Quick: What film won the Golden Globe for Best Movie in 1997? It was THE ENGLISH PATIENT. But more important for composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, the question is “What film didn't win the Golden Globe in 1997?” The answer (for them, at least) is Lars von Trier's BREAKING THE WAVES, which they've transformed into an opera of the same name, premiering at Opera Philadelphia, September 22.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Louis Langree are pleased to announce details of the second installment of a three-year exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's 1893 symbolist play, Pelleas et Melisande, a collaboration with director, production designer and visual artist James Darrah, one of the edgiest names in music and opera today. This artistic undertaking utilizes groundbreaking visual elements, complementing orchestral works by Schoenberg, Faure and Debussy, performed by the CSO.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Louis Langree are pleased to announce details of the second installment of a three-year exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's 1893 symbolist play, Pelleas et Melisande, a collaboration with director, production designer and visual artist James Darrah. This artistic undertaking utilizes groundbreaking visual elements, complementing orchestral works by Schoenberg, Faure and Debussy, performed by the CSO.
For the second year running, Opera Philadelphia launches the new season with a world premiere. Inspired by Lars von Trier's searing Oscar-nominated 1996 film, Breaking the Waves is a new three-act chamber opera that draws on the talents of three of today's foremost young creative artists: composer Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek, and director James Darrah. Starring soprano Kiera Duffy and baritone John Moore, the premiere production takes place over five performances in the Kimmel Center's intimate Perelman Theater under the baton of Steven Osgood (Sep 22-Oct 1).
On Monday, September 12, 2016, Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents discussion with the creators and excerpts of Opera Philadelphia's upcoming world premiere of Breaking the Waves by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek.
It probably would have been worth the trip to Bard SummerScape's production of Pietro Mascagni's IRIS—last heard at the Met in 1931--simply to make the acquaintance of soprano Talise Trevigne. Through much suffering and indignity, Trevigne sang the title role in a luxurious, plush-voiced, physical performance that made the most of the score by the composer who will always be known for CAVALLERIA RUSTIANA, that signpost of verismo opera. She's a find, and I hope to hear her again.
Opera Philadelphia looks forward to launching the 2016-17 season with the world premiere of a new company co-commission, Breaking the Waves (Sep 22-Oct 1).
Although the solstice doesn't officially appear for another week or so, the summer opera clock is already ticking. There's a plethora of performances going on all over New York City, in addition to interesting, entertaining and fascinating productions that are just a hop, skip and jump away. Among them: Lincoln Center's Lincoln Center Festival and Mostly Mozart and On Site Opera's West Village venue, to the more bucolic realms of Bard SummerScape in Dutchess County (NY) for Mascagni and Caramoor in Katonah (NY) for Rossini and Beethoven.
-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.
Recorded for posterity, the acclaimed, one-night-only 13-suite performance of Zappa's 1971 masterwork will be released worldwide on November 20 by Zappa Records/UMe.
On October 23 & 24, Persona, a new opera from composer Keeril Makan and adaptor / librettist / director Jay Scheib, will make its world premiere at National Sawdust. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and National Sawdust, and adapted by Scheib from Ingmar Bergman's film of the same name, Persona is a provocative, highly cerebral, and artistically complex depiction of human frailty, cruelty and identity. These world premiere performances—which represent the first opera staged at National Sawdust—feature music direction by Evan Ziporyn and music by the ensemble Either/Or.
On October 23 & 24, Persona, a new opera from composer Keeril Makan and adaptor / librettist / director Jay Scheib, will make its world premiere at National Sawdust. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and National Sawdust, and adapted by Scheib from Ingmar Bergman's film of the same name, Persona is a provocative, highly cerebral, and artistically complex depiction of human frailty, cruelty and identity. These world premiere performances—which represent the first opera staged at National Sawdust—feature music direction by Evan Ziporyn and music by the ensemble Either/Or.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Louis Langree are thrilled to announce a three-year collaboration with director, production designer and visual artist James Darrah. The project involves a multi-faceted exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's 1893 symbolist play, Pelleas et Melisande.
Music Director Franz Welser-Möst continues his focus on and commitment to opera with a new production of Richard Strauss's Daphne performed by The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall May 27 and 30. For Daphne, a work the composer called a “bucolic tragedy,” the Orchestra's production brings the majesty of the outdoors to the intimate setting of Severance Hall. Los Angeles-based stage director James Darrah transforms Severance Hall into a tableau of nature, within the concert hall's classically inspired architecture. The story unfolds around the Orchestra with dance, men's chorus, and a cast of singers costumed in a contemporary interpretation of traditional Greek attire.
On Wednesday 14 January 2015, at HUSH in Mayfair, the finalists of the International Opera Awards 2015 were announced. These were selected by the jury chaired by John Allison, editor of Opera magazine and classical music critic with The Daily Telegraph.
LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams leads the LA Phil New Music Group in an evening of edgy works by some of today's most avant-garde composers - HK Gruber, John Zorn and Olga Neuwirth - at Walt Disney Concert Hall, tonight, January 13, at 8 pm. The concert features performances by chansonnier Pieter Embrechts and countertenor Nathan Medley in a staged production by Chromatic, a Los Angeles-based production company led by director James Darrah.
LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams leads the LA Phil New Music Group in an evening of edgy works by some of today's most avant-garde composers - HK Gruber, John Zorn and Olga Neuwirth - at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tuesday, January 13, at 8 pm. The concert features performances by chansonnier Pieter Embrechts and countertenor Nathan Medley in a staged production by Chromatic, a Los Angeles-based production company led by director James Darrah.
Los Angeles Philharmonic presents Anthony Newman, John Adams, Kremer & Trifonov in Recital, and more January-March 2015 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
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