Tenor Javier Camarena--who completes his run as Nadir, the love-struck tenor lead in Bizet's LES PECHEURS DE PERLES (THE PEARL FISHERS) this Saturday--isn't finished wow-ing Met audiences for the season. Not by a long shot. He's back in February to throw off those nine High Cs in “Ah, mes amis!” the show-stopping aria--that toast to love and camaraderie--in Donizetti's LA FILLE DU REGIMENT (DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT) that Luciano Pavarotti made famous for modern opera audiences.
NBC has announced the second group of superstar acts who will compete on the all-new winter edition of TV's #1 alternative series, "America's Got Talent: The Champions," premiering Monday, Jan. 7 from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT.
Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito returns to The Annenberg Theatre, located at The Palm Springs Arts Museum, for his fifth appearance on December 7 at 8:00 pm. The concert celebrates Italian Piazzas and is the live version of his newest PBS special. I had the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Esposito as he was preparing for his Palm Springs concert. Here are a few excerpts from that interview:
The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will join forces with the Angel Band Project's One Voice Virtual Choir on Monday, November 19, 2018, to perform Ruth Moody's One Voice as part of the opening for the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. NYCHORAL members led by Associate Conductor Michael Ciavaglia will sing alongside sexual violence survivors as well as the Angel Band Project's virtual choir. The opening will take place in the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chambers (on 1st Avenue between E. 42nd and E. 43rd Streets) from 10 am to 12:30 pm, with the performance slotted for 11:05 am.
United Solo will host a Master Class with Anne Bogart, internationally acclaimed director, author, and Head of the MFA in Directing Program at Columbia University. This Master Class is a unique opportunity to work with a legendary theatre artist. It will take place on November 5, 2018 from 6pm-8pm at Theatre Row in New York City.
THE 6th ACT presents a unique and multi-cultural look at one of the great literary characters of all time in William Shakespeare's HAMLET, directed by Matthew Leavitt and featuring June Carryl, Desiree Mee Jung, Luke McClure, Matt Orduna and Jonathan Slavin, ALL as the Prince of Denmark. HAMLET will preview today, October 25 at 8pm; and will open on Friday, October 26 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 18 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.
San Francisco Opera presented Placido Domingo in concert on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. The legendary artist returned to the War Memorial Opera House with Puerto Rican soprano Ana Maria Martinez, Mexican tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra conducted by Spanish conductor Jordi Bernacer for this sold-out performance of operatic scenes from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata and Simon Boccanegra, along with arias and duets from Spanish zarzuelas.
The International Opera Institute presents a celebration of Streisand and Sinatra in 'The Concert That Never Was' At The Indian Wells Performing Arts Center on November 10 at 7:30 pm. 'The Concert That Never Was' is a concert between Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand that was planned but never took place. This stellar evening will be performed by Opera and Jazz Diva Rose Kingsley, Actor and Entertainer Richard Shelton and The Bob Corwin Trio. I had the chance to catch up with Ms. Kingsley to talk about her storied career and the upcoming Streisand/Sinatra Concert. Here are a few excerpts from that interview:
This year, a living legend of musical theatre turns 90: Lyricist-bookwriter Tom Jones (who also, under a stage name) appeared in the original company of his most famous and wildly successful record-breaking musical, The Fantasticks. His collaborator, composer Harvey Schmidt, just recently passed away. The production's record-breaking run closed, on January 13, 2002, after 17,162 performances. Their shows also include 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, Celebration and many more. And celebration is what it's about when Broadway veterans Carole Demas, who originated the role of Sandy in Grease, and Sarah Rice, who originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd, return to celebrate Jones & Schmidt. Demas and Rice have based the show on their 50 years of work and personal relationships with Tom and Harvey. With very special guest Broadway's Hal Robinson who is also a Fantasticks alumni.
The Ballet Hispanico School of Dance offers adult dance and fitness classes that will keep you moving, fit, and energized. Classes are open to dancers of all levels ages 16 and up (no previous dance experience required). Cost: $20 drop-in class, $90 for 5-class card, $170 for a 10-class card. For more information, visit https://www.ballethispanico.org/classes/adult.
Acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Janis Brenner will appear in the world premiere of the full-length dance/voice/theatre solo work, Inheritance: A Litany presented by the acclaimed United Solo Theatre Festival, October 4 & 11, 2018 at 7:30pm Off-Broadway at Theater Row, Off- NYC, at 410 W. 42nd St. Tickets are $45 in advance or at the door, and are available at 212-239-6200, at the theater, or at www.unitedsolo.org/us/inheritance-2018.
