The Hollywood Bowl's 2014 classical season concludes in grand fashion with conductor Juanjo Mena leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, 'Choral,' Thursday, September 11, at 8 pm.
Join Houston Grand Opera for an evening of celebration as it opens its 60th anniversary season with a dramatic production of Verdi's Otello followed by an evening of entertainment and fundraising at the Opening Night Dinner Celebration at the Wortham Theater Center. Otello is sung by an internationally acclaimed cast, led by Simon O'Neill, Ailyn Pérez, Marco Vratogna, Norman Reinhardt, Victoria Livengood, and Morris Robinson.
Houston Grand Opera's 2014–15 season, the company's 60th anniversary season, includes the world premiere of A Christmas Carol by Iain Bell—the company's 55th new commission —from award-winning Dickens authority Simon Callow; the continuation of HGO's first Ring cycle, with the American premiere of La Fura dels Baus's groundbreaking take on Die Walküre; the American premieres of Sir Nicholas Hytner's The Magic Flute and Lee Blakeley's Sweeney Todd; a 60th Anniversary Gala Concert featuring mezzo-soprano (and HGO Studio alumna) Joyce DiDonato; and a host of career-shaping role debuts that speak to Patrick Summers's gift for casting. Together with the company's first presentation of John Cox'sOtello, and the returns of Göran Järvefelt's beloved Così fan tutte and Michael Grandage's hit staging of Madame Butterfly, these rich offerings serve once again to illustrate some of the ways that HGO—still the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony—epitomizes “one model of what a forward-looking opera company could be” (Greg Sandow, Arts Journal).
Tickets go on sale today, August 13, for Opera Philadelphia's 40th Anniversary Season, featuring a stellar cast of international opera stars in five new productions at the Academy of Music and the Perelman Theater.
Houston Grand Opera capped a financially and artistically successful 2013–14 season by presenting Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger —the Polish-Jewish composer's long-suppressed Holocaust opera—to wide acclaim at New York's Park Avenue Armory as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, July 10–13. Earlier this year, HGO gave the American premiere of the work in Houston with the same cast. There was special praise for the production and performances, conducted by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers. New York magazine described David Pountney's staging as “a multi-story set so vivid you can practically smell the machine oil and coal smoke,” while the Financial Times said: “The production, imported from Houston, is imposing in every way.” The New York Times called the cast “flawless,” adding: “The conductor, Patrick Summers, drew a surging, textured, richly detailed performance of this challenging score (lasting three hours) from the inspired musicians of the Houston Grand Opera.” WQXR's Operavore summed up the import of the performances: “The Passenger shows how a Holocaust opera can hold the stage while examining important, complex issues—and could certainly point the way for future composers to deal with such important but delicate subject matter.”
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, August 13, for Opera Philadelphia's 40th Anniversary Season, featuring a stellar cast of international opera stars in five new productions at the Academy of Music and the Perelman Theater. Single tickets will be available at operaphila.org or 215-893-1018.
The 2014 Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center's acclaimed annual summer celebration of classical music, concludes with eight events in the final week spanning the musical timeline from Baroque to contemporary. Performances on August 19 and 20 kick off the concluding week with renowned violinist Joshua Bell, violist Lawrence Power (Mostly Mozart debut), and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra in Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for violin and viola at Avery Fisher Hall. David Zinman conducts the program, which also includes Boyce's Symphony No. 1 and Beethoven's iconic Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica.' Both performances offer pre-concert recitals by pianist Igor Kamenz.
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens San Francisco Opera's Summer Season on June 1 with nine subsequent performances through July 2, 2014. A watershed of American musical theater, Show Boat receives its Company premiere in director Francesca Zambello's new grand-scale "beautifully sung, smartly staged and handsomely designed (Chicago Tribune)" production
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens San Francisco Opera's Summer Season on June 1 with nine subsequent performances through July 2, 2014. A watershed of American musical theater, Show Boat receives its Company premiere in director Francesca Zambello's new grand-scale "beautifully sung, smartly staged and handsomely designed (Chicago Tribune)" production. A beloved story of life on the Mississippi in the 1880s, Show Boat is both a poignant love story and a powerful reminder of America's bitter legacy of racism. The score is filled with unforgettable songs such as "Ol' Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and the dazzling production features large, colorful sets, sumptuous costumes and exhilarating dance numbers. Of recent performances at Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Chronicle wrote "[This is] a towering work. . . there's a magnificence in its music, its narrative sweep, its deep awareness of something bigger than ourselves."
