Rod Gilfry News

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) continues its cycle of holiday operas with the world premiere presentation of It's a Wonderful Life by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, now through December 17. This timeless tale follows a troubled banker whose guardian angel teaches him the lesson of realizing the lasting impact our lives can have on those around us. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Los Angeles Master Chorale will present its first performances of Beethoven's powerful Missa solemnis in 13 years on its own concert series on Saturday, January 21 at 2 PM and Sunday, January 22 at 7 PM at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Heralded as a pillar of the choral and orchestral repertoire, the work is considered a specialty of the Master Chorale that last performed the work with Artistic Director Grant Gershon in Disney Hall in 2004.

Bang on a Can's 2016-2017 season continues the "relentlessly inventive" (New York Magazine) new music collective's mission to create an international community dedicated to innovative music, wherever it is found, with performances throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

New this season, LA Opera presents After Hours: A Musical Nocturne, a post-show, late-night concert series featuring classical and contemporary music, performed along with rock and jazz selections. The series will be hosted and curated by Artist in Residence Matthew Aucoin and will feature music ranging from Franz Schubert, Gustav Mahler and Francis Poulenc to Bruce Springsteen, Nick Drake and Radiohead. Taking place immediately following select opera performances, these events will feature an array of artists performing in the intimate setting of the Founders Room, located on the second floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012).

While listening to baritone Rod Gilfry's masterful, mesmerizing performance in the world premiere of David Lang's monodrama, THE LOSER, at BAM's “Next Wave Festival,” I thought I could listen to him sing the telephone book. Come to think of it, he came pretty close to that, at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House, with this one-hour post-minimalist rant about the effect of the brilliant pianist Glenn Gould on the careers of lesser musicians.

Bang on a Can's 2016-2017 season continues the "relentlessly inventive" (New York Magazine) new music collective's mission to create an international community dedicated to innovative music, wherever it is found, with performances throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Don't even try getting orchestra seats to the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival production of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang's THE LOSER.

Lincoln Center and Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss announced today the 50th Mostly Mozart Festival, one of the world's major music festivals and a beloved summer New York tradition, with events taking place across Lincoln Center July 22-August 27, 2016.

Carnegie Hall today announced that mezzo-soprano Susan Graham must regrettably cancel her upcoming concert Susan Graham and Friends-which was to have also featured soprano Christine Goerke, baritone Rod Gilfry, and pianist Jake Heggie-scheduled for Thursday, May 12 in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage due to personal and professional reasons. "I was meeting obstacles that prevented it from becoming the kind of evening I had originally envisioned," Graham explains. "I am deeply regretful, as I was looking forward to a collaboration with friends old and new, and greatly look forward to the opportunity to reprise the concept soon."

After an international search, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has chosen three new singers and one new pianist/coach for the 2016-17 HGO Studio. The artists are Yelena Dyachek, soprano, the Ana Maria Martinez Encouragement Award recipient at Concert of Arias 2016;  Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano, the second-place prize winner at Concert of Arias 2016;  Sol Jin, baritone, the Audience Choice Award winner at Concert of Arias 2016; and Peter Walsh, pianist/coach. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensive career development to young singers, pianist/coaches, and conductors who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to the field of opera. The HGO Studio received applications from 475 artists; of those, about 275 were heard in auditions in Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles. For singers, the audition process culminates in HGO's annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, held this year on February 4.

Houston, March 7, 2016—After an international search, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has chosen three new singers and one new pianist/coach for the 2016–17 HGO Studio. The artists are Yelena Dyachek, soprano, the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award recipient at Concert of Arias 2016; Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano, the second-place prize winner at Concert of Arias 2016; Sol Jin, baritone, the Audience Choice Award winner at Concert of Arias 2016; and Peter Walsh, pianist/coach. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensive career development to young singers, pianist/coaches, and conductors who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to the field of opera. The HGO Studio received applications from 475 artists; of those, about 275 were heard in auditions in Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles. For singers, the audition process culminates in HGO's annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, held this year on February 4.

Lincoln Center and Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss announced today the 50th Mostly Mozart Festival, one of the world's major music festivals and a beloved summer New York tradition, with events taking place across Lincoln Center July 22-August 27, 2016.

(Los Angeles) January 14, 2016 — Plácido Domingo, LA Opera's Eli and Edythe Broad General Director, announced today that Matthew Aucoin—the composer, conductor, pianist and writer recently hailed by The New York Times Magazine  as 'opera's great 25-year-old hope'—will join the company as its first ever Artist in Residence. The three-year appointment, which will begin in the company's forthcoming 2016/17 season, represents a major step forward in LA Opera's longstanding commitment to the development of music and composers of our time.

 Celebrated mezzo-soprano Julia Migenes (Diva on the Verge) returns to the Odyssey Theatre with her newest show, once again directed by Academy Award-nominated director Peter Medak. Julia Migenes Sings Kurt Weill opens at the Odyssey tonight, October 9.

 Celebrated mezzo-soprano Julia Migenes (Diva on the Verge) returns to the Odyssey Theatre with her newest show, once again directed by Academy Award-nominated director Peter Medak. Julia Migenes Sings Kurt Weill opens at the Odyssey on October 9.

Tucker Award-winning tenor Stephen Costello returns to New York's Metropolitan Opera on April 24, to make his house role debut in the first of four performances as Camille in The Merry Widow. In a new production from five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman, also making her company debut, Lehár's beloved operetta stars Susan Graham in the title role, with Rod Gilfry as Danilo, Alan Opie as Baron Zeta, Andriana Chuchman as Valencienne, and Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leading from the pit (April 24-May 7).

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, announces the casting of the world premiere of Crossing, an opera by Matthew Aucoin, directed by Diane Paulus, featuring the chamber orchestra A Far Cry, produced in association with Music-Theatre Group.

Now celebrating their Fifth Anniversary Season, the Glendale Philharmonic Association and Positive Motions Foundation will present Positive Motions Concert Series, Ruslan Biryukov, Artistic Director in a concert performed by THE GLENDALE TRIO, consisting of Roberto Cani, Violinist and Los Angeles Opera Orchestra Concertmaster, Armen Guzelimian, Pianist and Ruslan Biryukov, Cellist.

Now celebrating their Fifth Anniversary Season, the Glendale Philharmonic Association and Positive Motions Foundation will present Positive Motions Concert Series, Ruslan Biryukov, Artistic Director in a concert performed by THE GLENDALE TRIO, consisting of Roberto Cani, Violinist and Los Angeles Opera Orchestra Concertmaster, Armen Guzelimian, Pianist and Ruslan Biryukov, Cellist.