An American icon comes home. During the early years of his career, American composer, conductor and arranger Henry Mancini and his family lived not far from where California State University, Northridge campus now stands. On Saturday, October 13 at 8pm, Mancini's music comes home to Northridge as The Soraya presents Moon River and the Music of Henry Mancini. Starring Monica Mancini with special guest three-time Tony nominated Joshua Henry, Moon River and the Music of Henry Mancini features Gregg Field as Music Director and Chris Walden conducting the New West Symphony.
THE 6th ACT presents a unique and multi-cultural look at one of the great literary characters of all time in William Shakespeare's HAMLET, directed by Matthew Leavitt and featuring June Carryl, Desiree Mee Jung, Luke McClure, Matt Orduna and Jonathan Slavin, ALL as the Prince of Denmark. HAMLET will preview on Thursday, October 25 at 8pm; and will open on Friday, October 26 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 18 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.
The Guadalupe Dance Company launches its 2018/2019 Season by kicking-off a new series of First Friday performances. First Fridays serve to provide a vibrant cultural experience for locals and tourists alike. Each performance takes place in the historic Guadalupe Theater on the first Friday of every month starting with Celebrando Tradiciones on October 5, 2018, at 8:00pm. Each month will have a different theme; however, the core will be a professional folklorico dance showcase of various Mexican states including rarely performed regions accompanied by Mariachi Azteca de America who will provide live music throughout the entire show.
The votes are counted and America has chosen magician Shin Lim as the winner of “America's Got Talent” season 13. Lim won the show's $1 million grand prize and will headline “America's Got Talent Live” at the Paris Theater at Paris Las Vegas on Nov. 2-4.
The Season 13 two-night finale of NBC's hit series "America's Got Talent" will begin tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT with performances from all of the Top 10 finalists, including violinist Brian King Joseph, singer Daniel Emmet, trapeze act Duo Transcend, singer Courtney Hadwin, comedian Samuel J. Comroe, singer Glennis Grace, magician Shin Lim, singer Michael Ketterer, dance group Zurcaroh and comedian Vicki Barbolak.
The Season 13 two-night finale of NBC's hit series 'America's Got Talent' will begin tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT with performances from all of the Top 10 finalists, including violinist Brian King Joseph, singer Daniel Emmet, trapeze act Duo Transcend, singer Courtney Hadwin, comedian Samuel J. Comroe, singer Glennis Grace, magician Shin Lim, singer Michael Ketterer, dance group Zurcaroh and comedian Vicki Barbolak.
Acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Janis Brenner will appear in the world premiere of the full-length dance/voice/theatre solo work, Inheritance: A Litany presented by the acclaimed United Solo Theatre Festival, October 4 & 11, 2018 at 7:30pm Off-Broadway at Theater Row, Off- NYC, at 410 W. 42nd St. Tickets are $45 in advance or at the door, and are available at 212-239-6200, at the theater, or at www.unitedsolo.org/us/inheritance-2018.
Four top-tier post-graduate string musicians from underrepresented communities have been announced as the first class of The Los Angeles Orchestra Fellowship, a program designed to increase diversity in American orchestras. Launched in August 2018, the groundbreaking program was conceived by a partnership of Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), the country's largest African-American-majority youth orchestra; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), one of the world's leading chamber orchestras; and USC Thornton School of Music, one of the country's top music programs. Violinist Sydney Adedamola, violinist Ayrton Pisco, violist Bradley Parrimore and cellist Juan-Salvador Carrasco will receive a 360-degree view of a career as an orchestral musician in this rigorous two-year training program. A key pillar of The Fellowship is artistic mentoring the Fellows receive from LACO musicians and USC Thornton faculty. In turn, Fellows will actively mentor, teach, and guide young ICYOLA musicians. Among the other opportunities provided are extensive performance and rehearsal experience; compensation, benefits, housing; and unprecedented support to prepare participants to win auditions in professional American orchestras. The Fellowship was developed to address the fact that less than 5% of America's orchestra workforce is African American, Hispanic or Native American, according to a 2016 report on diversity issued by the League of American Orchestras.
Tony Award nominee Christiane Noll will bring her new solo show, Am I Losing My Mind, to Feinstein's at the Nikko onMonday, December 10 at 7 p.m. In this special one-night-only engagement, Noll will perform songs from Broadway shows that feature some of the greatest female characters of all-time, including Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Dear Evan Hansen, Jekyll & Hyde, Grey Gardens, Follies, Next to Normal, and more.