There's usually not much in the way of fireworks in New York between New Year's and July 4th, but there certainly is no shortage of pyrotechnics in the Met's new Maria Stuarda, which is having its long-overdue premiere in the house. It brings us two sensational performances: American mezzo Joyce DiDonato in the title role, Mary Stuart (Maria), and South African soprano Elza van den Heever as Elizabeth I (Elisabetta).
OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera in the U.S. and Canada, will open the field's custom-designed NATIONAL OPERA CENTER, employing urban repurposed architecture in the heart of New York City. The National Opera Center opens for business on September 4, with the official ribbon cutting taking place on September 28. The National Opera Center of OPERA America provides an array of essential facilities and services to the opera industry that have been sorely needed and never before available under a single roof. Encompassing 25,000 square feet on two floors of a former fur factory on Seventh Avenue at 29th Street, this $14 million project of OPERA America ($6 million for construction, $6 million for operating endowment and $2 million in relocation costs from Washington, D.C. to NYC) will serve as the heart of an industry that is widely disbursed, yet inherently collaborative. OPERA America's National Opera Center is the first-ever such facility built specifically for opera rehearsals, auditions and meetings. The creation of this facility was an innovative, dynamic and comprehensive response to the lack of appropriate spaces for these activities in New York City. It is truly a convening hub, a place to audition, a place to rehearse, a place to perform, a place to unite. Andrew Berman Architect designed the center, with acoustics by Robert R. Mahoney & Associates.
The editors of Opera News have announced the honorees for the 2012 Opera News Awards, paying tribute to five superb artists who have made an invaluable contribution to the art form: sopranos Mirella Freni and Dawn Upshaw, countertenor David Daniels, baritone Simon Keenlyside, and bass-baritone Eric Owens. The eighth annual Opera News Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 21 at The Plaza in New York City. All the winners - and a host of the city's cultural, civic, and social luminaries - will be present at the gala awards dinner, which will feature celebrity presenters speaking about the awardees and introducing video performance clips.
Contracted marriage, the lady kills her husband, goes 'mad' and dies, and then her real lover kills himself at her graveside. That's the formula for Lucia that showcases the great sopranos and tenors of the day in Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti's most popular opera, set to screen as part of the Metropolitan Opera's HD summer encores series.
Contracted marriage, the lady kills her husband, goes 'mad' and dies, and then her real lover kills himself at her graveside. That's the formula for Lucia that showcases the great sopranos and tenors of the day in Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti's most popular opera, set to screen as part of the Metropolitan Opera's HD summer encores series.
From February 22 to 24, 2012, EarShot (the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, will present the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Readings at Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo). On Thursday, February 23 at 7pm at Kleinhans Hall, the public will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing brand new orchestral works to life, as music by the four selected composers is read by the BPO under the baton of associate conductor, Matthew Kraemer.
From February 22 to 24, 2012, EarShot (the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, will present the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Readings at Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo). On Thursday, February 23 at 7pm at Kleinhans Hall, the public will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing brand new orchestral works to life, as music by the four selected composers is read by the BPO under the baton of associate conductor, Matthew Kraemer.
From February 22 to 24, 2012, EarShot (the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, will present the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Readings at Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo). On Thursday, February 23 at 7pm at Kleinhans Hall, the public will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing brand new orchestral works to life, as music by the four selected composers is read by the BPO under the baton of associate conductor, Matthew Kraemer.
Opera Index presents its 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award to opera pioneer and Opera Orchestra of New York founder Eve Queler at its 28th annual black-tie winter gala on Sunday, January 15.
The New York Choral Society (NYCS) returns to Carnegie Hall under the baton of John Daly Goodwin on Wednesday, December 14th at 8pm for 'A Joyful Noise.'
The New York Choral Society (NYCS) will open the season on September 11th with a special performance commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.
The Lotte Lenya Competition, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2012, seeks exceptionally talented young singer/actors who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2012 competition. Contestants will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500; additional special prizes will be awarded.
The New York Choral Society (NYCS) will open the season on September 11th with a special performance commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.
The seventh annual Opera News Awards will be presented on Sunday, April 29 at The Plaza in New York City, paying tribute to five extraordinary artists who have made an invaluable contribution to the art form: sopranos Karita Mattila and Anja Silja, baritones Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Peter Mattei, and director Peter Sellars.
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman announced the recipients of the 2011 NEA Opera Honors at a meeting of the National Council on the Arts, the NEA's advisory body on Friday, June 24, 2011. Now in its fourth year, the NEA Opera Honors is the highest award our nation bestows in opera.
This year's honorees are:
New York Choral Society (NYCS) will close its? 52nd season with a performance of Antonín Dvo?ák?s powerful Stabat Mater on May 1, commemorating the death of the great composer on May 1,1904. The performance will feature acclaimed soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and bass-baritone Burak Bigili accompanied by the Brooklyn Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall at 2pm.
The complete list of presenters at the sixth annual Opera News Awards, which will take place on April 17 at The Plaza in New York City, has been announced: beloved singer Barbara Cook will present the award to tenor Jonas Kaufmann; iconic film director Francis Ford Coppola will present to conductor Riccardo Muti; legendary soprano Renata Scotto will present to soprano Patricia Racette; conductor Andrew Davis will present to soprano Kiri Te Kanawa; and award-winning playwright John Guare will present to bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.
Broadway icon Patti LuPone and acclaimed mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe will co-host the sixth annual Opera News Awards, which will take place on April 17 at The Plaza in New York City.
New York Choral Society (NYCS) will close its? 52nd season with a performance of Antonín Dvo?ák?s powerful Stabat Mater on May 1, commemorating the death of the great composer on May 1,1904. The performance will feature acclaimed soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and bass-baritone Burak Bigili accompanied by the Brooklyn Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall at 2pm.
