Mark Anthony News

New York City Opera's 2013-14 season and BAM's 2013 Next Wave Festival begin with the U.S. premiere of Anna Nicole, an opera by composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas based on the flamboyant life and tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith. This highly anticipated co-production includes seven performances at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, tonight, September 17 and September 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, and 28 at 7:30pm.

Where does the Mark-Anthony Turnage-Richard Thomas opera, ANNA NICOLE, stand? “On the line of opera and musiktheatre,” said Elaine Padmore, former director of opera at the Royal Opera Covent Garden, speaking on a panel at the Guggenheim Museum's “Works & Process” event on September 8. This “obscene and marvelous show,” which debuted in 2011 at London's famed opera house, tells the story of tabloid queen Anna Nicole Smith not only through music and words but nonstop movement as well, choreographed by Aletta Collins. It will have its American premiere on September 17 as a co-production of New York City Opera and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), directed by Richard Jones.

The October broadcasts of The New York Philharmonic This Week — the weekly radio series of concerts and recordings by the New York Philharmonic, hosted by Alec Baldwin — begin with two programs featuring The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman. In the first, Lorin Maazel leads Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Mr. Bronfman as soloist, and Sibelius's Symphony No. 2. The following week Music Director Alan Gilbert conducts Ravel's Alborada del gracioso; Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; and Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, again with Mr. Bronfman as soloist.

Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the New York Philharmonic's Insights Series - in which artists and experts will explore some of the season's themes and concerts - will now be free, and take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. This season's events will include discussions with Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow during his farewell season (October 23); composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and violinist Leila Josefowicz (October 28), who will discuss Mr. Salonen's Violin Concerto, written for Ms. Josefowicz (which they will perform with the Philharmonic in its New York Concert Premiere, October 30-November 5); Music Director Alan Gilbert and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien on the state of the Philharmonic (March 3, 2014); The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman (May 20, 2014), who will talk about Beethoven's piano concertos (which he will perform during The Beethoven Piano Concertos: A Philharmonic Festival, June 11-28, 2014); and discussions relating to the NY PHIL BIENNIAL, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

Anna Nicole, the Mark-Anthony Turnage opera surrounding the life events of model and socialite Anna Nicole Smith, comes to New York for its US premiere. Launching the 2013 Next Wave Festival, this co-production between BAM and New York City Opera features Sarah Joy Miller as Anna Nicole, the attention-seeking socialite who married oil mogul J. Howard Marshall II (a man more than 60 years her senior), squirmed her way into celebrity circles, and died as the result of an overdose on prescription drugs. Anna Nicole brings the audience through the annals of the life of a woman many saw as selfish and carefree. However, Anna Nicole is approached from different angles: the incredible tale of a young bombshell who won it all and lived a life of luxury, and the tragedy that took her away when life got too big for her.

For 70 years, The People's Opera – New York City Opera – has focused on producing unique works, showcasing emerging young artists, and educating the next generation of performing arts lovers.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and the U.S. Premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Frieze - written in response to Beethoven's Ninth and co-commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, New York Philharmonic, and BBC Radio 3 - on Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. Part of the Royal Philharmonic Society's 2013 bicentennial, this program reflects the New York Philharmonic's historic link to the Ninth Symphony: the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) commissioned the work in 1817, and the New York Philharmonic gave its U.S. Premiere in 1846, for which it commissioned the first English translation of "Ode to Joy."

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the innovative contemporary dance company from the American West led by Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker and Executive Director Jean-Philippe Malaty, returns to the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street, for one performance only Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 pm.

Music Director Alan Gilbert opens the New York Philharmonic's 2013-14 season with the Opening Gala concert, headlined by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Gilbert will conduct Mr. Ma and the Orchestra in two works by Argentinian composers: the World Premiere of Octavio Brunetti's arrangement, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, of a suite from Astor Piazzolla's La serie del Ángel, and Osvaldo Golijov's Azul, composed for the eminent cellist. The program opens with Ravel's Alborada del gracioso and closes with Bolero, two pieces that reflect the French composer's fascination with Spain. The concert will be telecast nationally on Live From Lincoln Center at a later date, and Classical 105.9 FM WQXR at 7:30 p.m.

