Houston Grand Opera News

Sinatra & Mercer....What a perfect pair! While International Sinatra Tribute Singer Richard Shelton, takes you on a journey of Sinatra with his music and stories, 'Opera Great turned Jazz Great' Rose Kingsley, returns to Lincoln Center, with songs and stories of the Great Johnny Mercer. All Mercer songs have been arranged for Rose by, Bob Corwin, who was Johnny Mercer's Musical Director and Pianist for 20 years. This special event is supported by the Mercer Family in an effort to keep his music alive for future generations.

Three members of Houston Grand Opera's prestigious Studio program were named the 2019 winners at the 65th annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Five winners were chosen, each receiving a $15,000 cash prize. This announcement came after a months-long series of auditions involving more than 1,000 singers at the district, regional and national levels.

The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra is pleased to announce that acclaimed Kansas City conductor, Ward Holmquist, will guest conduct their upcoming concert. "I had a great time leading performances of J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra during their 2017 - 18 Season and I'm so thrilled to be back with them again for Spanning the Centuries in May," said Holmquist.

Boston Baroque presents Monteverdi's final opera, L'incoronazione di Poppea, on Friday, April 26th at 7:30pm and on Sunday, April 28th at 3pm at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. These will be the first performances of a new performing edition of the opera by Boston Baroque founder and Music Director Martin Pearlman. The all-star cast includes soprano Amanda Forsythe in the title role and countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo making his Boston Baroque debut as Nero.

Ars Lyrica Houston, the Grammy nominated early music ensemble, celebrates its 15th-year anniversary with the announcement of the 2019/20 season entitled "National Treasures." This season explores iconic moments in diverse European cultures, from Venice in the late 17thcentury through Madrid in the early 19thcentury. With a range of musical styles and genres accompanied by dance, visual art, and dramatization, this season illuminates defining moments in French, Italian, English, German, and Spanish cultural history. 

After a months-long series of auditions involving more than 1,000 singers at the district, regional, and national levels, a panel of expert judges named five singers as the winners of the 65th annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Each winner receives a $15,000 cash prize.

Seattle Opera's upcoming Carmen features instantly recognizable music, an opulent new production, and a number of company debuts

New York City Opera has announced that Blythe Gaissert & Michael Kelly and Briana Elyse Hunter & Jorell Williams will comprise the rotating casts of its upcoming production of AS ONE.

Utah Symphony and Utah Opera (USUO) unveil a series of creative projects to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike, the ceremonial final spike that joined the rails of America's First Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. After a concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Friday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m.-exactly 150 years to the day since the railroad's completion-USUO presents performances throughout the month of May that feature works newly composed to mark this anniversary. These events and many others are highlighted as part of Spike 150 (spike150.org), a statewide effort to celebrate the Golden Spike.

Was the pairing of Iain Bell and Mark Campbell--respectively, composer and librettist of New York City Opera's (NYCO) world premiere STONEWALL--'love at first sight”? I asked them. We were at the workshop in New York earlier this month that allowed them and director Leonard Foglia to cross the t's and dot the i's (and hear their new work performed).

Following yesterday's highly competitive semifinal competition, nine singers will advance to the final phase of the 65th annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, America's largest vocal competition. The winners will receive individual cash prizes of $15,000, while the remaining finalists will receive prizes of $7,500.

As a playwright you always hope that your script gets a first class production at a top theatre. Today's subject, Heather McDonald, is currently living her theatre life on a high as her world premiere play Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity is receiving such royal treatment. Featuring the likes of performers Holly Twyford, Felicia Curry, and Yesenia Iglesias, the production plays through April 7th in Signature Theatre's ARK space.

The Chicago premiere of Lyric's new coproduction of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece West Side Story features nearly 100 artists from Chicago and across the country.

After an international search, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is proud to announce the three new singers and one new pianists for the 2019 20 HGO Studio. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensive career development to young singers, pianist/coaches, and conductors who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to the field of opera. Seven up-and-coming opera stars remain active in the HGO Studio as well for the 2019 20 season.

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth has announced the programming, initial casting, and creative teams for the company's 2019-20 season, which comprises four opera productions at the newly renovated Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Featuring improved seating and sightlines on the orchestra level, the theatre reopens after a six-month closure for the company's season-opening production of Verdi's La traviata in October 2019. The season continues with composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell's Silent Night in January 2020, Rossini's The Barber of Seville in March 2020, and Massenet's Tha s in May 2020. Silent Night is presented as part of Utah Opera's American Opera Initiative, through which the company champions and commissions American contributions to the art form. Both Silent Night and Tha s are Utah Opera premieres.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is proud to announce an agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 51, extending the union's contract through July 31, 2022. This new multiyear collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covers fiscal years 2019 through fiscal year 2022.

Puccini's La Boheme, one of opera's best-known love stories, is returning to the stage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Art, life, love and loss collide for a charismatic group of struggling young artists in 19th-century Paris. Set to some of the most moving music ever composed, the story has captured the hearts of generations of audiences and inspired numerous adaptations, including the hit Broadway musical, Rent. La Boheme runs for 10 performances on April 17, 26, 28, May 2, 4, 5, 7, 11 (two performances), 22, 2019.

The Playthings Theatre, an LGBTQ+ Company in New York City, will be performing its gala concert PlayFresh on Monday, March 11th at 7:00pm. PlayFresh is an evening of new LGBTQ+ music performed by Broadway's finest. Playthings will be honoring Ricky Ian Gordon with The P.R.I.D.E. Performing Arts Award for his contribution to theatre and the LGBTQ+ community.

Maine State Music Theatre has announced that Kyle Coyer has joined Maine State Music Theatre in the newly created year-round position of Production Manager.

Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today the cast and creative team of the upcoming LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running on the main stage from March 1 through April 28. The press opening is Sunday, March 10 at 7:30pm. This hit sci-fi musical has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world for more than 30 years, following the story of floral assistant who stumbles across a new breed of carnivorous plant that promises to grant him fame, fortune and all his desires - as long as the blood keeps flowing. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will feature the creative talents of Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director) and Christopher Carter (Choreographer)