Quinn Kelsey News

Baritone Quinn Kelsey, the 2015 recipient of the Metropolitan Opera's Beverly Sills Award and veteran of leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and companies around the world, will perform the central role of the Duke of Nottingham in Musco Center for the Arts' presentation of LA Opera's new production of Donizetti's Roberto Devereux in Concert, February 25 at 7:30 pm. 

The Metropolitan Opera today announces two cast changes for its forthcoming production of Verdi's La Traviata, opening January 10, 2020. Piero Pretti sings the role of Alfredo Germont at the performances on February 26, 29, March 5, 9, 13, and 19, 2020, replacing Vittorio Grigolo. Additionally, New York City Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns joins the cast as the female solo dancer for the performances on January 10, 14, 18, 23, 26, February 3, March 5, 9, and 13, 2020.

Last season, Quinn Kelsey returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Germont in La Traviata and as Amonasro in Aida. He also returned to Zurich for the title role in Rigoletto and to Hawaii for more performances as Germont. He made debuts in Dallas as Ford in Falstaff and in Spain at the Peralada festival as Germont.

As the 250th anniversary year of Beethoven's birth approaches, Carnegie Hall announces a wider schedule of partner events by leading cultural institutions, complementing the Hall's programming as part of its Beethoven Celebration which includes an unprecedented range of performances by renowned artists exploring the composer's works and his transformative impact on music. The Beethoven Celebration presents one of the largest explorations of the great master's music in our time and marks the largest-ever exploration of one composer by Carnegie Hall, with 86 works of music performed by more than 58 artists and ensembles in New York City and beyond from January through June 2020.

Verdi's heart-wrenching romantic drama Luisa Miller returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago for the first time in more than three decades on Saturday, October 12 at 7:30pm. Enrique Mazzola, Lyric's music director designate, will be on the podium.

Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin curates a nine-concert Perspectives series during the 2019a?"2020 season, including performances with three orchestras with whom he has built his remarkable careera?"The Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, and The MET Orchestraa?"as well as a rare recital appearance with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

Verdi's heart-wrenching romantic drama follows a pair of star-crossed lovers who are driven apart by one man's selfish plot. The battle between passionate love and violent jealousy is set to thrilling, electrifying music. 

With Carnegie Hall's Opening Night less than two months away, we are eagerly anticipating the 2019a?"2020 season.

San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program wraps up its Summer Festival with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert at the War Memorial Opera House featuring the 29 young international artists selected from over 800 applicants in the 2019 Merola Opera Program, who will showcase a dazzling array of opera's most exciting arias and ensembles. Conducted by Maestro George Manahan, Music Director of the American Composers Orchestra and Portland Opera, and directed by 2019 Merola Apprentice Stage Director Greg Eldridge, this evening showcases the hard work and extraordinary talent of the Merola artists. The Merola Grand Finale will be performed at 7:30pm, Saturday, August 17 at the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. For tickets or more information, visit www.merola.org or call (415) 864-3330.

San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, commences its 62nd season with a showcase of the program's rising stars in the Schwabacher Summer Concert. A jaded courtesan longing for true love, star-crossed lovers, a comic marriage, a deal with the devil, and brothers separated at birth all take the stage as Merola's talented young artists bring some of opera's most exciting moments to life by performing scenes from La rondine, Lucia di Lammermoor, Die schweigsame Frau, Faust, and Il trovatore.

The Metropolitan Opera has named soprano Lisette Oropesa as the winner of the 14th annual Beverly Sills Artist Award. The $50,000 award is given to extraordinarily gifted singers with rising Met careers. Given in honor of the legendary American soprano Beverly Sills, the award was established in 2006 by an endowment gift from the late Agnes Varis, a managing director on the Met's Board of Directors.

San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, launches its 62nd season offering audiences a look at the opera stars of tomorrow. The 2019 Merola Summer Festival announces this year's 29 Merola artists, selected from more than 800 international applicants from as far away as Brazil, South Korea, New Zealand, and Colombia, as well as across the U.S. Along with the announced world premiere of If I Were You (August 1-6) by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, the singers will perform in the Schwabacher Summer Concert (July 11 & 13) and Merola Grand Finale (August 17). The 2019 Merola Summer Festival includes performances in San Francisco at various locations. Individual event tickets and information available at www.merola.org or 415-864-3330.

The Metropolitan Opera today announced its 2019 20 season, which opens on September 23 with a new production of the Gershwins' classic American opera Porgy and Bess, last performed at the Met in 1990, starring Eric Owens and Angel Blue, directed by James Robinson and conducted by David Robertson.

A season filled with unforgettable music, riveting stories, thrilling singers from around the world, and stirring productions goes on sale by subscription Friday, January 25, at 10am. Six new and new-to-Chicago productions including three Lyric premieres and three performances of the Ring cycle will engage and entertain audiences from late September 2019 through June 2020.

Jorge de Leon will sing Radames in the February 28, March 4, and March 7 performances of Verdi's Aida, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.

The 2018-19 season of The Met: Live in HD will continue at the Warner Theatre on December 29 with an encore performance of Verdi's LA TRAVIATA at 12:55 pm in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre. The 2018-19 season is sponsored by Viron Rondo Osteria. Please note that the previously scheduled pre-opera lecture for La Traviata has been cancelled.

American tenor Stephen Costello will sing the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday, December 26, replacing Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill.

Greenbrier Valley Theatre, in a partnership with the Met: Live in HD, will be presenting Verdi's La Traviata via live stream on Saturday, December 15th, 2018.

I interviewed Diana Damrau when she had just done her first Violetta, her role debut in the Met's old Willy Decker production. It was a part she lusted over from the time she saw the 1982 Zeffirelli film, but was careful about taking on--waiting for the right time in her vocal development. That was nearly six years ago and the good news is that she has developed into a first-rate Violetta, sounding better than she has in some time, and looking every inch the glamorous (yet consumptive) courtesan.

On Saturday, December 15 at 1:00pm the Peterborough Players present, Live from the Metropolitan Opera, a screening of Verdi's La Traviata.