Los Angeles Opera News

Amazon offers its support for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the music and arts community with a sponsorship of Merola Opera Program's What the Heart Desires recital featuring works by women and people of color, as well as two master classes by world renowned artists.

On June 22, I watched J’Nai Bridges’ online recital at Los Angeles Opera’s website. Bridges has been making highly acclaimed debuts at major opera houses. For her LA Opera recital, she chose major selections by Johannes Brahms and Charles Gounod as well as many lesser-known shorter pieces. She sang with pianist Jeremy Frank, harpist Brandee Younger, violist Drew Forde, and dancer Shauna Davis. Available on LA Opera website now.

Live opera will return this summer with Connecticut Lyric Opera's production of Giacomo Puccini's beloved masterwork La Bohème. The powerful story of love and selflessness, which inspired the Tony and Pulitzer Award-winning rock musical Rent, is presented in partnership with Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

On June 18, 2021, I watched Los Angeles Opera’s film of Stravinsky’s 1927 opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex. Jean Cocteau, who wrote the libretto, based it on the ancient Greek tragedy Sophocles wrote ca. 429 BCE. Right now LAO is featuring it online for free.

On Saturday, we see Los Angeles Opera’s online stream of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex. Stravinsky based Oedipus on Sophocles’ Greek tragedy and his 1927 opera is a highly stylized, ritualistic work. A narrator describes the action throughout the course of the opera. Although the opera is in Latin, narration is spoken in the language of the audience.

Los Angeles Opera’s presentation of Oedipus Rex by Igor Stravinsky is available online from June 17 to July 18, 2021. The libretto is by Jean Cocteau. The cast includes: Oedipus, Russell Thomas; Jocasta, J’nai Bridges; Creon, John Relyea; Tiresias, Morris Robinson; Narrator, Stephen Fry; Conductor, James Conlon.

Los Angeles Opera presents a digital recital exploring the invaluable contributions Latina composers have made to the world of classical music. LAO’s much-beloved After Hours Recital Series is back, and this time it celebrates eleven Latina composers. Russell Thomas, the company's Artist in Residence-turned-host, curated this fabulous stream to transport viewers virtually to Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, and Peru.

Opera at Florham presents 'On the Way to the Met,' a romantic opera journey from LA to the Met.

OPERA America has awarded $180,000 in Civic Practice Grants, supported by  OPERA America's Opera Fund. Civic Practice Grants assist Professional Company Members in learning more  about civic priorities in their communities, developing robust, reciprocal relationships with other arts and non-arts  organizations, and delivering services through authentic, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Watch as composer John Corigliano details his process for composition, mastering tension and release, and how he spends eight months preparing before writing down a single note.

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, Los Angeles Opera and Opera San Jose presented a recital honoring Latina composers. It includes songs by Modesta Bor, María Luisa Escobar, Chabuca Granda, María Grever, Ernestina Lecuona , Ángela Peralta, Consuelo Velázquez, and contemporary writers, Gabriela Lena Frank, Tania León, Mariela Rodríguez, and Irma Urteaga.

For her Los Angeles Opera Signature Recital, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, accompanied by Jeremy Frank, sings a collection of her favorite songs. They perform works  by 20th-century composer Kurt Weill, including 'Lonely House,' 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself,” and 'September Song.” LAO will stream the recital until July 1, 2021

Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz will stream CARLO PONTI & THE LOS ANGELES VIRTUOSI ORCHESTRA: YOUNG VOICES May 21, 2021. Benefiting music education, YOUNG VOICES will feature soloists: violinist Audrey Park, violinist YuEun Kim, and harpist Julianne Jimenez; as well as; selected violin students from Pacoima Elementary School.

Today's top stories: the cast of Come From Away returns to film the show, Laura Benanti releases new music video, and more!

Christine Goerke and Craig Terry's Recital can be seen on the Los Angeles Opera website as part of the five-part Signature Recital Series offered for $45 per household. Performances will be streamed until July 1, 2021. Goerke and Terry opened with a wildly dramatic  rendition of Handel’s fire and brimstone“Furie Terribili,” (“Dreadful Furies”) from Rinaldo. Goerke then introduced a group of Italian songs in honor of her mother whose lineage is Sicilian and Neapolitan.

Enjoy Los Angeles Opera’s Signature Recital Series presentation of mezzo-soprano Susan Graham with pianist Jeremy Frank in a program of songs by Kurt Weill. Selections include the yearning 'Lonely House,' the tantalizing 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself' and the nostalgic 'September Song.” The video, streams until July 1, 2021.

Following a year of shuttered doors, Feinstein’s at the Nikko announced today they will reopen later this month with a lineup of fan favorites, Broadway stars, and local icons who will take the stage at San Francisco’s premier nightclub.

The Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, has announced its 2021 season, presenting performances by the rising opera stars of tomorrow.

Los Angeles Opera’s new Signature Recital Series gives vocal music fans  exclusive access to astounding performances in intimate settings—filmed in stunning venues across this country and in Europe—streamed directly to home screens. Tenor Russell Thomas partners with pianist Mi-Kyung Kim for Schumann's Dichterliebe (Poet's Love).

Arizona Opera has announced its 2021/22 Season—its 50th Anniversary Season—which will feature an exciting and diverse programming schedule of five productions, including the release of the company’s first world premiere film and four planned in-theater productions in both Phoenix and Tucson.