Jane Moss, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director, today announced the 48th season of Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, New York's acclaimed annual summer celebration of classical music, which runs from July 25-August 23, 2014. This year's Festival will feature more than 35 events across several venues including concerts, opera, dance, pre-concert recitals and lectures, late-night performances, contemporary music, and premieres of two commissioned works. The Festival kicks off with two free events: the world premiere of a new work by John Luther Adams, performed July 25 and 26 for free on Hearst Plaza, in a joint presentation with Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and continuing an annual tradition, the free preview concert by the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall on July 26. Renee and Robert Belfer Music Director Louis Langree returns for his 12th season to conduct the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, which will perform a wide range of works anchored by the Festival's featured namesake. Mostly Mozart will also present world-renowned artists and returning Festival favorites, such as violinist Joshua Bell, Mark Morris Dance Group, Emerson String Quartet and Artists-in-Residence International Contemporary Ensemble, as well as 14 Festival debuts, including pianists Yuja Wang and Steven Osborne, and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.
Whether massive festivals, unique productions, or simply an amazing take on a classic we all know well, the DC arts community rose to the challenge this year and offered something pretty great for everyone.
The LA Phil marks the 10th anniversary date of the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall with a special Green Umbrella program presenting the world premiere of 200 Motels by L.A.'s groundbreaking iconoclast composer Frank Zappa. Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the LA Phil, and is joined by L.A.-based director James Darrah and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Also joining Salonen and the LA Phil is a cast of renowned soloists and a band that includes Ian Underwood of Zappa's The Mothers of Invention, Scott Thunes, who also played with Frank Zappa, Zappa Family Trust 'Vaultmeister' Joe Travers, and Jamie Kime of Zappa Plays Zappa.
The LA Phil marks the 10th anniversary date of the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall with a special Green Umbrella program presenting the world premiere of 200 Motels by L.A.'s groundbreaking iconoclast composer Frank Zappa. Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the LA Phil, and is joined by L.A.-based director James Darrah and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Also joining Salonen and the LA Phil is a cast of renowned soloists and a band that includes Ian Underwood of Zappa's The Mothers of Invention, Scott Thunes, who also played with Frank Zappa, Zappa Family Trust 'Vaultmeister' Joe Travers, and Jamie Kime of Zappa Plays Zappa.
On Saturday evening, Sept. 28, nearly 4,000 people filled Independence National Historical Park to enjoy an HD broadcast of Opera Philadelphia's season-opening production of Verdi'sNabucco. It was the third year of Opera on the Mall, and the lawn outside of Independence Hall was filled with opera-loving Philadelphians who had registered a month in advance, as well as tourists who had stumbled upon the event after visiting the city's historic sites. Many asked why a giant screen had been set up on Chestnut Street. When told it was for a free opera about a struggle for independence, to be broadcast in front of Independence Hall, many had the same response - "Where do I sign up?
On Saturday evening, Sept. 28, nearly 4,000 people filled Independence National Historical Park to enjoy an HD broadcast of Opera Philadelphia's season-opening production of Verdi's Nabucco.
Opera Philadelphia stages NABUCCO with 19th Century sets, and some 19th Century Italian political intrigue
Opera Philadelphia opens its 2013-2014 Season in royal fashion this September, with the Company Premiere of NABUCCO. Verdi's landmark tale of politics and national identity will be presented in five performances at the Academy of Music, now through Oct. 6, with a FREE broadcast on a giant screen at Independence National Historical Park tonight, Sept. 28.
Opera Philadelphia opens its 2013-2014 Season in royal fashion this September, with the Company Premiere of NABUCCO. Verdi's landmark tale of politics and national identity will be presented in five performances at the Academy of Music, Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, with a FREE broadcast on a giant screen at Independence National Historical Park on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013: Opera Philadelphia opens its 2013-2014 Season in royal fashion this September, with the Company Premiere ofNabucco. Verdi's landmark tale of politics and national identity will be presented in five performances at the Academy of Music, Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, with a FREE broadcast on a giant screen at Independence National Historical Park on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Opera Philadelphia opens its 2013-2014 Season in royal fashion this September, with the Company Premiere of Nabucco. Verdi's landmark tale of politics and national identity will be presented in five performances at the Academy of Music, Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, with a FREE broadcast on a giant screen at Independence National Historical Park on Saturday, Sept. 28.
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