Howard Shore News

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

This summer, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival marks its 31st season in the beautiful seaside setting of Long Island's East End. The Island's longest-running classical music festival this year features 12 concerts from July 30 to August 24, featuring the signature mix of renowned and up-and-coming artists and classic and new music that has made it one of the most noteworthy summer music festivals in the country.

Court Theatre closes its 2013-2014 season with the Chicago premiere of M. Butterfly written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, with choreography by Jamie Guan. M. Butterfly will run May 8 - June 8, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:00PM.

Peter Jackson used his official Facebook page today to reveal the title of the third HOBBIT film - The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with "From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers"-who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams ("Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T., the Extra Terrestrial"), Howard Shore ("Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," "Hugo"), James Horner ("Titanic," "Star Trek," "Apollo 13") and Elliot Goldenthal ("Alien 3," "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for "Titanic" sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with “From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers”—who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams (“Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “E.T., the Extra Terrestrial”), Howard Shore (“Lord of the Rings,” “The Hobbit,” “Hugo”), James Horner (“Titanic,” “Star Trek,” “Apollo 13”) and Elliot Goldenthal (“Alien 3,” “Batman Forever” and “Batman and Robin”). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for “Titanic” sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Jacques Lacombe present Verdi's mammoth Requiem today, April 3-6 in Newark, New Brunswick and Morristown with soprano Marianne Fiset, mezzo-soprano Janara Kellerman, tenor Russell Thomas, bass Peter Volpe and the Montclair State University Chorale. Thomas returns to NJSO stages after his performance of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with the Orchestra in January. The April 5 performance at the State Theatre in New Brunswick is the NJSO's third College Night event of the season.

Signature Theatre has announced that the 'World of the Play' series continues with a panel of experts discussing The Practice and Performance of Kung Fu, presented in conjunction with the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu, on Saturday, March 29th from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The event is free and open to the general public (no reservations required).

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Jacques Lacombe present Verdi's mammoth Requiem April 3-6 in Newark, New Brunswick and Morristown with soprano Marianne Fiset, mezzo-soprano Janara Kellerman, tenor Russell Thomas, bass Peter Volpe and the Montclair State University Chorale. Thomas returns to NJSO stages after his performance of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with the Orchestra in January. The April 5 performance at the State Theatre in New Brunswick is the NJSO's third College Night event of the season.

Sarah Chang, one of the world's greatest violinists, will perform a recital at Mayo Performing Arts Center tonight, February 22, 2014 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29-69.

Sarah Chang, one of the world's greatest violinists, will perform a recital at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29-69.

One hundred fourteen scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2013 are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 86th Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

Carnegie Hall has announced its April 2014 calendar. Scroll down for details!

WaterTower Music previously announced details of the soundtrack to 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,' a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), the second in a trilogy of films by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The soundtrack will be released today, December 10, 2013, three days before the December 13 release of the film, and will be available both digitally and as a 2 CD set.

Moviegoers who are eagerly anticipating the December 13 release of the epic fantasy adventure 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,' will be able to secure their seats nearly a month in advance when tickets go on sale, online and in theaters in the U.S., on Thursday, November 21 at 9:00 AM ET. Fans will have the opportunity to see the movie first at midnight on Thursday, December 12.

The School of Music's popular musical extravaganza, the 21st Annual Music Celebration Concert, will ring in the holiday season with a broad range of music and scores of Ohio State student performers. Because of the way the calendar falls, the concert is being presented on a Tuesday for this year only - on December 3 at 8 pm in Mershon Auditorium on campus.

WaterTower Music today announced details of the soundtrack to "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM)

The Classical Recording Foundation (CRF) is pleased to announce the 2013 winners of its twelfth annual Classical Recording Foundation Awards. Four prizes will be presented at the Foundation's Annual Awards Concert and Benefit at 7:30pm on Monday, November 25, 2013 at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. The event will feature CRF Young Artist of the Year pianist Roman Rabinovich performing selections from his CD Ballets Russes (Orchid; March 2013), pianist Laura Leon performing works by CRF Composer of the Year Peter Schickele's album The Music of Peter Schickele, Samuel Sanders Collaborative Artists Award winners Hsin-Yun Huang and Sarah Rothenberg in selections from their recording Viola Viola (Bridge; November 2012); andClassical Recording Foundation Award winner, cellist Sophie Shao, performing selections from her upcoming double-CD set of J.S. Bach's Cello Suites. The proceeds from the 2013 Classical Recording Foundation Award Ceremony and Benefit will go toward the 2014 Awards.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents a provocative new workshop, Mediation Techniques for Producers: Dealing with the Off-Stage Dramas today, October 26, 2013 from 2-6pm at The NEW Playroom Theater, 151 West 46th Street, 8th floor, NYC. The cost to participate is $75 ($60 for TRU members, and ACR-GNY members).