John Adams News

Courtney Lewis, age 29, has been named New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor beginning in September 2014. Current Assistant Conductor Case Scaglione, age 31, will be promoted to Associate Conductor, also to begin in September 2014. They will assist Music Director Alan Gilbert and all guest conductors throughout the season, and will lead educational events, including School Day Concerts and Young People's Concerts. Joshua Weilerstein, who has been Assistant Conductor along with Mr. Scaglione since September 2011, will conclude his tenure as Assistant Conductor at the end of the 2013-14 season.

The critical response to Houston's American premiere production of The Passenger was overwhelming. Classical Voice America proclaimed the opera “a masterpiece,” and the Chicago Tribune found it an “engrossing, thought-provoking experience” that “deserves [a place] in the regular repertory.” Houston's production impressed the Houston Chronicle as one “that unites commanding performances and vivid, fast-paced staging,” while the Wall Street Journalcommended the way “conductor Patrick Summers shaped the evening with enormous care.” As for the performers, “top to bottom, the cast is excellent,” asserted the Dallas Morning News. Melody Moore “gave Marta's anguish lyricism and strength” (Wall Street Journal), “Michelle Breedt's instrument seemed ideally suited to the role of Liese” (Classical Voice America), and “Kelly Kaduce was mesmerizing” as Katya (Wall Street Journal). The Toronto Star concluded:

Sonic Boom 2014 showcases the new, compositional works of some of British Columbia`s most interesting composers, being performed by some of the best musicians of the Lower Mainland. This 5 day, musical event is comprised of four evening concerts supplemented by workshops, lectures/panel discussions, and a Student Composers' Master Class. This year, the festival features the Erato Ensemble, Heidi Krutzen and John Oliver, as well as an eclectic mix of other new, small ensembles.

The March broadcasts of The New York Philharmonic This Week - the weekly radio series of concerts and recordings by the New York Philharmonic, hosted by Alec Baldwin - begin with Music Director Alan Gilbert leading the Philharmonic in the World Premiere of The Marie-Josee Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse's Prospero's Rooms; Bernstein's Serenade (after Plato's "Symposium"), with Joshua Bell as soloist; and Ives's Symphony No. 4 with representatives of the New York Choral Consortium. The following week Alan Gilbert and Assistant Conductor Case Scaglione will lead the Philharmonic in a performance of Stravinsky's Ragtime for 11 Instruments; Shostakovich's Tahiti Trot; Copland's Clarinet Concerto featuring Associate Principal Clarinet Marc Nuccio; and Wynton Marsalis's Swing Symphony (Symphony No. 3) featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The Evergreen Chorale presents 'Forever Plaid' February 21 through March 9 at Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, CO, 80439. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Conductor Michael Christie will lead the opening concerts of the Minnesota Orchestra's classical season subscription series today, February 20 at 11am; Friday, February 21 at 8pm; and Saturday, February 22 at 8pm as the orchestra returns to the renovated Orchestra Hall (1111 Nicollet Mall) for its homecoming subscription series, which runs from February through July 2014.

Perhaps the most controversial opera of the 20th century makes its Southern California debut when Long Beach Opera (LBO) stages John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer on March 16 and March 22 at the Terrace Theater in downtown Long Beach. This powerful and unsettling work chronicles the 1985 hijacking of the Mediterranean cruise ship Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists and the murder of disabled Jewish-American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer. LBO's production is a partner presentation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 'Minimalist Jukebox' Festival.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) Philharmonia Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chorale and Cincinnati Children's Choir proudly present a stirring rendition of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams' El Ni'o at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in UC's Corbett Auditorium. CCM welcomes guest artists Michael Maniaci, Eric Jurenas and Steven Rickards for this performance. Director of Choral Studies Earl Rivers conducts.

