 21 release on Decca Gold.

O18, the second edition of Opera Philadelphia's annual season-opening festival, launches on September 20 – on the eve of World Alzheimer's Day – with the world premiere of Sky on Swings.

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971. The foundation and the George London Awards (the prize of the foundation's annual competition) are named for the legendary Canadian-American bass-baritone, one of the greatest opera singers of 20th century, who devoted much of his time and energy in his later years to the support and nurturing of young opera singers.

In an onstage presentation following the July 1 performance of Richard Wagner's Gotterdammerung, San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock presented former general director David Gockley with the San Francisco Opera Medal, the Company's highest honor. An industry pioneer who helped shape the operatic repertory and build new audiences for the artform, Gockley served ten years at the helm of San Francisco Opera and is currently the Company's General Director Emeritus.

The Newport Music Festival's 50th season commences on July 4th at King Park with a free concert with Boston Brass. The concert will precede the annual firework display along the Newport Harbor. The concert will begin with the national anthem and includes an array of familiar tunes honoring members of the U.S. military and presents selections from composers whose experiences in this country are reflected in their music -- from Copland's "Simple Gifts" to Carmichael's "Stardust," Gershwin's 'Summertime" and Bernstein's "America."

The Metropolitan Opera Guild today announced that the honoree of the 84th Annual Guild Luncheon will be legendary soprano Anna Netrebko. The celebration will take place on Friday, October 26th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The Metropolitan Opera Guild today announced that the honoree of the 84th Annual Guild Luncheon will be legendary soprano Anna Netrebko. The celebration will take place on Friday, October 26th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The celebrated Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo will perform at the 18th New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes on Wednesday, June 27 at 7pm at the Americas Society, 680 Park Avenue, New York. The Duo will be joined by Brazilian guitarist João Luiz in a concert celebrating Music from the Americas. In addition to works by Brazilian composers Piazzolla, Machado, Jobim, Simas, Clarice Assad, Villa-Lobos and Bellinati, the program will also feature works by US native Paul Moravec and Argentinean Astor Piazzolla. The concert is produced in partnership with the Americas Society, and part of the New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes that takes place from June 26 to July 1. Tickets are $20.00, $10.00 for students and can be purchased at the door, directly from the Americas Society or atwww.mannesguitar.com.

Richard Kessler, Dean of Mannes School of Music and Executive Dean of the College of Performing Arts at The New School, announced today the appointment of Emma Griffin as the Managing Artistic Director of the Mannes Opera. Griffin, whose hiring is the result of an international search, succeeds Joseph Colaneri, who stepped down as Artistic Director of The Mannes Opera after a highly successful 20 year tenure.

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971. The foundation and the George London Awards (the prize of the foundation's annual competition) are named for the legendary Canadian-American bass-baritone, one of the greatest opera singers of 20th century, who devoted much of his time and energy in his later years to the support and nurturing of young opera singers.

The Eisemann Center and the City of Richardson announced the 2018-2019 Season of Eisemann Center Presents (ECP) at the Annual Season Preview Party on Thursday, May 10, 2019. The season includes our two full subscription series: Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations with a total of four concerts; and the Family Theatre Series with four productions and the accompanying immersive children's program Eisemann Extras. In addition we have 11 Music & Dance performances featuring a diverse mix of programming and artists; five Theatre & Comedy productions with 18 performances, including new works by returning artists Jaston Williams, Steve Solomon and Pat Hazell along with four Family & Broadway Specials productions with eight performances.

This August, New York City will host the first ever Classical Bridge, an international music festival, academy and conference designed to build bridges through the music. Presented by New York Concert Artists & Associates (NYCA), the inaugural event runs August 4 - 11 at Merkin Concert Hall atKaufman Music Center (129 West 67th Street, between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave), Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, at 96th Street), and Steinway Hall (1133 Avenue of the Americas at 44th Street). For tickets. reservations and more information visit www.ClassicalBridge.org.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will present the Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert featuring screenings of the complete film with Oscar-winning composer John Williams' musical score performed live with the film on September 7, 8 and 9 2018 at Cincinnati Music Hall. The three performances will be led by Cincinnati Pops conductor John Morris Russell.