Musa Ngqungwana News

In response to the devastation caused in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month, which has left 1.9 million homeless and more than 600,000 people displaced, the Academy of Vocal Arts has joined forces with the First Presbyterian Church to co-present two evenings of arias that will benefit victims of the storm.

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.

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?

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.

On Sunday afternoon March 10, the air was buzzing with anticipation at the Met, before the performances by the ten singers who had made it to the Grand Finals of the opera company's National Council auditions. No, this wasn't the opera equivalent of American Idol, where the emphasis is on the judges as much as the performers. It was a grown-up affair.

After an intense semi-final round of competition, the Metropolitan Opera today announced the names of ten finalists who will sing on the Met stage in the 2013 National Council Auditions Grand Finals Concert on Sunday, March 10 at 3:00 p.m., with the MET Orchestra conducted by Marco Armiliato. The auditions, which are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, have been an important stepping stone in the career of many of the opera world's leading artists. 20 gifted young singers from around the country arrived in New York on Thursday afternoon to prepare for today's semi-final round, in which they sang on the Met stage for the first time in their careers before a panel of judges. After deliberations, the panel has narrowed the field to ten singers who will move to the final phase of the competition.

Twenty young singers who won regional competitions around the United States will come to New York to sing on the Met stage in the semi-finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. The Met Auditions, this year celebrating their 60th anniversary, are a major stepping stone to a career as an opera singer and were crucial in introducing many of today's best-known stars, such as Renee Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey, Deborah Voigt, and Dolora Zajick.