For its first production of Vincenzo Bellini's 1831 masterwork, NORMA, in nearly 40 years, Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) brings back the international star it introduced to the U.S. just over two years ago. Elena Stikhina makes her debut in one of opera's most technically demanding roles a?' a powerful Druid priestess whose affair with the general of a warring Roman faction brings personal grief and despair. The Russian-born soprano made her American debut in BLO's 2017 production of Tosca. Her subsequent national and international acclaim includes a lauded 2018 Metropolitan Opera debut in Puccini's Il Trittico. Best known for its star-making aria a?oeCasta Diva,a?? BLO presents Bellini's dramatic bel canto opera for five performances from March 13-22 at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at BLO.org.
'The Maria Callas of American musical theater,' as Opera News has called her, referencing both her crystalline voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, Melissa Errico is an actress, singer and author. First known for her starring roles on Broadway, her latest album, Sondheim Sublime, was called by The Wall Street Journal 'The best all-Sondheim album ever recorded.' Nothing in her work has been more constant than her association with Michel Legrand. Having starred in his sole Broadway show, 'Amour', she went on to collaborate with him on the iconic album 'Legrand Affair'. After his death in 2019, she was asked to write his eulogy by The New York Times - where she is a frequent contributor- and was then invited to become the sole American performer to participate in the extraordinary two-day memorial to Legrand held in April at Paris' Le Grand Rex Theatre, work that led one critic to announce that, 'Errico is, and will continue to be, the premier interpreter of the musical legacy of Michel Legrand.' This fall 2019, Ghostlight Records reissues her symphonic album, which Legrand arranged & conducted, as 'Legrand Affair Deluxe Edition.'
Cio-Cio-San, a captivating geisha in Nagasaki, marries B. F. Pinkerton, an American naval lieutenant. For him, it's a lark, a diversion before he marries a 'real' American wife. For her, it's a life-altering commitment that's briefly blissful, then disastrous: her family renounces her and Pinkerton leaves Japan. When he returns a few years later, her joy evaporates and catastrophe ensues when his true intentions are revealed.
Fresh off sold-out tours in Australia and the UK, Songs For Nobodies by Olivier Award nominated playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, asks the question, 'What if an essentially unremarkable human being had an encounter or connection with a huge star that changed the course of their life?' Ten women, all played by one extraordinary actress in Songs For Nobodies is running January 23rd through February 2nd at the Kranzberg Arts Center Black Box Theater in the Grand Center Arts District. Visit maxandlouie.com or call (314) 534-1111 for tickets.
Marina Costa-Jackson was born to sing. She will demonstrate that in her role debut as Tatyana in Seattle Opera's upcoming production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. The casting is appropriate, as she has performed in Russia with her sisters, as well as with the late Russian superstar baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
Following her acclaimed sold-out season in London's West End, Bernadette Robinson returns to Australia for a limited engagement in the hit play SONGS FOR NOBODIES.
City Theater Company blasts through Wilmington this December with Passing Strange, the powerful rock musical by Stew. This coming-of-age story follows a young black musician's search for 'The Real' -- meaning and purpose through the creation of his art.
Following her acclaimed sold-out season in London's West End, Bernadette Robinson returns to Australia for a limited engagement in the hit play SONGS FOR NOBODIES.
Fresh from a performance at Carnegie Hall the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO), in its 21st season, adds holiday cheer to the season with its 16th Annual Holiday concert at St. John's University with Concerto di Natale a celebration in song and dance onSaturday, December 14, 3 p.m. at St. John's University Gymnasium, 300 Howard Avenue, Staten Island. Tickets are $15/advance $20 at the door. ALWAYS FREE for children and students. Purchase tickets atbit.ly/rco-natale
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced the release of Legrand Affair (Deluxe Edition) from Tony Award-nominated singer, actress and writer Melissa Errico today, Friday, November 8. The extended and complete version of the album Legrand Affair, originally produced by Phil Ramone and Richard Jay-Alexander, features Errico with the 100-piece Brussels Philharmonic. The highlight of this special release is the last song Legrand wrote before passing away earlier this year, a?oeI Haven't Thought Of This In Quite A While.a??
The 2019-2020 season at People's Light features world premiere musicals, hilariously relatable characters, big questions, hard truths, and the most talked-about new plays in American theatre.
The San Francisco Opera announced the recent passing of Rolando Panerai, a baritone best known for his vast Italian repertory and his sensational recordings alongside such legends as Maria Callas.
Fresh off sold-out tours in Australia and the UK, Songs For Nobodies by Olivier Award nominated playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, asks the question, a?oeWhat if an essentially unremarkable human being had an encounter or connection with a huge star that changed the course of their life?a??
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS will release Legrand Affair (Deluxe Edition) from Tony Award-nominated singer, actress and writer Melissa Errico on Friday, November 8. The track a?oeThe Way He Makes Me Feela?? will be available to customers who pre-order the album starting on Friday, October 25.
The 51st Annual Jeff Awards Ceremony took place on October 21, 2019, during a spirited evening at Drury Lane Oakbrook. 'Frankenstein,' produced by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, took home five awards, including Best Production a?' Play in the Midsize category. Court Theatre also took home five awards, including the coveted Ensemble Award for 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf' and four awards for a?oePhotograph 51.a?? Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'Downstate' received the Jeff Award for Best Production - Play in the Large category. The award for Best Production - Musical in the Large category went to 'Six' at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the award for Best Production - Musical in the Midsize category went to 'Caroline, or Change,' produced by Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company.
On November 8, Tony Award-nominated singer, actress and writer Melissa Errico and Ghostlight Records/Warner Music Group will release Legrand Affair (Deluxe Edition), an extended and complete version of the canonic album a?oeLegrand Affaira?? produced by Phil Ramone and Richard Jay-Alexander (featuring Errico with the 100-piece Brussels Philharmonic).
Celebrated South African soprano Golda Schultz makes her Los Angeles debut in two performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic: Salonen & Sibelius led by Esa-Pekka Salonen on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 8:00pm and Beethoven's Ninth led by Gustavo Dudamel on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 2:00pm, both at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Eleven world premiere plays and musicals seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by the Jeff Awards, announced today. A total of 192 nominations were made in 34 categories that honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019. During the 2018-19 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 132 Equity productions offered by 43 producing organizations and from these openings, 112 productions were a?oeJeff Recommendeda?? and eligible for award nominations.
First performed 10 years ago, SONGS FOR NOBODIES will tour to Geelong Performing Arts Centre from Friday 13 December, Arts Centre Melbourne from Wednesday 18 December and Sydney Opera House from 23 January. This spellbinding one woman play, is a tour de force of imagined encounters between five mid 20th-century divas, Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas, and five ordinary women.
Over the Tavern opened to a full house Sunday at Theatre at the Center in Munster. The play by Tom Dudzick is directed by Ericka Mac with Janet Ulrich Brooks as Sister Clarissa, Logan Baffico as Rudy, Cory Goodrich as Ellen, Isabelle Roberts as Annie, Eric Slater as Chet, Julian Solis as Georgie and Seth Steinberg as Eddie. Over the Tavern offers a hilarious look at family life in the 1950s. Over the Tavern continues its run through August 11.
