Meghan Kasanders News

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, under the leadership of artistic director Brian Zeger, concludes its opera season with Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Joseph Colaneri and directed by Emma Griffin, on April 24, 26, and 28, 2019.

Judging by the number of small opera companies in New York alone--see the 2019 New York Opera Fest that starts performances next month--there's no shortage of up and coming opera singers trying to make their way on the scene. But there's no showcase like the Finals Concert of the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions to give a singer a leg up--and this year's group of talented performers seemed to give us more hope than usual that all's right with the world…at least when it comes to opera.

After a months-long series of auditions involving more than 1,000 singers at the district, regional, and national levels, a panel of expert judges named five singers as the winners of the 65th annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Each winner receives a $15,000 cash prize.

Following yesterday's highly competitive semifinal competition, nine singers will advance to the final phase of the 65th annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, America's largest vocal competition. The winners will receive individual cash prizes of $15,000, while the remaining finalists will receive prizes of $7,500.

Twenty-one young opera singers who have won regional auditions around the United States will compete in the semifinal round of the country's leading vocal competition, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, on Sunday, March 24. The closed semifinal competition, held on the Met stage before a panel of judges, will determine the select group of finalists who will advance to the final round of the competition-the Grand Finals, which is open to the public and will be held on the Met stage on Sunday, March 31.

The winners of the American Vocal Arts 2019 International Collegiate Singing ChampionshipTM have been announced! The winners have been chosen from all over the world. The competition, sponsored by American Vocal Arts, emphasizes competitive collegiate singing that spans across borders. The goal of the competition is to award the best singers from around the world who are currently enrolled or have recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program in music. The winners were selected based on talent, potential, and overall presentation.

Twenty of the finest young opera singers in the United States will be competing in the 31ST Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition presented, jointly, by The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild.

Singer/conductor Barbara Hannigan makes her New York conducting debut with the Juilliard Orchestra in works by Strauss, Haydn, Debussy, Sibelius, and Bartok on Friday, February 8, 2019, at 7:30pm in Alice Tully Hall. The program features Strauss' "Salome's Dance" from Salome, Op. 54; Haydn's Symphony No. 96 in D Major, Hob. I:96, ("The Miracle"); Debussy's Syrinx (flute soloist to be announced); Sibelius' Luonnatar, Op. 70, with Juilliard soprano Meghan Kasanders; and Bartok's Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin. Hannigan made her debut as a conductor in 2011 at the Chatelet in Paris with Stravinsky's Renard; the soprano has been dividing her time between singing and conducting ever since.

After much anticipation, the finalists have been announced for the 2019 International Collegiate Singing Championship competition presented by American Vocal Arts. In its first year, the ICSC attracted some wonderful talent, and 17 singers have been selected to move on to the next round.

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Zeger, announces its 2018-19 season of opera and vocal arts performances. Highlights of the upcoming season include three mainstage operas: Britten's The Turn of the Screw featuring Juilliard singers and the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Steven Osgood and directed by John Giampietro, on November 14, 16, and 18 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater; Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, featuring Juilliard singers and period-instrument ensemble Juilliard415, conducted by Avi Stein and directed by Mary Birnbaum, on February 20, 22, and 24 in Juilliard's Willson Theater; and Mozart's Don Giovanni, featuring Juilliard singers and the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Colaneri and directed by Emma Griffin, on April 24, 26, and 28 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

Bridge Records is issuing the first complete recording of Marc Blitzstein's signature creation, the opera The Cradle Will Rock.  The new recording features Blitzstein's original 1937 orchestrations and was recorded live at Opera Saratoga in July 2017. The performance features a stellar cast including Ginger Costa-Jackson as Moll; Keith Jameson as Harry Druggist; Christopher Burchett as Larry Foreman; Audrey Babcock as Mrs. Mister; and Matt Boehler as Mr. Mister.

Bridge Records is pleased to be issuing the first complete recording of Marc Blitzstein's signature creation, the opera The Cradle Will Rock. The new recording features Blitzstein's original 1937 orchestrations and was recorded live at Opera Saratoga in July 2017. The performance features a stellar cast including Ginger Costa-Jackson as Moll; Keith Jameson as Harry Druggist; Christopher Burchett as Larry Foreman; Audrey Babcock as Mrs. Mister; and Matt Boehler as Mr. Mister. The production is conducted by John Mauceri with direction by Lawrence Edelson. The two-disc set also includes a rare recording of Marc Blitzstein discussing the opera's opening night in 1937.

Bridge Records will be issuing the first complete recording of Marc Blitzstein's signature creation, the opera The Cradle Will Rock. The new recording features Blitzstein's original 1937 orchestrations and was recorded live at Opera Saratoga in July 2017. The performance features a stellar cast including Ginger Costa-Jackson as Moll; Keith Jameson as Harry Druggist; Christopher Burchett as Larry Foreman; Audrey Babcock as Mrs. Mister; and Matt Boehler as Mr. Mister. The production is conducted by John Mauceri with direction by Lawrence Edelson. The two-disc set also includes a rare recording of Marc Blitzstein discussing the opera's opening night in 1937.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson today announced Refugee Voices, two special events to complement the company's new production of The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson today announced Refugee Voices, two special events to complement the company's new production of The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson today announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region. Single tickets, as well as subscription packages, are on sale now at www.operasaratoga.org.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced that the company's 2018 Summer Festival will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theatre in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26 through July 15 at venues throughout the region.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson today announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region.

The Juilliard School pulled out all the stops for Stephen Wadsworth's production of HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE (1733) by Jean-Philippe Rameau this week. Gorgeously designed by Charlie Corcoran with marvelous costumes by Sarah Cubbage, Juilliard has the resources to do it right, with professional level performers from their Historical Performance, Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts and Dance departments plus the Juilliard415 early music ensemble under Stephen Stubbs.

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts presents Jean-Philippe Rameau's opera, Hippolyte et Aricie, conducted by Stephen Stubbs and directed by Stephen Wadsworth with choreographed by Zack Winokur. The opera features singers from Juilliard's Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, Juilliard Historical Performance's period-instrument ensemble Juilliard415, and dancers from Juilliard's Dance Division.