New York City Opera's 2013-14 season and BAM's 2013 Next Wave Festival begin with the U.S. premiere of Anna Nicole, an opera by composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas based on the flamboyant life and tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith. This highly anticipated co-production includes seven performances at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, on September 17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, and 28 at 7:30pm. Individual tickets are on sale August 12 (August 5 for Friends of BAM) at BAM.org or through BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100.

Soprano Sarah Joy Miller, star of the upcoming U.S. premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage'sAnna Nicole - a co-production of BAM and New York City Opera - will appear as Anna Nicole Smith atop a float in this year's Heritage of Pride Parade.

Soprano Sarah Joy Miller, star of the upcoming U.S. premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage'sAnna Nicole - a co-production of BAM and New York City Opera - will appear as Anna Nicole Smith atop a float in this year's Heritage of Pride Parade.

Romeo and Juliet. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. Tales of tragic romances have always held humanity's heart. Author Gabriella K. Kolias brings this theme to a new level in her new book 'Cassiane: A Historical Novel Of Legendary Love' (published by AuthorHouse).

New York City Opera is pleased to announce casting for numerous roles in its 2013-14 productions: Anna Nicole, a co-production with BAM that kicks off the 2013 Next Wave Festival, September 17 - 28 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House; Johann Christian Bach's Endimione, February 8 - 16, 2014 at El Museo del Barrio; Bluebeard's Castle, a co-production with St. Ann's Warehouse, February 28 - March 15, 2014; and The Marriage of Figaro, April 19 - April 26, 2014 at New York City Center. The Company will announce additional casting soon.

Is laughter really the best medicine? The popular adage is put to the test in this hysterically funny, one-woman tour de force about picking up the pieces of a broken heart and beginning life again, My Brilliant Divorce. In its only second major American regional production, Asolo Rep's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards directs celebrated Broadway star Mary Testa, a two-time Tony Award nominee, as Angela, the 40-something housewife blindsided by her philandering husband's desertion in Aron's engaging, mid-life crisis comedy.

Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, today announced programming for the 2013 Next Wave Festival. The festival runs from September 17 through December 22 and comprises opera, theater, music, and dance productions in the institution's three mainstage venues: the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, the BAM Harvey Theater, and the BAM Richard B. Fisher Building.

New York City Opera opens its 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of Anna Nicole (2010), a colossal co-production with theBrooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM) that launches the 2013 Next Wave Festival. Running for seven performances (September 17-28) in BAM's 2,100-seat Howard Gilman Opera House, where New York City Opera has presented two critically acclaimed chamber operas this spring, Anna Nicole will provide a sensational beginning to the Company's 2013-14 season.

New York City Opera Announces 2013-14 Season.

A special tribute concert to Stephen Sondheim, including 17 premieres of commissioned works inspired by his songs, will be taking place at "Music in the Loft" in Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 801, on April 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm. Pianist Anthony de Mare will be premiering/performing some of the 36-piece "LIAISONS Project" featuring Sondheim-inspired pieces by composers ranging from Nico Muhly and Steve Reich to Duncan Sheik and Jason Robert Brown.

Tonight, March 9 (7 pm), as part of Symphony Space's The Music of Now Series, pianist Anthony de Mare returns to the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre for the second installment of Liaisons: Reimagining Sondheim from the Piano. Marrying his reputation as a champion of contemporary classical music with his deep respect for legendary musical theater composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, de Mare is building a unique piano repertory by commissioning 36 leading contemporary composers from the classical, jazz, theater, and film worlds to write short solo piano pieces inspired by Sondheim's music.