Kevin Newbury News

Lyric Opera of Chicago and composer Jimmy Lopez are the recipients of the Prince Charitable Trusts 2013 Prince Prize for Commissioning New Original Work - the first time ever the Prince Prize has been awarded for an opera commission. The $75,000 award ($25,000 of which goes to the composer) was awarded for the opera Bel Canto, which is based on the best-selling Ann Pachett novel of the same name. The opera will receive its world premiere at Lyric in December of 2015 and will star renowned soprano Danielle de Niese in the central role. The libretto is by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Bel Canto will be directed by Kevin Newbury and conducted by Lyric Opera music director Sir Andrew Davis.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that the acclaimed American director Kevin Newbury will direct the world-premiere production of Bel Canto during the company's 2015-16 season. Newbury replaces Stephen Wadsworth.

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) will kick-off its 73rd continuous season of grand opera this 2013-2014 season with the Southeast American premiere of Broward-based composer Marvin David Levy's Mourning Becomes Electra. In homage to its composer, the production will open at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on November 7, 2013, in a new production created by Florida Grand Opera.

BETH MORRISON PROJECTS and HERE have announced the full lineup for the second annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now, running January 8-19, 2014 at five venues across New York City: Baruch Performing Arts Center, HERE, Joe's Pub, Roulette, and Trinity Wall Street.

American Lyric Theater presents the first public libretto reading for the 2013-2014 season as part of its popular series, The Living Libretto, at the National Opera Center today, October 16th, 2013. Featuring guest actors from the Broadway and off-Broadway stage, each event is the culminating reading of an extensive libretto workshop conducted for new operas being written by ALT Resident Artists under the auspices of the company's Composer Librettist Development Program.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced details for its 2013-14 Studio Series of opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

American Lyric Theater presents the first public libretto reading for the 2013-2014 season as part of its popular series, The Living Libretto, at the National Opera Center on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013. Featuring guest actors from the Broadway and off-Broadway stage, each event is the culminating reading of an extensive libretto workshop conducted for new operas being written by ALT Resident Artists under the auspices of the company's Composer Librettist Development Program.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced details for its 2013-14 Studio Series of opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City opens its 56th season with a Company premiere and new production of Vincenzo Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues September 21, 25, 27 and 29, 2013 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Artistic Director Ward Holmquist today announced a change in two conductors for two productions of the 2013-14 season. The September 21-29 production of Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues will now be conducted by Lyric Opera of Kansas City Artistic Director Ward Holmquist. Maestro Leonardo Vordoni will make his company debut leading a production in the 2014-15 season to be announced at a later date. The November 9-17 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute will now be conducted by Gary Thor Wedow. Ward Holmquist had been scheduled to conduct that production.

Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) and HERE have announced programming for the second annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival, running January 8-18, 2014.

A season of timeless beauty and fun begins today, June 28th, at the Santa Fe Opera. Discover this summer's new, rarely performed and longtime favorites in stylish productions presented by an unforgettable group of artists and musicians. It's world-class opera in an incredible setting.

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, has announced that four new members have been elected to its Board of Directors. Elections were held during OPERA America's recent Annual Business Meeting at Opera Conference 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Opera Colorado announced today that it has appointed conductor Ari Pelto as Artistic Advisor. Pelto's role will commence with the Company's 2014 season, working hand-in-hand with General Director Greg Carpenter and conducting one opera per season beginning in the fall of 2014. Pelto made his Opera Colorado debut earlier this year, conducting the company's highly-acclaimed production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in March 2013. Known for presenting contemporary and rarely performed works as well as more traditional productions of classic opera repertoire, Opera Colorado is the preeminent grand opera company in the Rocky Mountain region and a vital presence in Denver's cultural ecology.

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) announces its 73rd continuous season of grand opera featuring an innovative new vision with provocative repertoire under the direction of General Director and CEO Susan T. Danis. In addition to a wealth of exciting artists making their debuts with the company, the 2013-2014 season features: the Southeast American premiere of Marvin David Levy's Mourning Becomes Electra followed by Verdi's Nabucco, Puccini's Tosca, and Massenet's Thaïs.

Mozart's setting of literature's great ladies man, Don Juan, closes Opera Colorado's 2013 season at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. One of Mozart's most famous operas, Don Giovanni follows the exploits of the suave and promiscuous title character as he seduces and outwits all those he encounters before his past comes back to haunt him. This production of Don Giovanni, reset in 1950s Italy, features a complete cast making its Opera Colorado debut: Christopher Magiera as antihero Don Giovanni, Ellie Dehn as Donna Anna, Melody Moore as Donna Elvira, Matthew Treviño as Leporello, Maria Lindsey as Zerlina, Jonathan Boyd as Don Ottavio, Christian Bowers as Masetto, and Richard Wiegold as the Commendatore. Ari Pelto and Kevin Newbury will also be making their conducting and directorial debuts, respectively.

Richard B. Worley, chairman of The Philadelphia Orchestra, joined Opera Philadelphia Chairman Daniel K. Meyer today to announce plans for a first-ever artistic collaboration in the 2013-14 season-a theatrically-inspired production of Richard Strauss's compelling and provocative masterpiece, Salome. The performances, set to take place on Thursday, May 8, and Saturday, May 10, 2014, in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall, will be led by Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. With this initial collaboration, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia reinforce their strong commitment to delivering more diverse offerings to audiences in Philadelphia and beyond through groundbreaking performances and innovative collaborations. This new partnership leverages Opera Philadelphia's reputation as a dynamic producer of theatrical opera, and The Philadelphia Orchestra's standing as one of the preeminent orchestras in the world.

Because of the ongoing power outages in Lower Manhattan, tonight's performance (Thursday, November 1 at 8 PM) of David Johnston's CONEY at the New Ohio has been canceled.

Because of the MTA shutdown, tonight's performance (Sunday, October 28 at 7 PM) of David Johnston's CONEY at the New Ohio has been canceled. Performances for Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 are still scheduled to go on as planned.

Blue Coyote Theater Group has announced the World Premiere of CONEY, written by David Johnston and directed by Gary Shrader.