James Valenti News

Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts is regarded as one of the premiere opera training schools in the world. Every year over 200 singers audition to become one of the school's roster of Resident Artists – 28 of the most talented and promising opera singers from around the world. This year, AVA features Resident Artists from Armenia, Austria, Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Serbia, and the United States.

In conjunction with the centennial of World War I and the Kansas City debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning production of Silent Night, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Over There! at the National World War I Museum tonight, August 23. This 1914 field dining experience, co-chaired by Trudy and Jack Gabriel, will include a cabaret performance featuring music of the era.

In conjunction with the centennial of World War I and the Kansas City debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning production of Silent Night, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Over There! at the National World War I Museum on Saturday, August 23. This 1914 field dining experience, co-chaired by Trudy and Jack Gabriel, will include a cabaret performance featuring music of the era.

The Dallas Opera has announced the result of this year's balloting for the 2014 “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award: American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who made a dazzling Dallas Opera stage debut as the headstrong-yet-lovable Rosina in our season finale, Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

Ten artists have been nominated and thousands of subscribers will soon be casting their vote for this year's winner of the prestigious 'Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year' Award. The Dallas Opera bestows this award annually to the performer who makes the most unforgettable impression onstage in their company debut. The winner will be announced at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner tonight, May 22, 2014 in the Crescent Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, 400 Crescent Court in Uptown Dallas.

By this time in the Met's season, audiences can be a little “been there, done that”--but not when it came to Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais, singing the title role in Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY for the first time in New York. They nearly stormed the stage when she came out for her curtain call, and with good reason. She was spectacular.

Ten artists have been nominated and thousands of subscribers will soon be casting their vote for this year's winner of the prestigious “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award. The Dallas Opera bestows this award annually to the performer who makes the most unforgettable impression onstage in their company debut. The winner will be announced at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, May 22, 2014 in the Crescent Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, 400 Crescent Court in Uptown Dallas.

Ten artists have been nominated and thousands of subscribers will soon be casting their vote for this year's winner of the prestigious “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award. The Dallas Opera bestows this award annually to the performer who makes the most unforgettable impression onstage in their company debut. The winner will be announced at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, May 22, 2014 in the Crescent Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, 400 Crescent Court in Uptown Dallas.

Internationally Acclaimed Tenor, James Valenti will be making his triumphant return tothe Metropolitan Opera located at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City as he takes on the role of Lt. Pinkerton inPuccini's "Madama Butterfly" on April 4, 9, 12 and 15. Valenti has been praised by critics for having a voice of Italianate lustre and is part of the long-standing tradition of great Italian tenors. The sought after 6'5 tenor has built a global reputation for his elegant musicianship, commanding stage presence, ardent vocal style and striking good looks.

Internationally Acclaimed Tenor, James Valenti will be making his triumphant return tothe Metropolitan Opera located at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City as he takes on the role of Lt. Pinkerton inPuccini's “Madama Butterfly” on April 4, 9, 12 and 15. Valenti has been praised by critics for having a voice of Italianate lustre and is part of the long-standing tradition of great Italian tenors. The sought after 6'5 tenor has built a global reputation for his elegant musicianship, commanding stage presence, ardent vocal style and striking good looks.

Minnesota Opera presents a major new revival of Dominick Argento's The Dream of Valentino as the sixth production of the New Works Initiative. A sultry young dancer is transformed from an unknown immigrant into a silent film sensation. Rudolph Valentino's stardom blazes across the silver screen but is quickly consumed by the same forces that ignited it. Seduction and scandal swirl in this tango-tinged opera about an artist discovered and destroyed by Hollywood. Composed by Argento with a libretto by Charles Nolte as a joint commission between Washington and Dallas opera companies, the work received its world premiere in 1994 at The Kennedy Center, where it was described by the Chicago Tribune as “visually and theatrically ... a thumping success.”

Minnesota Opera presents a major new revival of Dominick Argento's The Dream of Valentino as the sixth production of the New Works Initiative. A sultry young dancer is transformed from an unknown immigrant into a silent film sensation. Rudolph Valentino's stardom blazes across the silver screen but is quickly consumed by the same forces that ignited it. Seduction and scandal swirl in this tango-tinged opera about an artist discovered and destroyed by Hollywood. Composed by Argento with a libretto by Charles Nolte as a joint commission between Washington and Dallas opera companies, the work received its world premiere in 1994 at The Kennedy Center, where it was described by the Chicago Tribune as “visually and theatrically ... a thumping success.”

Three sopranos will sing their first Met performances of the title role in Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Met this season.

American soprano Patricia Racette, known throughout the world for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Madama Butterfly), will star in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Puccini's ever-popular masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which opens at Lyric tonight, January 11. There will be six performances - Jan. 11, 14, 17, and 20 beginning at 7:30pm, and Jan. 23 and 26 beginning at 2pm.

American soprano Patricia Racette, known throughout the world for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Madama Butterfly), will star in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Puccini's beloved masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which opens at Lyric with a new cast this Saturday, January 11. There will be six performances - Jan. 11, 14, 17, and 20 beginning at 7:30pm, and Jan. 23 and 26 beginning at 2pm.

Three sopranos will sing their first Met performances of the title role in Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Met this season.

Tenor Jeffrey Halili and fellow graduates and resident artists of Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts performed November 30 (and again on December 14) at Philadelphia's First Presbyterian for American Red Cross typhoon relief

In response to the devastation caused in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month, which has left 1.9 million homeless and more than 600,000 people displaced, the Academy of Vocal Arts has joined forces with the First Presbyterian Church to co-present two evenings of arias that will benefit victims of the storm.

American soprano Patricia Racette, known throughout the world for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Madama Butterfly), will star in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Puccini's ever-popular masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which opens at Lyric on Saturday, January 11. There will be six performances – Jan. 11, 14, 17, and 20 beginning at 7:30pm, and Jan. 23 and 26 beginning at 2pm.

In response to the devastation caused in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month, which has left 1.9 million homeless and more than 600,000 people displaced, the Academy of Vocal Arts has joined forces with the First Presbyterian Church to co-present two evenings of arias that will benefit victims of the storm.