Reginald Smith News

For the first time in more than a decade, Verdi’s romantic and political drama Aida returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago, March 9 to April 7, 2024. See photos from the production.

Lyric Opera of Chicago has released video footage of Justin Austin performing 'What Makes a Man a Man' from Terence Blanchard's CHAMPION below. Ahead of his fateful fight with Benny 'Kid' Paret, Emile Griffith finds himself torn between societal expectations and the desire to be his true self. Watch the performance here!

The music of Terence Blanchard has returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago with his first opera: Champion, an 'opera in jazz' inspired by the true story of boxer Emile Griffith, a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who threw a fatal punch in the boxing ring in 1962. Get a first look at the production in an all-new trailer!

The music of Terence Blanchard has returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago with his first opera: Champion, an 'opera in jazz' inspired by the true story of boxer Emile Griffith, a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who threw a fatal punch in the boxing ring in 1962. Check out production photos here!

Learn about the world champion boxer and see how his story inspired Grammy Award-winning composer Terence Blanchard's first foray into opera in this interview with director James Robinson in an all-new video.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is presenting the Lyric premiere of Grammy Award-winning composer Terence Blanchard and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning librettist Michael Cristofer’s knockout opera Champion. Learn more about this opera!

From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved Chicken Run. Watch the video trailer!

On October 27, 2023, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will open Falstaff, Verdi’s popular comedic masterpiece. Learn more about the opera and find out how to get tickets here!

From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to Chicken Run. Watch the video teaser now!

Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced the company’s 2023/24 Season, which takes audiences on a global tour of opera featuring a richly curated slate of musical events in six different languages.

The May Festival announces artist and livestream changes to its previously announced 150th anniversary season roster and schedule and upcoming events.

Hosted by Grammy winner Renée Fleming (filmed at the Gala Hispanic Theatre in Washington, DC) with Chris Jackson (filmed at the Triad Theater in New York City), PBS' third UNITED IN SONG included Mandy Gonzalez ('Everything's Coming Up Roses'), Matt Doyle ('One Song Glory'), Joaquina Kalukango ('Let It Burn'), and more. Watch the full video now!

Hosted by four-time Grammy Award winner and renowned soprano Renée Fleming with Emmy and Grammy Award winner Chris Jackson, UNITED IN SONG premieres on New Year’s Eve on PBS. See who is performing, how to watch, and more!

Award-winner Angel Blue started off the proceedings at the Richard Tucker Gala (after Barry Tucker’s usual introduction/ode to his father, the great tenor) with a bang: Puccini’s justly famous aria “Vissi d’arte” from TOSCA. For those of us who’ve only heard her as Bess in Gershwin’s PORGY & BESS at the Met, it was a revelation to hear her lush, velvety voice raise the rafters on the hall, with no warm up.

It's the most wonderful time of year at Dallas Symphony Orchestra! The DSO will deck the halls of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center this month with garlands, bows, wreaths, and Christmas trees to prepare for DSO's holiday concerts.

The American Pops Orchestra (APO) presents the semi-final round of its 6th Annual NextGen National Competition: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow. Out of hundreds of auditions coming from 103 colleges and 34 different states, 30 talented college students were chosen to compete in the semifinals!

The Cincinnati May Festival has announced complete details for  its 150th anniversary in 2023, including programs and featured soloists for performances in April and  May 2023 and local artist and ensemble participants for its 25 for 25: A New Time for Choral Music commissioning project. 

Internationally acclaimed American soprano Renée Fleming (1990 Richard Tucker Award Winner) and Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel will join the Richard Tucker Music Foundation for its 2022 Gala on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 6:30pm at the new David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. This will mark Terfel’s first return to U.S. stages after a number of years performing primarily in Europe.

On October 28, 2022, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will open a must-see new production of Dame Ethel Smyth's epic 1906 opera The Wreckers. This will be the first-ever full-scale production of The Wreckers from a major American opera company.

Houston Grand Opera's mainstage 2022–23 season has something for everyone and is comprised of 46 performances across seven productions.