Ruth Ann Swenson News

Various reports have indicated the sad news that American conductor and musical theatre archivist John McGlinn passed away today, Saturday February 14th, 2009.

Eight new productions, four of which are company premieres, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera's 2009-10 season. General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine jointly announced plans that include: the Met premieres of Rossini's Armida, Verdi's Attila, Jan?ček's From the House of the Dead, and Shostakovich's The Nose; new productions of Bizet's Carmen, Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Thomas's Hamlet, and Puccini's Tosca; and 18 revivals from the company's repertory. The season is the first to be entirely planned under Gelb's leadership, in collaboration with Levine (the past three seasons were planned before Gelb became General Manager in 2006-07 but included some productions, repertoire, and casting changes made by Gelb).

Opera New Jersey has announced that Broadway star Lisa Vroman will be stepping into the lead role of Rosalinde in itsupcoming performances of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s delightful operetta Die Fledermaus. Regretfully, Ruth Ann Swenson has withdrawn due to illness. 'The role of Rosalinde requires a singer with vivacious exuberance, commandingstage presence, and incredible panache along with vocal acrobatics,' said Scott Altman, General and Artistic Director, 'Lisa Vroman brings all those characteristicsand a completely fresh dimension to the role; Opera New Jersey is thrilled to bringan artist of her caliber to our audiences.'