The new year has already brought notable success for Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where the hotly anticipated American premiere of the long-lost Holocaust opera The Passenger-hailed by the Associated Press as 'the latest coup for a company known for producing new works'-took the national and local press by storm, and where the company's Rigoletto revival was pronounced 'glorious' (Theater Jones). These accolades come at an exciting time for the company, which continues this season's extraordinary line-up with the launch of the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by La Fura dels Baus; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve 'must-see opera events of the season' (Opera News); a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; and Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic will continue The Nielsen Project-the Philharmonic's multi-year focus on Danish composer Carl Nielsen launched in the 2010-11 season-with performances of Nielsen'sHelios Overture and Symphony No. 1, both in their first-ever performances at the Philharmonic, and Symphony No. 4, Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. The works will be recorded for later release on Denmark's Dacapo label.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is pleased to announce that soprano Ana María Martínezand bass-baritone Eric Owens will serve as the inaugural Community Ambassadors as part of the Lyric Unlimited initiative. These two artists will strengthen and actively participate in new, ongoing, and future Lyric Unlimited programs that serve and engage schools and the larger community, including the Vocal Partnership Program, Youth Opera Council, Teen Opera Circle, Lyric's ongoing relationship with Latino communities, and other collaborative community events. Martínez and Owens are starring in Lyric's new production of Rusalka, which opens on Saturday, February 22 and runs through March 16.

The adventurous St. Lawrence String Quartet marks its third Segerstrom Center appearance with an exciting program that includes a world premiere of composer James Matheson's new string quartet commissioned for the Center's Chamber Music Series by long-time subscribers Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting.

The Metropolitan Opera announced that Robert Rattray has been appointed the company's new Assistant General Manager, Artistic. He will begin his tenure this August, when rehearsals begin for the 2014-15 season. Rattray replaces Sarah Billinghurst, who will retire at the end of the current season after 20 years at the Met.

Max McLean, Artistic Director of Fellowship for the Performing Arts, announces that C.S. Lewis' THE GREAT DIVORCE will be presented at The Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts, 430 South Tryon Street, for three performances only today, February 15 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 16 at 3 p.m. This journey to Heaven and Hell is a provocative exploration of human nature, featuring vivid characters drawn with Lewis' trademark wit. THE GREAT DIVORCE National Tour will visit cities including Cleveland, Nashville, Colorado Springs and Columbus in 2014.

Carnegie Hall celebrates the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking contemporary music ensemble Kronos Quartet with a one-night-only concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage featuring collaborations with some of the group's close colleagues and longtime artistic partners on Friday, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. The program includes the world premiere of Terry Riley's The Serquent Risadome, commissioned by Carnegie Hall and written for the anniversary, which marks the 27th new work for Kronos by the acclaimed California maverick composer.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2014-15 season will feature 26 operas, three of them company premieres, in six new productions and 18 revivals showcasing the talents of the world's leading singers, conductors, and theater artists. The three operas that will have their first-ever Met performances, each staged by a director making his Met debut, are John Adams's The Death of Klinghoffer, conducted by David Robertson and directed by Tom Morris, opening October 20; Rossini's La Donna del Lago, conducted by Michele Mariottiand directed by Paul Curran, opening February 16, 2015; and Tchaikovsky's one-act operaIolanta, conducted by Valery Gergiev and directed by Mariusz Treli?ski. Iolanta will be presented in a double bill with a new staging of Bartók's one-act Duke Bluebeard's Castle,also conducted by Gergiev and directed by Treli?ski.

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live transmissions to more than 2,000 movie theaters in 65 countries around the world, will feature ten operas in the 2014-15 season, including all six new productions in the Met season. All ten performances, transmitted live from the Met stage, will feature the world's finest singers, conductors, and theatrical artists.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2014-15 season will feature 26 operas, three of them company premieres, in six new productions and 18 revivals showcasing the talents of the world's leading singers, conductors, and theater artists. The three operas that will have their first-ever Met performances, each staged by a director making his Met debut, are John Adams's The Death of Klinghoffer, conducted by David Robertson and directed by Tom Morris, opening October 20; Rossini's La Donna del Lago, conducted by Michele Mariotti and directed by Paul Curran, opening February 16, 2015; and Tchaikovsky's one-act opera Iolanta, conducted by Valery Gergiev and directed by Mariusz Treli?ski. Iolanta will be presented in a double bill with a new staging of Bartok's one-act Duke Bluebeard's Castle, also conducted by Gergiev and directed by Treli?ski.

Conductor Karen Kamensek exudes authority, gives off a distinct overachiever vibe and projects wisdom beyond her years.