New York City Opera News

JCC Manhattan presents PREformances with Allison Charney on Monday, December 15th at 7:30pm.

NYCO Renaissance Ltd. has partnered with the Rudel family to celebrate the illustrious career of Maestro Julius Rudel and his invaluable contribution to the New York City Opera as principal conductor and director for 22 years from 1957 to 1979. The beloved musical figure passed away on June 26, 2014 at age 93. The tribute will take place on Monday evening, March 9, 2015 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Center, Broadway & 60th Street. Scheduled performers include Placido Domingo, whose career developed under the care of Maestro Rudel, as well as mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, countertenor David Daniels, bass-baritone Mark Delavan, soprano Christine Goerke, bass-baritone James Morris, soprano Diana Soviero, and Sting.

Schimmel Center at Pace University is proud to host the return engagement of Gelsey Kirkland Ballet'sproduction of the perennial holiday classic The Nutcracker. Due to the success of the production's debut last season at Schimmel Center, this year's production of The Nutcracker will be performed over the course of a special two-week engagement, running tonight, December 11-21.

The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.

In the most significant restructuring of executive management at New Jersey Performing Arts Center since his arrival in 2011, NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber announced a series of appointments to enhance the Arts Center's status as one of the country's leading performing arts centers, and a home to diverse programming and excellence in arts education.

The New York Times writes that the bankrupt New York City Opera is in talks to sell its company name and thrift store on East 23rd Street to a group led by Michael Capasso (who founded and directs Dicapo Opera Theater), who has plans to revive the defunct opera.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Tony nominee Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding').

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce a special autism-friendly performance for its critically-acclaimed, holiday musical, Elf. Paper Mill Playhouse will offer this special autism-friendly performance of Elf on Tuesday, December 23, at 1:30pm. This performance is designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

According to reports, New York City Opera is expected to sell its remaining assets as soon as January. They have until December 18 to present a reorganization plan. However, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has denied the opera's fifth request for a three-month deadline extension. If the Dec. 18 deadline is met, 'potential suitors will have 30 days to review its plan and, if they wish, submit a competing bid. After this period, Judge Lane will hold a court-supervised auction as early as January awarding NYCO's assets.'

NEW YORK, NY – Theatre Communications Group (TCG) is excited to announce its most ambitious publication to date: an elaborately illustrated hardbound monograph honoring theatrical design legend Ming Cho Lee, entitled Ming Cho Lee: A Life in Design, written by Arnold Aronson.

The USITT-USA curatorial team chose two shows from Ripe Time Theatre in New York, a multimedia production from Paul Abacus, a “wandering opera” staged at LA's Union Station, and performance pieces from faculty at Auburn University in Alabama and Colorado College as the best overall productions for the exhibit.

December 20 marks the cultural high point of Rhode Island's holiday season as The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra joins forces with The Providence Singers, CHRISTINE NOEL, artistic director, in their eighth annual performance of George Frideric Handel's MESSIAH. Soloists include soprano DEBORAH SELIG, mezzo-soprano REBECCA RINGLE, tenor CHARLES BLANDY and MATTHEW BURNS, bass-baritone. ANDREW CLARK, Director of Choral Activities at Harvard University and former artistic director of the Providence Singers, conducts. The perennial favorite holiday concert features a family-friendly start time of 7:00pm on Saturday December 20 at The Vets in Providence. Tickets (starting at $15) are available at tickets.riphil.org, and the RI Phil box office at 401.248.7000.

Under the leadership of Music Director George Manahan, American Composers Orchestra (ACO) returns to Carnegie Hall for the 11th season of its Orchestra Underground series, which explores the orchestra as an elastic ensemble that can respond to composers' unhindered creativity. ACO's first performance this season, titled Orchestra Underground: Monk's Sphere, tonight, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall is part of Meredith Monk's season-long residency as holder of Carnegie Hall's Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair.

Brevard, NC: The Brevard Music Center (BMC) Board of Trustees and President Mark Weinstein have agreed to a five year contract extension that will keep Weinstein at the helm of the renowned institution through its 80th anniversary season in 2016, and beyond. Weinstein will continue to work with the board, staff, and Artistic Director Keith Lockhart to implement a long-term vision and strategy for the 78-year-old summer institute and festival.

Music has the power to touch the human spirit, transcending time, place, boundaries and language and spurring understanding and connection. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck are deeply committed to music's ability to promote and spread a spiritual and universal message, and to that end invite the public to two free 'Music for the Spirit' concerts tonight, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair and on Saturday, November 22 at 8 p.m. at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry.

Need a little music? Need a little laughter? Need a little singing, ringing through the rafter? Then take that road before you and come see high stepping showgirls at this toe-tapping celebration of mistletoe and holiday madness.

Just in time for the holidays, Take The Cakeable Records releases the Studio Cast Recording of THE MAN WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, out on CD and via Digital Download today, November 18, 2014.

NEW YORK –– The Juilliard Opera season opens with a production of Gioachino Rossini's Il Turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy), a drama buffo in two acts with a libretto by Felice Romani. Juilliard alumnaSperanza Scappucci conducts the Juilliard singers and the Juilliard Orchestra in her conducting debut at Juilliard in the production directed by John Giampietro. Performances take place tonight, November 19, 2014 and Friday, November 21, 2014 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 2 p.m., in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater. Tickets for Juilliard Opera's production of Il Turco in Italia are $30 and available at events.juilliard.edu or at the Juilliard Box Office. Juilliard students may attend for free; non-Juilliard students with valid ID may purchase tickets at $15 at the Juilliard Box Office.

MICHAEL BALL - double Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist and hugely popular radio and TV presenter - today releases his brand new album on the USM TV label.

Schimmel Center at Pace University is proud to host the return engagement of Gelsey Kirkland Ballet'sproduction of the perennial holiday classic The Nutcracker. Due to the success of the production's debut last season at Schimmel Center, this year's production of The Nutcracker will be performed over the course of a special two-week engagement, running December 11–21. This 30-member company, under the artistic direction of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov, is comprised of nineteen dancers and eleven apprentices, and is based in Lower Manhattan.