Kyle Ketelsen News

The 65th annual Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will feature five opera productions, a selection of orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber music performances, world music programs, and more than 50 events from the 16th annual European Academy of Music. The Festival marks important milestones this year: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner's 200th birthday anniversaries; Benjamin Britten's centennial; the 50th anniversary of Francis Poulenc's death; and celebrates Marseille-Provence 2013, European Cultural Capital for the year. All events unfold in extraordinary venues, many of them open-air, in and around the picturesque ancient Provencal city: a Medieval archbishop's palace, an 18th century Italian-style theatre, a private courtyard hidden behind doors dating back to the time of Louis XV, and an 11th century Romanesque chapel inside the grounds of a Renaissance castle - as well as a state of the art, 1,350-seat theatre. The official portion of the Festival runs from July 4 to 27, 2013.

With rave reviews for Puccini's La boheme and Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers to its credit, Houston Grand Opera's season is up and running. Starting in January, the company offers productions of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Kern and Hammerstein's classic American musical Show Boat, which bring with them the company debuts of conductor Trevor Pinnock, bass Morris Robinson, baritone Adrian Erod, Broadway legend Tommy Tune, and more. They will be followed in March by HGO's original and highly acclaimed production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna / To Cross the Face of the Moon, a mariachi opera by Jose "Pepe" Martinez and Leonard Foglia. Tickets are on sale now and moving quickly for this winter repertory period, which accounts for 14 of the season's 44 performances, a 38 percent increase from an average of 32 performances in recent seasons. This increase, as well as HGO's 34 percent growth in subscription sales and more than $112 million fundraising effort over the last five years, clearly identifies HGO as today's most successful American opera company.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili, who made an acclaimed Met debut as the title character of Bizet's Carmen in 2010, will reprise the role for 14 performances this season, beginning tonight, September 28. Young Italian conductor Michele Mariotti will make his Met debut leading Richard Eyre's critically acclaimed production of the repertory classic.

Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili, who made an acclaimed Met debut as the title character of Bizet's Carmen in 2010, will reprise the role for 14 performances this season, beginning September 28. Young Italian conductor Michele Mariotti will make his Met debut leading Richard Eyre's critically acclaimed production of the repertory classic.

The 64th annual Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will open today, July 5 and run until July 27, 2012, featuring a diverse menu of seven opera and musical theater productions, seven orchestral concerts, five solo recitals, seven intimate chamber music performances, two world music programs, and more than thirty events from the 15th annual European Academy of Music. The Festival's wide-ranging events unfold in nine extraordinary venues, many of them open-air, in and around the picturesque ancient Provencal city: castles, a cathedral, a basilica, a palace courtyard, a historical site dating back to the 11th century BC, and an 18th century theatre transformed from a «jeu de paume» court where Louis XIV played in 1660.

Kyle Ketelsen and Bryn Terfel will sing four performances each of the role of Leporello in the upcoming performances of Don Giovanni, replacing John Relyea who is now on vocal rest at his physician's instructions. Ketelsen will sing the role on February 21, 24, 29, and March 3; Terfel will sing the role on March 7, 10 mat, 14, and 17.

The 64th annual Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, under the leadership of General Manager Bernard Foccroulle, will open on July 5 and run until July 27, 2012, featuring a diverse menu of seven opera and musical theater productions, seven orchestral concerts, five solo recitals, seven intimate chamber music performances, two world music programs, and more than thirty events from the 15th annual European Academy of Music. The Festival's wide-ranging events unfold in nine extraordinary venues, many of them open-air, in and around the picturesque ancient Provencal city: castles, a cathedral, a basilica, a palace courtyard, a historical site dating back to the 11th century BC, and an 18th century theatre transformed from a «jeu de paume» court where Louis XIV played in 1660.

Houston Grand Opera, with Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech, announces its 2012-13 season, headlined by four new productions. The first of these is Puccini's La boheme, which launches the new season with a new staging by award-winning British director John Caird. To honor 2013's joint bicentennials of Wagner and Verdi, the coming season juxtaposes Tristan und Isolde - starring Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme in a new contemporary staging by Christof Loy - with a revival of Steven Lawless's unforgettable take on Il trovatore. British conductor Trevor Pinnock leads a strong international cast in Mozart's ensemble masterpiece Don Giovanni, while Francesca Zambello's new production of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat brings together stars of Broadway and the opera house in a celebration of America's own contribution to the art. For a more intimate experience, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee star in Rossini's dramma giocoso, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will embark on an unprecedented series of Metro area concerts to complement performances at Orchestra Hall in 2011-12. One of the autumn's most appealing programs begins tonight when Leonard Slatkin conducts Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony, Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3 and an electrifying new work by the young American composer Mason Bates called 'B-Sides' that closes with a ripping homage to Detroit's techno scene.

When the Houston Grand Opera's 2011-12 season - its 57th - opens officially on October 21 with a new production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville, the company begins a new era under the leadership of Patrick Summers.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will embark on an unprecedented series of Metro area concerts to complement performances at Orchestra Hall in 2011-12.

The Canadian Opera Company has announced their performances and events for this May. That month will see new productions, concerts and discussions on famous operas. COC has also begun registration for its summer programs for children.

Houston Grand Opera General Director and CEO Anthony Freud announced the company's 2011-2012 season today. Opening on October 21, 2011, the season offers thirty-two performances of six operas. 'We've chosen an exciting array of operas that will thrill, stimulate and entertain,' says Freud. 'From celebrated masterpieces to rarely-performed operatic gems, our 2011-12 season features world-renowned directors, beloved productions and acclaimed singers.

Music Director Gustavo Dudamel returns to the Hollywood Bowl- the place where he made his U.S. conducting debut in 2005 and led the free ¡Bienvenido Gustavo! community concert in October 2009 - to make his U.S. opera debut and lead the LA Phil in his first summer season subscription concerts at the iconic venue. On August 1, he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of Bizet's Carmen, which he specifically chose for his first operatic performance in the United States. For his first Bowl subscription concert as Music Director, Dudamel leads the LA Phil and Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero in a program which includes Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, as well as Three Dance Episodes from Bernstein's On the Town and Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's West Side Story (August 3). Dudamel continues his week at the Bowl with an international program of music from the Americas with soloist Isabel Leonard: Bernstein's Divertimento, Villa-Lobos: 'The Little Train of the Caipira' from Bachianas Brasileras No. 2, Falla's Three-Cornered Hat Suite No. 2, Falla's Seven Popular Spanish Songs and Ravel's Bolero (August 5).

Music Director Gustavo Dudamel returns to the Hollywood Bowl- the place where he made his U.S. conducting debut in 2005 and led the free ¡Bienvenido Gustavo! community concert in October 2009 - to make his U.S. opera debut and lead the LA Phil in his first summer season subscription concerts at the iconic venue. On August 1, he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of Bizet's Carmen, which he specifically chose for his first operatic performance in the United States. For his first Bowl subscription concert as Music Director, Dudamel leads the LA Phil and Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero in a program which includes Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, as well as Three Dance Episodes from Bernstein's On the Town and Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's West Side Story (August 3). Dudamel continues his week at the Bowl with an international program of music from the Americas with soloist Isabel Leonard: Bernstein's Divertimento, Villa-Lobos: 'The Little Train of the Caipira' from Bachianas Brasileras No. 2, Falla's Three-Cornered Hat Suite No. 2, Falla's Seven Popular Spanish Songs and Ravel's Bolero (August 5).

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University will host two competitions for the annual Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC) this month.