At the Embassy Ball, wealthy widow, Hanna Glawari, leads her society suitors on a merry dance. But how will she win Danilo who counts her riches worthless? Let's see what the critics had to say.
A comic operetta is a difficult thing to pull off, but the ENO has good form with the genre, having had great success with an irreverent version of Iolanthe last year. This year, they turn their attention to a new version of The Merry Widow for the first time in over a decade.
Director/Chorographer Robert Longbottom and Musical Director/Conductor Kevin Stites have been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Into the Woods
Boosey & Hawkes is sad to announce the death of leading opera and art song composer Dominick Argento, who passed away aged 91 on February 20, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) has announced the return of San Diego's beloved artist, Hershey Felder with his latest smash hit celebrating the world's greatest composer, Beethoven. Following his triumphs as Piotr Tchaikovsky and Irving Berlin in 2017-2018, the brilliant Hershey Felder will bring Ludwig van Beethoven to life through the eyes of a Viennese doctor who spent his boyhood by the Maestro's side in Beethoven. Directed by Joel Zwick, performances of Hershey Felder, Beethoven run February 21 - March 24, 2019, at the Lyceum Stage Theatre. Tickets start at $25 and are currently on sale to the general public. Beethoven previews on February 21, with press opening today, February 22 at 8:00 p.m.
The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts, will begin its 14th season on October 12, with the Met's production of Puccini's Turandot, starring Christine Goerke in the title role, led by the Met's Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) has announced the return of San Diego's beloved artist, Hershey Felder with his latest smash hit celebrating the world's greatest composer, Beethoven. Following his triumphs as Piotr Tchaikovsky and Irving Berlin in 2017-2018, the brilliant Hershey Felder will bring Ludwig van Beethoven to life through the eyes of a Viennese doctor who spent his boyhood by the Maestro's side in Beethoven. Directed by Joel Zwick, performances of Hershey Felder, Beethoven run February 21 - March 24, 2019, at the Lyceum Stage Theatre. Tickets start at $25 and are currently on sale to the general public. Beethoven previews on February 21, with press opening on Friday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m.
San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) has announced the return of San Diego's beloved artist, Hershey Felder with his latest smash hit celebrating the world's greatest composer, Beethoven. Following his triumphs as Piotr Tchaikovsky and Irving Berlin in 2017-2018, the brilliant Hershey Felder will bring Ludwig van Beethoven to life through the eyes of a Viennese doctor who spent his boyhood by the Maestro's side in Beethoven. Directed by Joel Zwick, performances of Hershey Felder, Beethoven run February 21 - March 24, 2019, at the Lyceum Stage Theatre. Tickets start at $25 and are currently on sale to the general public. Beethoven previews on February 21, with press opening on Friday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m.
On Monday, March 4 at 6:30pm the medieval court of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table will come to life on the stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theater when Lin-Manuel Miranda stars as King Arthur in Lerner & Loewe's CAMELOT, directed by Bartlett Sher, for a one-night-only concert event to benefit Lincoln Center Theater. He will be joined by Solea Pfeiffer as Guenevere, Jordan Donica as Sir Lancelot, Dakin Matthews as Merlyn, Ruthie Ann Miles as Nimue, Ethan Slater as Mordred, Julie White as Morgan Le Fey, and Jenn Colella, Jason Danieley, and Bonnie Milligan as three of the Knights of the Round Table. Andy & Betsy Kenny Lack, Brooke & Daniel Neidich, and Caryn Zucker are the Benefit Co-Chairs. Proceeds from the evening will support Lincoln Center Theater's productions and education programs.
The Metropolitan Opera presents Donizetti's comedy La Fille du Régiment, with performances February 7 to March 2, 2019. Pretty Yende stars as Marie, the young canteen girl of the local regiment. Javier Camarena is the boy with whom she falls in love, Tonio, whose show-stopping aria “Ah! mes amis” is famous for its remarkable nine high Cs. Stephanie Blythe is the outlandish Marquise of Berkenfield, and Alessandro Corbelli and Maurizio Muraro share the role of the comical sergeant Sulpice.
As with each passing season, 2018 proved to be another exceptional year for theater not only in Souther California in general but also in Orange County---my home base. This year, the OC finally welcomed the debut of what has become this century's most awarded and most renowned stage musical ever about the Founding Father etched regally on the 10 dollar bill. Meanwhile, So. Cal. enjoyed a powerful surge of new stage works that explored Asian-American experiences, a positive step forward in the presentation of diverse voices we seldom hear from on the stage. A pair of touring musicals---both opening in the O.C. in early 2019---made such an impact in their Los Angeles engagements for me personally that I had to include them in my list, even though I have not 'officially' reviewed the productions for print. With that said, here is my 'Best of 2018' from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby---a mixture of outstanding shows and brilliant performances that made a lasting, memorable imprint in my theatergoing experience this year.
A prince's quest to prove his worth and rescue his beloved leads to a fantastic adventure filled with danger and mysticism in the Metropolitan Opera's holiday presentation of Mozart's The Magic Flute, with performances December 19, 2018 to January 5, 2019. This English-language adaptation of the classic fairy tale, performed in a 100-minute version of the Met's popular production by visionary theater artist Julie Taymor, is the perfect introduction to opera for the whole family, as well as a holiday treat for those who are already admirers of Mozart. The performances are led by acclaimed Mozart conductor Harry Bicket.
On Saturday, December at 1:00pm the Peterborough Players present, a special encore screening of THE MAGIC FLUTE presented by the Met Opera.
Hartford Stage will present Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, a celebration of one of America's most beloved and prolific songwriters, written and performed by internationally-acclaimed pianist, actor and playwright Hershey Felder, for a limited one-week engagement - June 21 through 30, 2019. Single tickets go on sale Friday, November 23, with a special one-day 50% discount offer on select tickets.
The New York Pops celebrates the holidays with Under the Mistletoe, on Friday, December 21 and Saturday, December 22 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The orchestra, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, is joined by Ashley Brown (Broadway's original Mary Poppins, and Belle in the Broadway version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast) for a concert of classic and contemporary carols including "Deck the Halls," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Winter Wonderland", and "O Holy Night." Ashley and The New York Pops will also be joined by Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA, who are featured on a Hanukkah Medley, as well as other seasonal favorites.
Songs by Wagner, Schumann, Ravel, and Falla Carnegie Hall today announced that pianist Kevin Murphy will replace Malcolm Martineau performing in recital with mezzo-soprano El?na Garan?a in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage next Tuesday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Martineau has withdrawn from this performance due to a death in his family. The evening's program, which features songs by Wagner, Schumann, Ravel, and Falla, remains the same. Full program information is listed below.
When the Met's literary advisor asked Nicholas Wright what he thought about doing the libretto for MARNIE, he said yes because he was really interested in working with composer Nico Muhly and Michael Mayer. He was somewhat reserved, however, about whether it was a good opera subject. That was understandable, of course, when he admitted, laughing, a case of mistaken identity.
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced today that Kim Pensinger Witman, Vice President of Opera and Classical Programming, has announced her intention to retire in February 2019 after 22 years of leading Wolf Trap's nationally renowned opera and classical music programs. Witman will be succeeded in the role by Lee Anne Myslewski, who has served Wolf Trap since 2006 as Director, Artistic Administration.
Award-winning actor, author and piano virtuoso Hershey Felder will present the New York debut of his acclaimed one-man show Our Great Tchaikovsky at a special one-night-only performance on Monday, October 15 at 7:30 PM at 59E59 Theatres (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). The performance will be a benefit for the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York.
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